Winter Wanes – Spring Has Sprung – Is Your Property *REALLY* Ready To Sell?

Friends, if you’re property’s been listed For Sale for 30, 60, 120 days, NOW is the time to do these 3-Things. ASAP

Why?

Mr. Sun is shinning. Days are longer. Wildflowers are blooming. Snows melting and trees are budding green and leafy. The Homebuyer Tax Credit (free money) expires soon, mortgage rates are still low, but expected to rise.

Friends, this is the season where qualified homebuyers begin shopping in earnest and bunches. If ever there was a time to take action and position yourself for a successful sale, this is it. Right Now. Seriously. Right NOW.

#1 – Replace Dull, Lackluster, Sad Exterior Property Photos. ASAP.

Every survey-study ever done, and common sense, tells us that the listings with the most dramatic, interesting and attractive pictures draw the most on-line, qualified buyer attention and therefore, enjoy increased showing activity. Increased showing activity equals a faster sale. We know this. Right? Duh, I know.

Anyway… if your listings property photos are dreary and wintery in nature, the moment conditions allow, change them, replace them, UPGRADE them. While you’re at it, rewrite your promotional copy. Do it ASAP, people are viewing properties today and buying this weekend.

#2 – Reevaluate Your Pricing Position

The market changes daily or weekly as new sales happen and fresh For Sale listing competition tumbles on the market. Your pricing position yesterday and certainly 30 or 120 ago, may be different toady. You may be wallowing in a competitive disavantage and not even know it.

With warming weather and qualified buyer activity and your your jazzy newly posted property pictures attracting attention, you’ll want to be sure that your property is priced as competitively as it is photographically attractive. This would be smart, wouldn’t it?

Have your Realtor Icon (listing agent) research and produce a newly minted MMA (Master Market Analysis). Study it, then make appropriate adjustments. You don’t won’t your property to sit like a bump on a log do you? Let’s get crack’n.

#3 – Make-Over Your Staging & Merchandising (Interior and Exterior)

Now that you’ve gone through all the trouble and taken savvy steps to attract the attention and desire of qualified homebuyers and selling agents, here’s the Cherry On Top. Are you ready for it? Will you Cherry Out?

It’s time to walk your property, inside and out, room by room.  Ask yourself, what needs to be done to make your property show attractively as possible? Remember, you want to Out-Wow and impress your competition, which includes resale citizens and new home builders. Ask yourself, do paint colors need neutralizing and walls painted. Do you need to de-clutter, minimize, move furniture, clean carpets, paint the front door, plant colorful flora, etc.

Here’s a Preparation Checklist.

You know what you need to do, make a list and get it done. Now. Your next showing could result in a sale, if you’re positioned well. If you’re too busy or your suck at handy work like me, your listing agent can refer to a competent, affordable professional. Let’s get crack’n.

That is all. Good Luck:-)

Hey? I share things that might help you save time, succeed sooner and outshine the dullards. If you click on the “Become A Fan” button below, you’ll magically appear in your Facebook Stream. (I know, the “FAN” is lame. It’s really a business page. Cheers Friends.

Today There Was This…

Mathew Ingram interviewing Craig Newmark

And Mathew sharing what they talked about….

Craig Newmark on the Web’s Next Big Problem

Here’s a snippet:

Newmark called some form of distributed trust system “the killingest of killer apps” for the web over the next decade (he said he wasn’t sure that was the best way to describe it, but was trying out to see how it sounded). He talked about “reputation and trust ruling the web, just the way it does in real life,” and how he was looking to big players such as Google, Facebook and Amazon as the kinds of entities that would have the scale to handle such a distributed trust or reputation management network.

Imagine A World…

What kind of insanely great world would it be if you were the real deal and were certified.  Not some commercial, smoke, mirrors and polish, but real and trustworthy.  Wow right?  Even better, the shammers and scammers, posers and pretenders are exposed and driven into the sea or motivated to come-correct.

Think it will happen?

How To Price Your Listing So It Sells For Top Dollar and In A Timely Fashion from Ken Brand on Vimeo.

I’m sharing the why’s and what’s and how’s of creating a useful CMA (Competitive Market Analysis) for pricing your property. The goal is to sell it for the highest possible price, in your desired time frame.

Experience has shown that Qualified Home Buyers comparison shop. Typically, they will define a price range and an area or areas that they are interested in, the style and design, desired amenities, etc., and they go shopping, looking at pre-owned homes and New Homes.

After viewing all of the available homes that meet their criteria, a buyer will narrow their choices down to a short list of one or two homes.

In this day and age of Buyer Representation, the buyer’s representative will prepare a Competitive Market Analysis (CMA) to assist the buyer in the decision making process and offering price. At this point the buyer…having viewed all of the available homes (competition) will want to know..what similar homes have actually SOLD for, average number of Days on Market, Price Per Square Foot and List Price to Sales Price ratio.

