What’s Up With Sneaky Buyers and Sellers?

To have effective representation you must have good honest communication with your agent. It is surprising how many people don’t tell their agent what’s on their mind, or even answer questions in an honest manner. When you go to the doctor’s office and are asked, “Where does it hurt?”, do you stay mum and have him push, pull, twist, prod, and poke until he finds where you are hurting? Of course not!

Walking in to a real estate office and not being candid about your wants, needs, abilities, and overall situation is no different in its absurdity, but it is truly amazing how often that happens. Most agents will quickly ask you a simple question, “Are you working with an agent?” You might have been, but aren’t happy with the service. If so, explain it just that way. You might not like what the other agent told you, or how you were treated - explain it that way. If an agent won’t show you certain properties, if an agent only shows you listings from their own office or won’t show your listings from a specific other office, or if an agent doesn’t hear what you are trying to tell her … you have good cause to change agents. Share your frustration with your new agent – don’t keep it a secret.

If you simply don’t like what you are hearing from that agent, though you know it to be true in your heart, you aren’t being realistic. In that case you aren’t being fair to you and your family, or to either of the agents involved. You can’t escape the truth by agent shopping. If you find an agent you can push around, or one that says only what you want to hear, you’re setting yourself up for frustration and failure.

It’s okay to be cautious with personal information until you reach a level of comfort with the agent you’ve just met, but be truthful when your agent is asking qualifying questions. Qualifying questions are what the good agent asks about you and your situation so she can get an understanding of how she can help you. The weak agents don’t ask the hard questions because they are afraid of the answers they will hear. The good agent knows that they need the information in order to properly assess your situation and match it to the market. Without it they would be like a doctor that gives you a pain pill without knowing your broken bone is in need of repair.

Real estate is multi-dimensional … it is not a black and white business. You have personal Past Experiences, i.e.- grew up in a two story farm house; future Goals, i.e.- want horses; present Needs, i.e.- want kids in certain elementary school … all which must be understood and applied by your professional real estate practitioner to the market. If you don’t share and they don’t ask you are both in the process of finding the proverbial needle in the haystack – a waste of everybody’s time.

Our Advice: Whether buying or selling, it is more important now than ever to have competent professional representation in your real estate transaction. Your agent can help you keep the right perspective and separate fantasy from reality. Understand that there are those that will abuse your candor so proceed with caution as you develop your relationship with your agent. Your honest agent will listen to you and serve your needs based on what you are saying … sharing their thought process along the way.

You’ll know when you are in the hands of a professional. Its then that buying and selling real estate is a magical process as your dreams manifest. When it comes to choosing professionals to assist you with your real estate needs… Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, 775-781- 5472. carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com, www.carsonvalleyland.com

Where Have All the Buyers Gone?

We’re on the market but aren’t getting showings … where are the Buyers?

Our initial response is to address your price … are you priced right? That is elementary and essential. Assuming your price is right let’s look at today’s Buyers. Buyers today are very informed. They generally know the market, what is going on in the community, what is going on in the financial/lending world, and the many other factors that can affect market dynamics. This information is available on the internet, in print publications, and other media. They know what is happening so-o-o … “Where are the Buyers?”

There are Buyers actively shopping and making offers to buy. Their quantity is not what it was a couple of years ago, and there are many, many more properties available for them to buy. What is changing is where people are buying. When the Carson Valley real estate got too pricey a few years back people went to Dayton for affordability and investment opportunity. As Dayton got priced up they went to Yerington. As the prices came down this scenario unwound, the Yerington market slowed, Dayton slowed and they came back to the Carson Valley which is now quite affordable.

It doesn’t end there. Our market has been driven by people moving in from out of state, primarily from California. For some time we’ve waited for those people to sell their homes thinking that their slow market was causing our market to stall. Now we are seeing some of those markets so price decimated that the need or desire to buy in our market isn’t what it was. Investors that were investing in Northern Nevada can buy properties in their local market in the $300,000 range that were in the $500,000’s a few years ago. They are investing locally. Likewise, people that wanted the lifestyle of a $500,000 home, and were coming to Nevada to get it can stay home and achieve it today without moving to Nevada. Those coming for tax relief? Most people in the $300,000 price range aren’t that dramatically affected by the Nevada tax relief and many are now staying home.

Our Advice: If you are determined to sell in this market … price it right. There is no substitute. Your agent can’t buy an ad big enough to overcome improper pricing. Look ahead – where are you going and what will selling your property do for you. The market will change in time – it is up to you to decide if you are going to wait for it, or act now and achieve your immediate real estate goals. Don’t be hung up on price or value – it is your position in the market that counts. That will get you where you’re going.

Be aware of where you are positioned in the market. The Buyers know your market position… which may be why you aren’t getting showings.

Experience is Priceless! Lisa Wetzel & Jim Valentine, RE/MAX Realty Affiliates, www.carsonvalleyland.com, 775-781-5472. Email us at carsonvalleyland@hotmail.com