lake zurich...and beyond

Here are a few reasons why you should choose a real estate agent who blogs:

• Your agent's blog site is another avenue for your agent to post your home for sale
• Blogging increases Internet traffic to your agent's personal website(s)...which increases traffic to your home's listing as well
• Blogging shows that your agent is committed to educating the public about all things real estate related
• Blogging agents tend to be committed to their own personal growth and education
• Agents who blog typically have advanced computer skills and knowledge...they aren't afraid of technology
• Agents who blog feel it is important to stay on the cutting edge of real estate marketing trends

Come to think of it...

WHY would you choose an agent who DOESN'T blog?

You've probably decorated your home to reflect your personal taste and style. Great to live in, not so great if you are selling. See A CASE STUDY: MY FAMILY ROOM below as a demonstration!

"The way you live in your home, and the way you market and sell your house are two different things." - Barb Schwarz, Creator of Home Staging.

What this means is that you need to think of your home as a product, instead of as a home. And we need to make that product appeal to the most potential buyers as possible.

That's where I come in!

I am not only a professional Realtor and marketing expert; I am also a staging professional.

I will help you de-personalize your home so that all potential buyers can envision living there. Staging is a statistically proven method that typically results in homes that sell quicker and for more money. Sounds good, right?

My personal philosophy is to take what you already have, edit it, remove the "extras" and then re-arrange your own items (free!) to showcase the main selling features of your home. Since my main focus as your Realtor will be to market your home, I will not be doing a full-fledged top to bottom staging. However, I will work with you as a team to make the most of what you have!

Your staged home will outshine the competition. As you know, the first impression a buyer has of your home is most often from the interior photos on the MLS or Internet. We want your home to photograph more beautifully than the competition to position your home at the top of every buyer's "must see" list.

If you are considering selling your home, choose a Realtor who is also a staging professional. The real estate market has changed. It's more competitive than ever. Make the most of what you have and stage your home to sell!

CASE STUDY: MY FAMILY ROOM

1^st photo: Too much clutter (okay, I know it could be worse, but I am a Virgo after all! This is as bad as it gets around here!). Remember: clutter eats equity!

2^nd photo: I removed magazines, photos, extra stuff on mantle, extra lamp, computer and other normal "life" stuff, flowers from my clients (thank you Stephen and Anne Zang!), Brian's clutter on floor, my work clutter on ottoman and couch. Also removed the extra tables and ottomans and closed the entertainment center doors.

My opinion...too much stuff removed to live a normal life. Probably what most stagers would say was "done" and photo ready, however. Are you ready to go this far? Do you see how the focus is on the fireplace and windows? The idea is to make the features of your home stand out and get noticed.

3^rd photo: Okay, I put the tables back in. I need them! Still photographs well, but do you see how the tables cover the fireplace? Are we selling furniture, or are we selling your home?

4^th photo: Clean, mostly clutter free, but this is what it takes to be livable for my family.

What do you think? Which photo would you want representing your home on the MLS and Internet? Photo #1, #2, #3 or #4?

For more information about me and the services I can offer you, please visit my website at www.getmovingwithkelly.com.

You've had your home on the market for months. You've done everything correctly.

• You hired a professional REALTOR (who has marketed it every which way possible)
• You made all repairs before listing
• You allow easy showing access
• It's been staged it to perfection
• It's priced correctly and/or you've reduced the price

But still it's not selling. What else can you do?

Here are some options you may want to consider:

OPTION 1: If you don't HAVE to sell, take it off the market!

Many homes are currently on the market that don't need to be. The sellers would LIKE to sell, but they don't HAVE to sell. If you are one of those sellers, you may wish to consider removing your home from the market and re-listing it next year. Right now, inventory levels are very high and your motivation to sell may be very low. Why rack up market time (which eventually results in a lower sale price) if you don't have to? Finding a buyer right now is like finding a needle in a haystack. Re-list your home when there are less needles and more haystack.

