The CENTURY 21 Newsletter

June - 2008
A Good Agreement
A Change In Direction
Return the Favor


Amber Castonguay

I am pleased to present you with the latest issue of Life@Home. Delivered to home buyers, sellers and owners on a monthly basis, this electronic newsletter is designed to give you the real estate information that is important to you. In each issue, you will find practical tips and articles related to buying, selling or owning a home, as well as the latest news on real estate trends. I hope that you enjoy this issue of Life@Home. If I can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to contact me.



Visit Century21.com and view more than 250,000 property listings! Visit my website at www.AmbersHomeFinder.com to view all properties.

A Good Agreement
Spring is selling season. To help your home move quickly and sell at the best price possible, you will want to hire a real estate professional to "list" or market your property. However, what the agent will do depends greatly on the type of listing contract you sign. Some contracts encourage your selling agent to work hard to sell your property while others provide much less incentive. The most popular contract, and the one that provides the most full-service marketing, is the exclusive right-to-sell listing. Here you sign a contract with one broker giving him or her the exclusive right to market your home. Services typically include posting the property to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), a database of homes that is the industry standard for available inventory. The agent may also use marketing strategies such as newspaper ads, Internet postings and direct-mail pieces. Realtor® open houses and open houses for the public are often used as well. However, should another agent or you yourself ultimately find the buyer, the exclusive right-to-sell contract is usually structured so that the broker will still be paid a commission. The clear benefit of this option is that the broker is motivated to sell the listing because he knows he will be compensated for his time and energy. Not all agreements provide the same incentive. Other types of agreements include the exclusive agency listing, the showing listing and the open listing. You should research these options and discuss them with your agent. Together you can explore whether they would work well in your situation or in your current market conditions. Once you decide on the type of agreement you prefer, look closely at the contract specifics. This would include the length, commission structure and terms of cancellation.


A Change In Direction
When you set your asking price, it was with the belief that the home was worth and could ultimately earn that amount. However, if it is several weeks later and there have been no offers, or only a very few and those far under your price point, it could be time to take action. Discuss with your agent whether or not you should reduce your asking price. Many sellers might feel discouraged at this prospect, but lowering the price to the right amount, at the right time, could work to your advantage.
It indicates to potential buyers that you understand the market conditions and are willing to make compromises when warranted. It also shows that you are truly motivated to sell the property. Both characteristics can be very appealing to buyers and their agents Once you decide to reduce the price, work with your real estate professional to make the most of the decision. For instance, he can run tailored marketing including ads tagged, "Just Reduced" or "New Price." He can contact all prospective buyers that visited your open houses or toured the home and let them know about the reduction. He can reach out to his professional network and let his colleagues know that, "This terrific home is now available for even less!" Also, it is important to remember that lowering the price may open your home to a segment of buyers who were previously locked out by the higher threshold.

Return the Favor
Interviewing for a job can be one of life's more stressful experiences. Make yourself a better candidate by preparing as much as possible. Research the company, the position and prepare your own questions. You will seem more knowledgeable and interested if you have your own relevant questions to ask.



CENTURY 21 Crossroads Realty
520 Hartwig Blvd. . Johnson Creek, WI 53038 . 920-699-8124
amber@century21crossroads.com . www.AmbersHomeFinder.com

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