Stacey-Ann's Blog

Many sellers have a hard time divorcing themselves from their homes when they put them on the market.  It's critical for the success of the transaction that the seller no longer sees the house as their home but instead sees it as a business deal.

I have heard several stories lately of people who have their homes listed and have received good offers but have turned them down.  When asked why, they say things about not being sure the buyer could afford the home, or they were "insulted" by the offer.

As a seller i its important to remember that many times the first offer is the best offer.  This is especially true in this market.  Even if an offer seems unreasonable initially, it is better to counter and attempt to negotiate rather than reject it out-right.  The buyer does not care that you and Uncle Phil spent countless hours redoing the kitchen and the bathroom.  What today's buyers care about is that they feel as though they are getting a good deal.

Before you put your house on the market be certain that you understand why you are selling and that your expectations are realistic.  What your neighbor sold his home for 2 years ago is no longer valid in today's market.  

Some important tips for sellers:

• Be realistic about your price.  Listen to your agent when they make recommendations about a listing price.
  
• Begin the process of detaching yourself from your home by packing up some of your emotional and sentimental items.
  
• Be open-minded about all offers that are received.
  
• Don't try to control too many aspects of the negotiation.
  
• Don't lose a deal over insignificant stuff (don't lose a $400,000 sale because you don't want to make $500 in repairs).
  

The most important tip:

Make sure you really want to sell.  If you don't actually want to sell then no offer will be right and you will simply be wasting time, energy, and money listing your home. 

I had a closing today at a seller chosen title company (this was a foreclosure).  There had been a few bumps along the way but I had been really pleased with the closing processor.  She was pleasant and responsive to my questions.  She tried to help when things were getting nasty with the bank.  When the closing docs came in at the 11th hour from our lender she stayed to make sure the HUD was done and that we would be ready to close this morning.

I am waiting in the lobby of this company for the buyer to arrive and for us to get settlement going.  I am reading a magazine when all of a sudden I hear a growl and look up and there is a dog!  I do not like dogs so i get up and move and let the receptionist know that I am afraid of dogs.  A man came out of an office and the dog came closer so I retreated further, once again saying "I am afraid of dogs".  This man says "Oh she's friendly".  I said "I don't care, I don't like dogs."  The man simply walked away and left the dog who once again began to come towards me.  I said for the fourth time "I don't do dogs!"  The receptionist finally got up and took her outside." 

My buyer arrived and she asked why is there a dog out there.  I explained that she had been inside and she said "Oh no!  I don't like dogs."  Then she asked "Isn't it inappropriate to have a dog here since this is an office?"

Eventually, the processor came to get us and she apologized saying that the dog worked there because it was the owner's dog. The owner was the man who told me she was friendly and then walked away.

I had been pleased with my experience with the title company processor and I was pleased with the closing attorney and I probably would have put them on my list of title companies to use in the future.  However, I will never set foot in that company again unless I am forced simply because there was a dog there.  The big issue wasn't the actual dog but the way the owner acted when it was clear that I was not comfortable with dogs.  Just because you love your dog doesn't mean I have to.

This is an example of how one bad thing can undo a world of good and that what will stay with my memory is not the great service I got from the processor but the fact that I did not like my experience while I was waiting for the closing.

This morning my husband and I had the pleasure of attending a reception at my daughter's school honoring the April/May Students of the Month.  

The criteria for selection were:

• Student who had been working to his/her potential
  
• Student who has not been sent to the office for disciplinary action
  
• Student who has an "A" average in conduct for the month
  
• Student who exhibits good character
  
• Student who is honest
  
• Student who is respectful to all adults and fellow students.
  

The students of the month were selected from each grade.  Their bios and photos were posed on a bulletin board at the front of the school explaining why they were chosen.  

What a great way to honor kids that are trying to do the right thing.

Below is a picture of my daughter with her certificate.

I have been noticing a horrible trend in the news lately and that is kids killing each other.

In the past few weeks there have been three incidents that have stood out to me:

Waldorf, Md

17 year old student kills another 17 year old boy.  Both boys were students at the same high school.

Forestville,MD

19 year old pregnant girl is run over by her teenage boyfriend.  Both were freshmen in college.

Crofton, MD

A group of teenagers attack and kill another teenager riding his bicycle.

It's frightening because these crimes appear to be occurring in different income levels and demographics, and in so called "safe neighborhoods".  It really makes you wonder what our teenagers are experiencing to create this level of anger.  I hope these are isolated incidents and not indications of escalating violence among our teenagers.

As much as I love being a realtor, there are aspects of the job that I don't love.