This research is used to help determine their offering price and ultimately their own limits to what they feel a home should sell for relative to it’s competition.

Also, once the Buyer and Seller agree on a price and the buyer’s mortgage is being processed, the lender will send an appraiser out and they conduct the same research.

What we provide is the research on homes that a buyer interested in viewing your home may also consider and data the appraiser will also look at also.

By reviewing this market data we can select a price that will position your home competitively in the market place so we can meet your goals.

If there’s anything we can do for you, give me a call:  Ken Brand 832-797-1779

From: Ken Brand

Date: 3/17/2010

Re: Succeed-Now Workshop Schedule

Tuesday Afternoon – March 23rd @ 1:07 p.m. – Presenting The CMA – How to avoid confrontation, friction and conflict.  How to build trust with a conversational and educationally informative approach, presentation and conversation, We’ll discuss strategy, psychology and effective communication models and role play a CMA presentation.  KB

Tuesday Afternoon – April 6th @ 1:07 p.m. – Features and Benefits Included With Our Home-Selling Proposal – What our services include, why they work, how they work and how to share it smartly.  KB

Tuesday Afternoon – April 13th @ 1:07 p.m. – Pre Appointment Listing and Buyer Information Packages – How to create value, trust and WOW before the first appointment with a prospect.  KB

Tuesday Afternoon – April 20^th @ 1:07 p.m. – Launching A Successful Open House Event and How To Prosper On Opportunity Time – Preparation, presentation, dialogue, tips, how, what, when and why.  KB

Tuesday Afternoon – April 27^th @ 1:07 p.m. – Networking, Connecting, Sharing, Prospecting and Loyalizing – The new rules for in-person and online business development.  Facebook, Youtube, Flickr and other In-Person and On-Purpose activities.

Tuesday Afternoon – May 11^th @ 1:07 p.m. – Pre Listing Appointment Preparation – Research tips and strategies for preparing a powerfully compelling CMA presentation using our exclusive GG On-Line CMA software. KB

Tuesday Afternoon – May 18^th @ 1:07 p.m. – Live Listing Presentation Demonstration…from hello to Good-Bye. KB

Tuesday Afternoon – May 25^th @1:07 p.m. – Working With Buyers – Explaining your services, building value, needs determination, pre-qualification, Buyer’s Rep Agreement presentation & more. KB

Tuesday Afternoon – June 1st @1:07 p.m. – Responding Conversationally To Value/Commission Concerns – Avoid confrontation, awkward conflict and defensiveness when presented with an objection and asked for commission discounts. KB

We’ll hold these workshops in my office.  Thanks.

So you could get to know her a bit, I asked Lindsey to email me a short, informal bio. Here it is.  When you see her in the office, introduce your self and say “Hi”.

I was born and raised in the suburbs north of Houston by 2 fabulous parents, I lived in Atascocita first then moved to the Spring/ Klein area in high school. I’ve got two older brothers, one is a mortgage banker in San Antonio and the other lives in Austin and sells software to small banks to help them realize their bottom line. I played soccer from the earliest age I could sign up through high school, and I raised animals in FFA (yee-haw).

I graduated from high school a year early and went to Texas A&M where I majored in finance and real estate. While I was in school there I worked at Gander Mountain and took care of 60 horses for the Texas A&M Womens Equestrian Team. While I’m “single” on legal documents, I also have a boyfriend that I  met in at A&M almost 4 years ago.

I graduated from there last may and tried out working for a huge company, Maersk Line the largest containerized shipping company in the world, but I felt like I was going crazy there so I bit the bullet and started into real estate which is what I’ve wanted to do since high school.

My ultimate goal in real estate is to be able to give my future kids the opportunities I had growing up and to contribute to affording a home where I can have horses and space to myself and my family.

You can reach Lindsey @ 713-249-5509

What?  Seriously, 7 hours?  Yes.  According to a study by the Nielson Company, it’s true.  People spend more time on Facebook than they do Yahoo.com.

There’s More!

Amy Porterfield, a gifted writer, shares a detailed, easy to read and interesting collection of sources and perspective titled, 5 New Studies Show Facebook A Marketing Powerhouse.

If your business success is married to people and personalities and conversation and trust, take a few minutes to read Amy’s article, it’s worth every second of your time.

PS.  For my Realtor Icon friends, if you’re wondering how all this Social Media stuff impacts your future, read my article titled: Are You Wagging Your Tail.  Begin Now.  Here’s How.

Cheers.

I’m happy to report that real estate activity is beginning to heat up, as it always does this time of the year.  There are positive influencers that should assure increasing activity, at least until July or so.

