February 17, 2015

Sales Meeting: February 17, 2015

Darryl Davis

Buddy showed a video by Darryl Davis, Control Your Experiences Of Your Life. Darryl is an excellent real estate speaker and trainer. Wood Brothers hosted a day-long seminar with Darryl last fall. If you've never heard him, it's worth your while.

New Listings

6918 Telegraph Rd
$169900. 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms.
Stretch your legs on over half an acre when you come home to this 3 bdrm all-brick, gold medallion ranch in Oakville. Enter the front door and you're greeted by a flr to ceiling, wood-burning masonry fireplace, offering the perfect invitation for those chilly nights. Sun soaked kitchen with brkfst nook and sliding glass door leads to the expansive backyard. There's no shortage of space when it comes to entertaining at your backyard BBQ or kicking back to relax. Then head dwnstrs to the prtly finished bsmnt which boasts yet another flr to ceiling masonry fireplace, workshop, and lots of storage. The long paved driveway with turnaround pad leads to a 2car garage that offers ample parking and storage space, plus a touch of Stl history. The glazed brick lining the walls come from the former Coral Court motel which was located along historic Route 66. Back inside you'll find hdwd flrs under all of the newer carpet and thermal windows throughout. Rest easy knowing there is a 1 yr warranty

Working with Buyers

Buddy mentioned that our buyers will frequently want to look at open houses on their own. Give them a handful of your business cards and tell them, this is your open house pass. Hand these to the agent holding the house open and they'll leave you in peace.

New Construction

If you have a buyer looking at new construction homes, it is imperative that your buyer mention your name when they arrive at the display. Call ahead to the subdivision and go with your buyer. Find out as much as possible before you go. How many phases will there be? Will your customers end lot become the artery for the next four phases of construction?

If you arrive at a new construction subdivision, with few (or no) homes built, you need to find out if the plats have been recorded. If this is not the case, this is a sale that may never take place. It could very well be a dream that will remain a dream. Have utilities been run? Have subdivision restrictions been recorded?

If, on the other hand, the plats have been recorded, it might be time for your client to make a lot deposit. This is a fully refundable deposit, so there's little risk to your client, they can change their mind as long as construction hasn't started. When selecting the lot, you need to think about whether the lot will accommodate the design your client wants. If it's on a level grade, an atrium ranch house may not be possible. The lot may not be large enough to hold the swimming pool they want or the side- or rear-entry garage they need. A utility easement running through the back yard could also hinder your client's plans.

Once the lot is selected, you need to discuss features. The display home will be fully loaded, with crown molding and stainless appliances, granite countertops and hardwood floors. Your first job is to find out what constitutes a base model. Now it's time for the buyer to select all of the features they want. They won't need to make wall color selections, but they will need to decide upon cabinets, granite tops, and flooring. It's important for you to warn your buyer not to try to change things down the road, because the builder may charge them for a change. Find out about the lighting allowance on the house, how much is it, and what happens if the buyer comes in under budget?

Is the deck included? Is the patio included? If the house is being built in the fall, is there a sod escrow, or is the building planning to seed the property? What kind of landscaping allowance is being provided? What kind of guarantee is the builder providing? Scrutinize the display. Keep in mind, a reputable builder will not try to push you around, but it is your job as a buyers agent to get as much for your client as possible for free. It's also your job to keep your head out of the clouds and focused so that your people don't miss a detail. Builders will try to work with them directly, but there is a lot a value added by having an advocate in their corner. As always, get it in writing!

Once all of this has been decided, the contract is signed, and the construction has begun, your job is not finished. Keep track of the construction as it progresses. It could mean the difference between a customer for life and a disgruntled customer. As the closing draws near, walk the property with your customer. Write down the imperfections you find. Schedule a home inspection. There are a million things that a builder may have missed, forgotten, or fudged. Chances are, the inspector will find very little, but it's far better to get things fixed before a closing than ten years later, after the builder's guarantee has run its course.

Finally, if you're sick and tired of calling expired listings and for sale by owners, pay a visit to a manning agent at a subdivision. Bring some sugary treats and make friends. These agents are chained to their subdivision, but you are not. Ask them for referrals, they are meeting buyers that can't qualify for their subdivision, but that doesn't mean they can't buy a home.

Upcoming Classes

Mock Closing, Tuesday, February 17 from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm with Judy Hall of Title Partners

Using MARIS Matrix, Monday, February 23 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Enhanced Realtor.com, Wednesday, February 25 at 2 pm with Patrick Wood

Expired Listings, Tuesday, March 3 at 2 pm with Buddy Wood

Comparable Market Analysis (CMA), Wednesday, March 4 at 2 pm with Patrick Wood

VA Loans, Thursday, March 5 at 11:30 am with Amy Neier

For Sale by Owner, Monday, March 9 at 2 pm with Buddy Wood

Contracts and Forms, Wednesday, March 11 from 1 – 3 pm with Jerry Vancardo

Contracts and Forms, Thursday, March 12 from 1 -3 pm with Jerry Vancardo

Cloud Computing: Google Drive and DropBox, Monday, March 16 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Marketing Packages for Sellers and Buyers, Wednesday, March 18 at 2 pm with Patrick Wood

FormsRUs, Monday, March 23 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Dotloop.com, Monday, March 30 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Windows 8, Monday, April 6 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Farming, Wednesday, April 8 at 2 pm with Brian Prasse

Cyber Safety, Thursday, April 9 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Realist, Monday, April 13 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Real Property Report (RPR), Tuesday, April 14 at 2 pm with Patrick Wood

Financing for First Time Homebuyers, Thursday, April 16 at 11:30 am with Mike Paone of Gershman Mortgage

Exporting Matrix Data, Monday, April 20 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Comparable Market Analysis (CMA), Wednesday, April 22 at 2 pm with Patrick Wood

Using MARIS Matrix, Monday, April 27 at 11 am with Brian Prasse

Marketing Packages for Sellers and Buyers, Wednesday, April 29 at 2 pm with Patrick Wood

Sign up for open house!