When you do re-list the property...re-hire your current agent! He or she has worked very hard and spent a lot of money promoting your home. Plus, he or she knows your home and has all of the photos, tours and other marketing already in place to quickly and easily get your home back on the market when the time is right.

OPTION 2: Consider a contingency

When the market was hopping, sellers would not even consider taking an offer that was contingent upon the buyer selling his or her own home first. Now may be the time to reconsider contingencies. If you are a seller who does not have a specific time frame for selling, if you are flexible, then this may be an option for you. There are buyers out there who are looking for a seller who will accept a home sale contingency. You may get a higher offer because a buyer may want to make up for their contingency. In addition, there is nothing about a contingent offer that prevents you from entertaining other offers. This may be your ticket to climbing the housing ladder!

Plus, imagine the impact on your advertising by being able to add these words to the listing remarks: "Seller will entertain home sale contingencies!" Wow.

Of course, you must be cautious about accepting an offer that is contingent. If it falls through, you could be back at square one. Don't make an offer on another home until your buyer has his or her home sold. Your agent will thoroughly research the buyer's current home to help determine whether it is priced correctly and likely to sell in the time frame set forth in the offer. Carefully weigh the risks and rewards before making any decisions.

OPTION 3: Become a landlord

This is certainly not for everyone, but there are some circumstances where it may be a viable option. Perhaps you bought very recently and your home hasn't appreciated...but your company transferred you out of the area. With long market times and the inability to drastically reduce your price, you may be faced with double mortgage payments. A tenant will pay your mortgage for you! Sounds good, right?

Not so fast. Before determining if this is a good option for you, you must talk to your attorney about the fees you will incur with drawing up a lease and your legal obligations as a landlord. You should also consult your tax advisor to discuss the potential impact on your taxes due to rental income. Of course, the biggest concerns are whether your tenant will damage your home, refuse showings (should it be offered for rent and sale simultaneously at any time), "forget" to pay their rent, or refuse to move out and need to be evicted.

Did you know that your REALTOR may be able to offer your home for sale on the local Multiple Listing Service? For more information about renting your home, consult your agent. You will pay a commission for this service, but the exposure is well worth it.

Well, there you have it. Three options that you may not have thought of pursuing in this challenging real estate market. Remember, our job as real estate professionals is to help you navigate the real estate market. We want you to be successful. Sometimes that may mean delaying the sale of your home, or not selling at all!

This is not about blogging, points or featured posts. Although it also kind of applies to blogging (what are we blogging for?) this post is actually about customer service.

Do you really provide great customer service?

Do you try to anticipate your client's needs? Are you friendly? Approachable? Sincere? Are you a hard worker? Do you go the extra mile? Are you nice? Do you return calls promptly?

Always?

Or do you sometimes get discouraged, feel taken for granted and unappreciated, and as a result feel like slacking a little on the service you provide? Are your efforts inconsistent because they are tied to praise or reward?

While it is true that real estate agents are in the service business, this post applies to many other service providers as well. Maybe you are a waitress and you are the best, most helpful and friendly waitress in the restaurant. After several months, when comparing your tips with other less-friendly, less-helpful waiters and waitresses, you discover that all of your hard work does not add up to more tips after all. Customers tend to leave, on average, a 15% tip no matter what. Oh, there are a few higher tips, and a few lower tips, but overall, unless you are a very bad waitress, you average 15%. Do you ultimately start slacking because you don't feel your efforts are appreciated?

HERE'S THE REALITY: Offering "great" customer service is not what you do, it's who you are.  It's not something you do for praise or reward. If you are expecting a pat on the back or a gold star, you will never truly offer great customer service. You must do it for yourself, pat yourself on the back if you must, but don't expect praise or appreciation for your efforts from anyone else.

REMEMBER THIS: Praise is fleeting but your reputation is permanent. Be consistent in your customer service efforts and not only will you have the internal satisfaction that comes from a job well done, but you will earn a reputation in the marketplace that will create raving fans...and plenty of referrals!

And you will be much happier as well.

