There are many buyers that will happily purchase the right property over the Christmas, New Year period, if the agent opens his or her office and has plenty of properties to sell at fair market prices. These two conditions attract buyers all year round.

After fifteen years of trading during holidays, these are my observations:

o Investors have a good look around during their holidays. Open the agency and you will attract them. And there are plenty of investors entering the market right now.

o Often a seller that comes onto the market in the toward the end of the year – when most sellers are saying, “We’ll wait until after Christmas”, sell for great prices

o The most wonderful thing about Christmas is the time we have with our family and friends. This also presents an opportunity for planning, thinking and setting goals. January is often the month where motivated buyers hit the streets looking to achieve their newly-set goals.

There are always buyers, no matter what others may tell you.

If you are thinking of selling, we have dozens of motivated buyers, and we are motivated to stay open and serve them! Give us a call – we are open 7 days until 7pm, holiday or no holiday.
John Vumbaca
www.pittard.com.au

The article called “Negotiation Not Compromise”

http://www.pittard.com.au/members/newsletters/168_NEGOTIATION_NOT_COMPROMISE_Victoria_Knox.doc

by Vicki Knox touches on the subject on selecting the best negotiator. A skilled real estate agent can save you thousands, so when selecting an agent ensure they are continually training and ensure they are a skilled negotiator….after all that is what you are paying them for.

http://www.pittard.com.au/members/newsletters/160_What_is_my_Property_Really_Worth_-_Paul_Kounnas.doc

and several points are raised. The size, location and presentation of the home all are factors, however your selected agent should always have up to date sales information of your area and base their realistic price on such.

Please keep an eye out for the latest edition of our newsletter, it contains useful information for all of those interested in the property market.

So what is the best way to select an agent? Read the article “Top Agents Sell for More” by Paul Kounnas http://www.pittard.com.au/members/newsletters/159_A_Top_Agent_Will_Help_You_Sell_For_More_-_Paul_Kounnas.doc

This articles key point is to select an agent who is well trained, knowledgeable and has an excellent skill level. This requires constant industry training and study. Our agents are habitually striving to achieve the best possible result and therefore are required to study and train on a regular basis in order to improve their negotiation skills.

Selling a home can be a stressful event and can cost you thousands, it pays to do your research.

1. Hire an agent you can trust

2. Hire an agent who provides a written guarantee of service

3. Choose the strongest negotiator

4. choose an agent who keeps a record of buyers

5. choose an agency who works as a team

6. Hire an agent who is open 7 days per week

Our office has a large amount of resources available to those considering selling or those who are just interested in the real estate market in general. Please call our office and ask for your copy of “How to sell your home for the highest price” This booklet could save you thousands and takes just a few minutes to read.

Given it is so obvious why do sellers still throw insurmountable amounts of money at BMW driving agents that in part pay for colossal for sale signs, irrelevant advertisements in the newspapers and immense auction costs, when they lead to very little or no result.  Advertising does not sell your home, it does not promote your home but it does help the agent look big and powerful so they can pay for their lifestyle and their expensive cars. 

All at your expense.

And then they will tell you how wonderful they are and how lucky you are to have them just the marketing they have done has made no difference and they tell you how little your house is worth so it is easy for them to sell from the coffee shop.

Did I mention it is all at your expense. 

If you are really lucky you may be in our area and you can contact us, otherwise you may have to continue to suffer with substandard agents who do not give price guarantees or who stand by what they believe.  If not you have my sincere sympathy.

Remember to check out this space soon or if you are tech savvy sign up for an RSS feed or our email list.

I am amazed when hearing from other agents how tough business is.  Of course it is tough, it is business.  By definition business is work, did you hear that – WORK.  I am sure there are legendary businesses that give the owners huge returns without any work or risk but to date I have not met them and certainly have not tripped over the “Easy Money” I keep hearing about.

The economic times have changed no doubt about it.  Most agents have never seen a time where they have to actually work on getting buyers convinced to buy a house.  There has been a glorious and wonderful time where buyers walked in and would grab anything but that time is past.  Business as usual.  The other hard end is the listing.  An agent needs to work (that bad word again) to convince the seller that they are the right person to sell their most valuable asset (Family excluded of course as we all know money cannot buy you love).  We value our relationship with our sellers and we work hard to get them what they want and sometimes what they need.

We have been busy and the only reason is because we work hard.  We work longer.  We work better.  When other agents are complaining about how quiet it is look at how hard they work and then decide if they are the right people for you and if you are lucky enough to be in our area, come and see us.

See you soon.