hampstead nh real estate

So you think you’re alone now…

October 14, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy

But are you really?

Sometimes I hear stories that just leave me wondering.

A listing agent met a Co-broker and her clients at her listing to do a showing. During the showing it was readily apparent that the home did not meet the buyers needs.

While standing in the kitchen talking about the home the listing agent mentioned another listing that she had just listed. One that she thought would better suit the buyers.The home was in excellent condition was priced competitively and had everything the buyers seemed to be looking for. She suggested that they go take a look at it as it was easy to show.

Designated agency and facilitation in New Hampshire??

October 7, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy

On Wednesday, October 17^th a special Board of Directors meeting will be held at The New Hampshire Association of REALTORS in Concord. The sole purpose of this meeting will be to have a motion to approve the proactive legislation “Relative to Changes to the Real Estate Practice Act”. This is the legislation that, if approved, would enable the practice of designated agency and facilitation in New Hampshire.

CMA Tips

October 1, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy

Preparing a proper market analysis is more crucial than ever. Not only do we need to worry about over pricing but under pricing as well. No one wants a home to just sit on the market and become stale or become stigmatized. All the more reason to clearly understand the guidelines behind pricing. Underpricing a home without the sellers informed consent just so it won’t sit on the market is a violation of Article 1 of the REALTOR Code of Ethics. Make sure your client clearly understands where the market is at and where their home should be priced at.

How did you come up with that price…anyway?

When preparing a Comparative Market Analysis, CMA, recently I was trying to determine a good listing price. It’s not an easy job!

I had to put more weight on the “on markets” than the “sold” comps.

Traditionally real estate agents are taught to put more weight on the “solds” when trying to establish a property value.

After all, the “solds” tell us an important story. They tell us what a property actually sold for!

Not the pie in sky hopes that the listed price usually indicates but what a buyer actually paid. Very important data for sure. And in the old days that piece of data was the most important piece.

Not anymore…

When agents prepares a CMA they usually select homes that are comparable to the subject and they rate the homes they selected.

A typical rating system is much like this;

1. Equal (=)

2. Inferior (-)

3. Superior (+)
If there are comparable homes on the market that are priced at 399,900 (-), 389,900 (+) and 384,900 (+) and they have been on the market 129, 95 and 80 days respectively.
Would it make sense to price your home higher or the same as ones that have not sold especially if they are superior or equal to your home? If you were a buyer and looked at nearly identical homes in a similar neighborhood and setting…which would you buy?

Now understand that the average sold prices indicate a value of 409,000 to 419,000…but nothing has sold in the last 4-6 months. The sold data is very old in terms of market movement.

It is very important to make sure your agent has analyzed the whole market. The Days on Market are very important.

If the average days on market “DOM” is 118 days…should a seller be panicking 60 days out without an offer? Depends on the seller and their needs.

Some questions to consider…How quick do you need to move? What is more important money or time?

Do you really need to sell? If not perhaps it would be better to wait the market out and list your home at another time.

Here in lies the dilemma.

Do you test the waters, list on the high end, play catch up and run the risk of stigmatizing your property?

Do you list below your best competition and hope your home sells first?

Do you list at a fair market price and do everything possible to make your home shine?

Only you can answer those questions. Make sure the agent you are working with understands the market and is realistic…you don’t need an unrealistic overly optimistic agent. You need sound market advice and an honest experienced REALTOR.

Pricing to sell is a must in New Hampshire.

Read everything you can, there are a lot of good New Hampshire real estate blogs full of excellent information available. Education and a good agent is the key to market success.

Customer Service…more crucial than ever!

October 1, 2007 by Monika McGillicuddy

Service… What does it really mean? Do you know that even the little things we do impact how others perceive us. I wrote this post this past August and it obviously impacted me… in a negative way. Real estate is very much a reputation business and your reputation is very important now more than ever. Think about the little things we do each day and how we can do them better…

How about a tip…Lady??

