This was a good example of how the comps may not mean much. The seller and I were happy to hang our hat on this comp which seemed similar enough, but as it turned out our hurdles proved to be more substantial on today's market. Nothing I can't handle though!
Don't realtors all look the same? Everybody does flashy photos and big spreads - what could be different? It's the attention to the fine details that makes the difference - and determines your fate on whether your sale will close smoothly. Here's an example: Thinking...
My general rule-of-thumb is that if two people send me the same article, then I should blog it. Not only did two people send this in, but Henry Fung also mentioned to the article's author on twitter that she should read my blog, and as a result, she followed me. Now I...
The disrupters can tinker around with whatever gadget they can think up next, but if sellers believe that selling their home off-market is the way to go, there won't be any MLS/traditions to disrupt. Check out https://aaltohomes.com/ The private listing clubs are...
A combination of mine and Leonard's lists of sweeteners: In an increasingly competitive environment - especially on the high end - it may be wise to sweeten the package you are selling by including some value or time-savings item. Some mega-homes include expensive...
What can a home seller do to help make a sale? I wrote this article two years ago, with the following tip: Respond to an offer in less than 24 hours. I offered a couple of examples in the original article, and I just had another one happen. The listing agent, who is...
We have random off-market sales and ibuyer-manipulated sales. Are those legitimate comps? How will we know the true values? The most beneficial system is to expose all properties to the open-market, and let every ready, willing, and able buyer take their shot - with...
I've been saying that single agency is coming, where buyers don't get any representation and are left to figure out pesky details like proper home valuations and investigations on their own. Redfin has been the leader in dumbing down the business. It's insulting that...
This is the first large-scale cinematic movie I've seen done by a San Diego realtor, and it's inevitable that all the high-end listings will have to step it up. Hat tip to Richard for sending this in! ?
Our first experience with the Compass for-sale sign (that costs $700):