Home Buyers – Read This

If you’re a buyer, and you find what you like, pull the trigger or you’ll lose out. The average number of days on the market for sold properties in the 70 to 80 day range.  The average for unsold properties is in the 110 days range.  The sweet one’s sell in a day or two, don’t lose out.

Mortgage interest rates are pygmy sized, dipping just below and just above 5%.  Come on!  That means a $300,000 mortgage will run around $1,500 per month in principal and interest.  Every expert agrees that after the government stops buying mortgage securities, rates will go up.  Simple question, do you want lower payments now or higher payments later?  Act now or pay more, I guess.  Don’t you think?

The Homebuyer Tax Credits will end in June. If you’re a qualified buyer, we’re talking free money.  Yes, FREE MONEY.  You can get FREE MONEY now, or wait and lock in a higher interest rate, higher monthly payments and get NO FREE MONEY.  Not sure if you qualify?  You can read about it HERE.

And lastly, as for reasons to buy now, I believe this article from Business Week speaks loudly – If You Don’t Buy A Home Now, You’re Either Broke or Stupid.

Home Seller’s – Read This

For Sale listing inventory is a bit lower than last year and sales activity is above last years at this time.  This means you have less competition (resale and new homes) and more buyers.  For the reasons I’ve shared above, possibilities for an agreeable sale are “right now”.

The key to a successful sale is masterful merchandising, bold internet broadcasting, competitive pricing and choosing the right Realtor Icon to coordinate and lead your campaign.  Take a look at the picture below.  As you can see, the sellers we represent sell their homes for alot more money that our competitors.  This doesn’t happen by accident.  We have a plan, we work our plan and good things happen.  You’ll find more helpful data/information in the collection below.

Homes prices have remained stable for the most part.  Real estate is hyper local in nature.  That means what’s happening in your specific neighborhood could be better or not that The Woodlands averages.  The good news for all of us, we don’t live in Phoenix or South Beach or LA.  The horror stories of plunging prices and rivers of foreclosures doesn’t apply to us.  Thankfully.

Very low mortgage rates and the Homebuyer Tax Credit are currently spurring buyer activity.  It’s expected that rates will rise about the time the Tax Credit expires.  Selling a home in July will be less certain that it is today.  If you’re going to move, do it now, while the doing is good.

Real Estate Agents – Read This

The next 120 days will present the best opportunities for success in 2010.  When mortgage rise and the Homebuyer Tax Credit expires, it’s likely qualified buyer activity in general will slow.  Now is the time to touch base with your past clients, prospects and suspects.  What I’m saying is, if ever there was a time to sprint and work smarter and harder than ever, this is it my friends.  You’re selling and buying clients need to know that now is the time to ACT (see above).

If you’re working hard and getting nowhere or your broker is not providing you and your clients with the tools, support or bold broadcasting you need to succeed, give me a call – Ken Brand 832-797-1779.  Maybe we can help each other.

Everyone – Read This

Take a look at these market statistics, they confirm what I’m sharing above.  Our market is healthy and opportunity exists for those willing to grab it.