Sometimes I have to wonder what our society is becoming! What is it with people today?

Recently I went to a small farm stand to buy some fresh produce. When I entered, there was a young woman sitting on a tall stool behind the counter.

She neither looked up nor acknowledged my presence in any way.

I was the only customer she had and I had never been there before. We’re camping at the beach and traveling back and forth to work each day.

This place is right on my way…a place I can conveniently stop in daily to pick up fresh veggies.

I carefully selected 6 ears of fresh local corn…already imagining how they would taste after soaking in water for a few hours and then grilling them with the husks still on! Simply yummy.

Satisfied with my corn, I glanced over at the girl, she still didn’t look up. I was going to ask a question about Romain lettuce…instead I took a little red basket, put my corn in it and went to check out the fresh tomatoes.

The tomatoes were plump and looked just awesome. I knew by the feel of them that they were perfect. I added one to my basket and then since she had not yet acknowledged my presence I decided to interrupt her and to ask if she had any Romain lettuce as I couldn’t see any.

She looked up and said they only had what was out on the counter, pointing to where I was standing. Iceberg I stated…I was hoping for fresh Romain.

She then pointed to a refrigerator in the back corner of the store…“what’s in there?” she asked me...she asked me the customer what was in her refrigerator and then she immediately looked back down!

Feeling pretty stupid thinking I missed seeing the lettuce, I walked to the refrigerator. I saw a bunch of spinach…but no Romain lettuce.

The young lady at the counter…she never inquired if I found what I wanted or offered me any assistance at all. She didn’t move.

I really wanted a salad with dinner so I decided to get one of the fresh heads of iceberg lettuce instead. Not what I wanted but it would do.

When I got to the counter, she never asked about the Romain lettuce, she never even looked up as I walked up to her.

She expertly rung up my 6 ears of corn, one tomato and a head of lettuce… grand total of $5.29 cents. I handed her a 10 dollar bill and notice the large tip jar sitting by the register.

She handed me back my change…just the bills and she had to reach over the tip jar to give it to me.

The coins…she held in her other hand. She looked me square in the eye as she held open her hand with my coins in it …her hand was just above the tip jar and stayed there! She never moved it in my direction…as if to say How about a tip lady?

I was dumb struck…what did she do to deserve a tip? I know I’m talking a small amount of money here but did she give any kind of service at all? She never even smiled at me!

I wanted to lecture her on customer service but instead reached over and slowly took my change out of her hand and said thank you very much and have a nice day… she didn’t say a word.

It got me thinking about service and how we are perceived by others. Do you put a smile on your face and acknowledge people when they walk in your office? Even if you are not the “Up Agent”, if you’re busy doing something else and the receptionist is there? Do you? Do you take the time?
How do you make people feel?
How about the mortgage officer that stops by hoping to drum up business or the appraiser that might stop by needing assistance? Do you take a few seconds and make them feel welcome even if you don’t feel like it at that moment?

That young lady at the counter lost business for her boss that day…word of mouth…10 days of repeat stops ( I love fresh veggies) and if she treated me that way and expected a tip for it I have to wonder how many other people she treated the same…how much business she lost due to her lousy service?

It doesn’t take much effort to smile and be polite.

I always smile before I answer the phone…no matter what because I know people can hear my smile.

People can hear yours too…make sure you have one for them.

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Jay and Monika McGillicuddy

Serving Southern New Hampshire and Rockingham County

Monika McGillicuddy Real Estate Training Website

NH Real Estate Blogs

Prudential Verani Realty

Hampstead NH Real Estate

603-548-7728

Filed Under: Agent tips Tagged With: hampstead nh real estate, monika mcgillicuddy, NH real estate blogs, real estate sales, service

So you think you’re alone now…

But are you really?

Designated agency and facilitation in New Hampshire??

CMA Tips

Customer Service…more crucial than ever!

How about a tip…Lady??

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