I didn't show or sell any homes on Saturday morning. Instead, I got up early and headed to Des Plaines to cheer on The Chicago Breast Cancer 3-Day walkers.

My tent buddy from last year, Sara Meyer, showed up to cheer with me. We dressed in pink, made signs, handed out candy, we even made some new friends! And we were once again filled with pride and admiration for the walkers. When you see all of these men and women, who have given up 3 days of their lives to participate in this event, to sleep in tents, to walk and walk and walk until their feet are covered in blisters, you can't help but be inspired and humbled at the same time. And this year, it was HOT. Not just HOT, but HOT and HUMID. We were sweating just standing there cheering...they had to walk over 20 miles that day. Amazing.

I just want to take a minute to say, "Thank you 3-Day walkers!"

As many of you know, last year I was one of those walkers. I laced up my shoes and participated in that 60 mile inspirational journey. It was difficult and tiring, no doubt about it. But it was an event that changed my life and created memories that will last forever. You can read about it here.

If you take nothing else from this post today, please ask a woman in your life to do a breast self-exam. Early detection is the key to saving lives!

Have you ever walked into a store and been asked by a salesperson, "Can I help you?"

Of course you have, and if you're like me, it can be irritating. While I appreciate the offer of assistance, it's the timing that is off. It's too soon, feels too pushy. My standard response is, "No thanks, I'm just looking."

Invariably, after I've had a few minutes to browse, I find myself looking around for a salesperson because now I do need some help. I'll wander around for a while, looking for someone to help me. Where is that salesperson who so nicely greeted me with her offer of assistance? To be honest, if I can't find her relatively quickly, I may ask simply ask the next closest salesperson for her help.

Oops. Salesperson #1 has just committed a critical error. She decided that my "No thanks, I'm just looking" meant that I didn't want any help at all and she went on to assisting someone else and forgot about me. The reality is that most buyers, whether online or in person, just want the salesperson to leave us alone but be there when we need them.

Online real estate shoppers are like any other shopper. And I am, for all intents and purposes, a real estate salesperson.

Therefore, visitors to my website, upon submitting an email address, will receive the following email message from me:

"Thank you for visiting my website at www.getmovingwithkelly.com. I hope you will find it an easy to use and informative way to research the market.

It is my sincere desire that you feel comfortable using my website. Therefore, it is my policy to have you dictate the level of contact that you want from me. This means that unless you specifically request to be contacted by telephone, I will not call you!

Whether buying, selling, or just curious to learn more, I am here to assist you in any way possible. I hope you'll come back soon...and that you will consider me to be your REALTOR of choice when the time comes to buy or sell a home."

And I mean it! I know that you are "just looking." I won't forget about you and move on to the next prospective client. I will stay in touch; from time to time you will receive a short email from me containing tidbits of information or announcing a new listing that you may be interested in. Other than that, I will leave you alone to gather information at your leisure.

When you do need assistance...more information about a particular listing, perhaps...I will respond quickly to get you the information you need. I will never be pushy or pressure you into setting up an appointment with me to look at homes. It's perfectly okay to simply hang out on my website and window shop. Have fun!

You've hired a professional real estate agent to market your home because you realize that by doing so, you will have the BEST chance of selling your home for the HIGHEST PRICE in the LEAST AMOUNT OF TIME. Please, please, PLEASE, listen to your agent...and please, please, PLEASE don't treat us like your scapegoat when your home doesn't sell.

I believe I speak for all agents when I say:

Number 1: I cannot read your mind! Please don't expect me to somehow anticipate that you would leave for a week and turn your air conditioning off in 90 degree weather. As a seller, it is your responsibility to make sure that your home is in show ready condition at all times. I don't feel it is fair to get a phone call from you telling me that your home was probably too hot and didn't show well during the past week, and that you are upset with me because I should have somehow known this...and turned on your AC before every showing. If you want me to do something while you are away...you have to ASK.

