JULIE GARDNER
  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS

Bob's Your Uncle!

12/1/2017

0 Comments

 
I'm back from New Zealand after visiting our younger son in Dunedin who was studying abroad at the College of Otago (and by "studying abroad," I mean that Tristan was exploring the Kiwi lifestyle with far more gusto than he was attending classes.)

"That's okay," a client reminded me,"I did too, and it's one of the absolute best things I've ever done. Classes weren't always my highest priority either, but wow, that's where I learned to really stand on my own, travel and explore as a responsible adult, and feed my curiosity about other cultures."
Thank you, Kim, for the timely advice. It's important for me to remember that education come in all forms, especially as I get ready to write that BIG check for next semester. (Tuition costs are truly painful.)

Far from pricey private school opportunities, most of my education came through the school of "hard knocks;" an unaccredited program that while incredibly informative, I wouldn't necessarily wish upon my own kids - although I'm quick to point out to them that failure taught me much more than success ever did. (Not that I'm knocking success mind you. Success paves the way to our visits to "other cultures" with way more style these days.) Still, it's the hard-won life lessons that shape our character and provide the "teachable" moments. (Get it, boys? Good.)

However, this week's educational moment came far more easily (and gracefully), by way of prospective Sellers who had done their homework prior to our meeting and then shared a thoughtful list of questions they had neatly prepared and organized. While I've often talked about (and published) my top ten questions Sellers should ask prospective Realtors in previous columns, their inquires were very specific to their home and their immediate neighborhood and actually improved upon my template. (Well done. I may have to steal this list.)

"How many homes have you sold here and what was the list price to sales price?"

"How many days does it typically take to sell a home? 

"Would you recommend we stage our house?" 

"What are the challenges you see with our property in particular?"

"When is the best time to sell?"

And so it went . . .

And finally, "What haven't we asked you that we should?" 

"You haven't asked me how much your home is worth and how much you're going to get for it?," I said, steeling myself to explain why that question ISN'T something I can necessarily answer (but am always asked when interviewing for a listing).

And then came the gift . . .

"Why would I ask you that?," Mr. Seller responded logically, "I don't expect you to tell me what the market will deliver."

Okay, that may be a first. (Blimey, Bob's your uncle.)

But of course, he's "right on the money," (pun intended). No matter how prolific our list of sales, Realtors don't set the value of a property - a willing and able Buyer does. It's a concept that doesn't necessarily sit well with anxious Sellers, but as much as we'd love to be able to see into the future, any "sales"number a Realtor throws out is a guesstimate at best, based essentially on last week's sales figures and whatever experience we bring to bear. (And I'm not discounting experience.)

Sure, I can tell you what the house down the street sold for, how much the average price per square foot is in your neighborhood, how your house fairs by comparison, the overall feeling in the marketplace, projected expectations and a dozen other barometers that help us set a starting point, but I most definitely CANNOT tell you where your home will sell - nor can anyone else. 

The market plays out as it does, often with surprising results and just as frequently, without. But if I give you an over-inflated number just to secure the listing, regardless of what's really at play, I'm not doing either one of us any favors - least of all you. Because when your Realtor isn't honest about the result you might reasonably expect, it's not only unfair to you, it can have dire consequences moving forward. 

As I see it, my job as a Realtor is to position your home in its very best light, to leverage its interest as firmly as I can, to walk you through the journey with as much grace as possible, AND to be thoroughly transparent throughout. If I can deliver the home run, so much the better, but once my work is done, the outcome is up to the Real Estate gods. 

Of course, the main objective is always to get you the highest and best result. That's a given, and believe me, no one will work harder to do so, but our goal is also to help you transition from one home to the next with as little stress and angst as possible. (Moves are never easy things.) I'm certain you'd expect nothing less - nor should you. (See how much smarter I am already?)

Cheer's mate! (I now speak Kiwi.)

How can I help you?
Check out my Instagram at: piedmontrealtorgirl

P.S. My new email address is: julie@juliegardner.com
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Author

    Julie Gardner, has been writing The Perspective for 18 years and has published more than 670 essays on life and real estate. 

    Picture

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    October 2008
    September 2008
    August 2008
    July 2008
    June 2008
    May 2008
    April 2008
    March 2008

    Categories

    All
    Business
    Design
    Drought
    Holiday
    Home Maintenance
    Homes For Sale
    Life
    Market
    Politics
    Renovation

    RSS Feed

    View my profile on LinkedIn
Piedmont · Oakland · Berkeley
 510.326.0840
julie@juliegardner.com
DRE# 01431765
​COMPASS

  • HOME
  • COMPASS
    • WHY COMPASS?
    • COMPASS CONCIERGE
    • COMPASS BRIDGE LOANS
  • LISTINGS
  • ABOUT
    • ABOUT JULIE
    • A DYNAMIC PARTNERSHIP
    • CONTACT
    • PROCESS
    • TESTIMONIALS
    • PRESS
  • PROJECTS
    • BEFORE & AFTER
    • GARDENS
    • OUR TEAM
    • VIDEOS
  • BLOG
  • COMMUNITY
    • UTILITIES
    • SCHOOLS