By far, the hardest part for me is the emotional let down that comes after a transaction closes.  I sometimes feel out of sorts, like I don't know what to do with myself when a transaction is done.  Most of the my clients have been great and I enjoy the regular interactions with them.  After the sale closes and there is no reason to be in constant touch with them I go through a period of withdrawal.  I know I will keep in touch with them but the interactions are never quite the same as when there is an active deal going.  I actually had a client say to me that the only down-side to her home search coming to an end is that we won't talk to each other as frequently.  It was quite a compliment and I felt better that I am not the only person who misses these interactions when they are no longer as regular.

What part of the job gets you?

It is a pretty common theme among agents that all part-time agents are terrible and do a dis-service to their client.  I reject that notion as I do many other stereotypes that I have encountered in my life.

Technincally I would be one of those part-time agents.  I am an undergraduate psychology professor.  During the academic year I work very hard on both jobs (I don't teach over the summer).  I am always prepared for my classes and available for my students.  I am also responsive to my real estate client's needs.  If someone calls when I am in class the call is returned usually within the hour.  There are many "full-time" agents that don't return calls that quickly.  I spend more time in the office, at sales meetings, on floor time, at open houses, working with clients, and blogging than many "full-time" agents.  I have my listings set up with a showing service so that a buyer's agent is not held hostage waiting for a return phone call.  I work closely with another agent so that we are able to cover for each other if for some reason one of us is unavailable (illnes, other committments, child care, vacations, client conflicts, etc).  

So my question is:  What makes someone "part-time"?

Is it really about whether or not they have another job or other interests?  Or is it more about their work ethic and the dedication that they give towards their real estate career.  There are many full-time agents that do not return phone calls, update their listings, give feedback, or communicate with their clients.

I know many full-time agents who volunteer at their child's school or work tirelessly on charities that take up a great deal of their time. Should they be considered part-timers?

I also know many seasoned full-time agents who have taken on another job because of the state of the real-estate market.  Are these people part-time?  I bet they don't see themselves as part-time agents.   

I agree that when the market was hot there were many people who got into the business part-time to make a quick buck.  However, if we are honest we will admit that many of the full-time agents got in for that same reason and many of them did not learn all they needed to know.  A bad full-time agent is as much a detriment to a client as a bad part-time agent.  We can hope that those agents that are only doing the job for the money and who don't care about the well-being of the client will leave during these tough times, be they full or part-time.

Believe it or not, I think the fact that I have another career has been as asset for me during this difficult market.  For one, I don't have the same worries about lack of an income because I do have a steady (albeit small) paycheck.  This allows me to stay patient through this difficult market.  I got into real estate during a slow time knowing that I have the security of another job but also knowing that there was much that could be learned during a slow market that I could use effectively when the market picked up.  

So many agents have said to me "I hope the market picks up soon so you can quit your job."  I have no interest in quitting my job.  For me, I love teaching and I am good at it and I love helping people buy and sell homes and I am good at it.  These two jobs fulfill two different parts of my personality.  The teaching allows me to impart my knowledge and love of psychology to young interested minds.  The real estate allows me to work intimately with people helping them make some of the biggests decisions of their lives and helping them manage their stress and anxiety during the process.  

The decision to do both careers has been the best decision I have made in my professional life.  I may be busy but I am very happy.  

Personally, I don't see myself as a part-time agent.  I work full-time in real estate (at least 40 hours/week) and I teach college full-time.  I have two very fulfilling careers.   

The third, annual Angie Houtz Memorial Golf Tournament will be held on Friday September 18, 2009 at the beautiful Oak Creek Golf Club in Upper Marlboro, MD.  This is your opportunity to experience this exclusive, member's only golf course while helping a worthy cause and having tons of fun.

Four-person scramble will be begin at 1:00Pm.

Fee:  $125 per person ($120 if registered before 8/15/2009)

        $480 per foursome

Fee includes box lunch, dinner, awards reception, drinks, and snacks.  Also includes contests and prizes.  As a special bonus, a 1 year subscription to Golf Digest will be included for anyone who registers online.

Sponsorships are available and can be tailored to meet the needs of individual companies and budgets.  Prizes for goody bags and auction items are also needed.

For more information visit:  www.golfdigestplanner.com/12017-angie or call Stacey 240-481-3565.

This plantation home was built in 1813 and was the home of Supreme Court Justice Gabriel Duvall.  Features a guided tour of the home, gift shop and beautiful 25 acres of land featuring some of the original out-buildings.  

Located at 5626 Bell Station Road, Glenn Dale, MD and is very accessible to the new communities of Fairwood and Woodmore North.