Number 2: I did not remodel your home into a floor plan that doesn't accommodate most buyers. I did not pick your lot, put up the flowered wallpaper, or choose your cabinetry. Your home will not appeal to EVERY buyer, no matter how much YOU love it. Please don't blame me when your remodeling or decorating choices make your home harder to sell, or when you haven't serviced your furnace since 1980.

Number 3: I cannot make a buyer want your home! I know you would like to believe that I have magic powers that will sell your home...but I don't. I can't twist a buyer's arm until they "give", I can't force agents to call me back with feedback, and I can't make them give me a reason why the buyers chose another home over yours. They just liked it better. End of story.

Number 4: I do not control the market. I cannot make your house worth more money, even though I wish I could.  I don't set prices. If it's overpriced, it will not sell. And if some buyer does come along and offers you your price, it still has to appraise...or no deal. Also, I did not take all the equity out of your house to purchase a boat, take a vacation or to pay off your credit cards. What you owe has nothing to do with what your house is worth. Please don't blame me for the economic conditions of the market or for your spending habits.

Number 5: Please listen to me when I suggest a certain price, or ask you to clean your windows, mow your lawn, remove your wallpaper, or allow showing flexibility. I KNOW the market. I KNOW your competition. I want YOUR HOME to be on a level playing field. I want you to be successful.

Number 6: If you don't trust me, if you don't believe in the hard facts of the market data that I provide...then please don't hire me. We'll both be miserable. I am a professional and I deserve to be treated like one. I will work extremely hard for you and will market your home 24/7. I will go out of my way to make you happy. Please don't tell me how to do my job. I've worked with HUNDREDS of buyers and sellers. This is what I do. I know how to do it, and I'm good at it.

What's happening in the market? A common question these days, one I hear often.

Personally, I think graphs are easier to understand than a bunch of numerical statistics. This graph clearly shows how the market has changed over the past few years and also highlights the cyclical nature of real estate throughout the year.

What does this mean for you, Mr. & Mrs. Seller? Accurate and competitive pricing is more important than ever since you are competing for fewer buyers in the market...and choosing a REALTOR with an outstanding marketing program is absolutely vital to your success.

When you are ready to buy or sell, call me!

If you have children, or are thinking about having children in the future, you know that one of the most important criteria for your new home is the school district the home will be located in.

For information about Lake Zurich District 95 Schools, please visit their website at www.lz95.org.  If you are looking for a way to compare school districts and get school reports, you can also visit www.schoolmatch.com, although most of the information you may be looking for (such as District Report Cards) is available on the District 95 website itself.

By the way, school starts this year on August 22 (1/2 day). Please contact the school district for registration information!

If you would like to be kept up to date on school district happenings, you can join the Community Unit School District 95 Key Communicator Network (KeyCom). KeyCom members will receive a regular newsletter via email about issues affecting the school district. To find out more about the KeyCom program or to become a member, contact Jim Jennings, who is in charge of Communications & Community Relations for Lake Zurich Schools, at (847)540-5489 or email him at jim.jennings@lz95.org.  

This is going to be an exciting year around my house...my oldest will be a senior at Lake Zurich High School this year! Senior pictures have been taken and college applications will be submitted soon. My youngest is going to be a freshman this year! Go Bears!

A recent article in REALTOR magazine stated that overall, more than 90% of buyers and 88% of sellers said they were either "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the services of their real estate professional. While these are great statistics, what it also means is that there are some clients that are, shall we say, less than satisfied with their agent. I don't know about you, but success to me = happy clients!

My goal is to provide exceptional service to my clients and I want to make sure that I continue to offer top-notch service in the future. To help keep myself on track, every client of mine receives a Client Satisfaction Survey form after the closing. Yes, every client.

<-----------This is what mine looks like.

Not only does this survey help me track my performance, but it is also a great way to remind my clients how much I value their business and friendship...as well as their referrals. Plus, they are able to include a "Happy Client Testimonial" if they wish, which I can then post on my website!

What are you doing to raise the bar on your performance for your clients? How do you track your client's satisfaction? If you don't send out a Client Satisfaction Survey...why not?