“Baskets Full of Fun” Family Picnic and Home Tour Set for March 27, 28 and April 3“Baskets Full of Fun” is the theme for a free family picnic and home tour in the new Tupelo neighborhoods in The Woodlands’ Village of Creekside Park. This family-oriented event is set for Saturday and Sunday, March 27 and 28, and Saturday, April 3, 2010 from 10 am – 6 pm each day. Guests will have the opportunity to tour 11 furnished and decorated model homes by nine popular homebuilders including Chesmar, Gracepoint, Partners in Building, J. Patrick Homes, Plantation, Ryland, Toll Brothers, Trendmaker and Village Builders. New home prices in Tupelo range from the $240’s to $850’s. “Free shuttles will be available to take families to tour the 11 model homes,” saidSusan Vreeland-Wendt, Director of Marketing for The Woodlands Development Company. “At each stop, our guests will receive something special for their ‘basket’, including food coupons, gifts and everything they need for a family picnic of fried chicken with all the fixings in brand-new Tupelo Park. For every basket redeemed at the park, The Woodlands Development Company will donate $5 to Interfaith of The Woodlands Food Pantry.” In addition, those who purchase a new home in the Village of Creekside Park between March 27 and July 30, 2010 and close by September 30, 2010 will receive a free one-year family membership to the South Montgomery County YMCA. The YMCA has two branches open in The Woodlands with a third branch in the Village of Creekside Park opening in June. The new YMCA will feature both indoor and outdoor activities for all ages, including a 15-acre day camp with lodge, tee-pee village and tree houses, Alpine Tower with ropes course, outdoor theater with stage, and a family outdoor adventure. YMCA members will have privileges at all three branches in The Woodlands. Featured Tupelo neighborhoods include Tupelo Glen, Tupelo Trail, Tupelo Green, Tupelo Woods and Tupelo Park. Ten-acre Tupelo Park features a pavilion, playgrounds, lighted tennis and basketball courts, picnic area, and terraced lake connected to 72-acre Lake Paloma, a scenic waterway that runs through the center of the village. Those participating in the home tour will also be invited to take a self-guided tour of other neighborhoods in Creekside Park, including Timarron, Jagged Ridge, Paloma Point and Wilde Creek. Prices range from the $180’s – $900’s, and homebuilders include Beazer, Chesmar, Darling, Gracepoint, Highland, Pulte and Trendmaker. For more information about the “Baskets Full of Fun” Family Picnic and Springtime Home Tour in Creekside Park, visit The Woodlands Homefinder Center or call 281-719-6333. Custom Open Houses Highlights Homes in Player Course NeighborhoodsFive custom residences will be open for touring this weekend in the neighborhoods of Kirkpatrick Glen, Player Crest and Silvermont in the Village of Sterling Ridge. The homes are located on or near the Gary Player Signaturegolf course. Here are the details: 23 Silvermont Leigh Custom Homes 4 bedrooms, 4 ½ baths, 3-car garage On the Gary Player Signature golf course $50,000 pool allowance Mediterranean stucco Master bedroom, guest suite, kitchen, breakfast and dining room all have golf course and forest views. $859,700 Open Saturday, March 13, 1 – 4 pm 43 Silvermont Leigh Custom Homes 4 bedrooms, 5 baths, 3-car garage On the Gary Player Signature golf course $50,000 pool allowance Mediterranean style on a secluded golf course lot Open concept plan; private casita and master bedroom open onto a courtyard $878,600 Open Saturday and Sunday, March 13 & 14, 1 – 4 pm 14 E. Loftwood Tommy Bailey Homes 5 bedrooms, 5 ½ baths, 3-car garage with shop area $80,000 pool allowance French Country style, stucco and stone Thermador appliance package $999,000 Open Saturday and Sunday, March 13 & 14, 1 – 4 pm 19 E. Loftwood T.D. Cox Homes 5 bedrooms, 5 ½ baths, 3-car garage On the Gary Player Signature golf course Mediterranean style, stucco and stone Media room down, tankless hot water heaters $1,048,000 Open Sunday, March 14, 2 – 5 pm 7 Parwood Court Keith Morgan Custom Homes 5 bedrooms, 5 full and 2 half baths, 3-car garage $50,000 pool allowance Tuscan style stone and stucco, 1/2-acre lot $1,149,000 Open Sunday, March 14, 1 – 4 pm For more information about these homes and other available custom homes in The Woodlands, call Robyn Brand The Woodlands Custom Homes at 281-367-4550 or visit www.thewoodlandscustomhomesonline.com. New Brochures and Useful Information Available at The Homefinder CenterThe newest edition of the “Guide to New Homes” featuring a simple map to all model homes and sales centers, along with price ranges and contact information, is now available at The Woodlands Homefinder Center. While you’re visiting, you can also pick up copies of the Spanish translations of the Creekside Park brochure and Image brochures (both full-size and rack-size). Stop by for a good cup of coffee and some great resource materials, and don’t forget to bring your clients to the Homefinder Center before touring new homes in The Woodlands!

The Woodlands Resort is offering a special $149 rate to families traveling to The Woodlands from Mexico duringSemana Santa, a celebration of Easter March 26 through April 11, and Mexico’s second most important holiday of the year. The rate includes deluxe guestroom accommodations and breakfast for two. For information, call 866-361-5674 or visit www.woodlandsresort.com. The 8th Annual Spring Home & Garden Show is coming to The Woodlands Waterway Marriott Hotel & Convention Center Saturday and Sunday, March 27 & 28. Hours are 9 am – 7 pm Saturday and 10 am – 6 pm Sunday. Admission is $9 for adults, $7 for seniors and free for children 12 and under. For more information, visitwww.woodlandsshows.com. According to the latest demographics compiled by The Woodlands Development Company, the population of The Woodlands is 92,348 and there are 1,650 employers and 45,380 employees in the community. The editors of The Woodlands Real Estate Report are taking a vacation during Spring Break. The next issue will be sent out on Thursday, March 25. Have a relaxing, fun and safe Spring Break!

Thank you to The Woodlands Development Company for all info packed updates.

The Woodlands Development Company shared this demographic data with us and I’m sharing it with you.

Here’s a few interesting tidbits.

Population of The Woodlands TX = 92,348

Households with children = 45%

How many children are there in The Woodlands = 23,837

What’s the Median Income in The Woodlands TX = $116,732

What’s the Median Age of The Woodlands resident = 35Years

What’s the Average Square Footage of a home sold in 2009 = 3,068 Square Feet.

Take A LOOK