I remember doing a paper in college about the olfactory sense, which is the technical name for our sense of smell.  The olfactory sense is generally believed to be the most closely linked to your memory, and it is some 10,000 times stronger than your sense of taste.  Also, certain scents will produce a highly emotional reaction.  You can probably think of at least one perfume or cologne that reminds you of someone in your past.

Why is this important to real estate?

Well, allow me to explain, if you will (and I guess even if you won't).  I have probably shown several thousand homes to home buyers over the course of my real estate career.  Patterns emerge, and trends occur with buyers.  When buyers are looking at a good number of homes, I have found it helpful and natural to designate each home with a shorthand of some sort:

• "The house with the skyline view"
• "The one with the tile roof"
• "The place with the incredible landscaping"

Of course, all of these are positive attributes, right?  On the flip side of the coin, think about how it would make you feel if your home received one of these descriptions (all of these are real, from buyers I have worked with):

• "The dog pee house"
• "The house with the weird smell"
• "The stinky house" 
• "The spice house" - This was from ethnic cooking of some sort, as I recall

Not as appealing, is it?  It probably won't surprise you to learn that the dog pee house didn't make the top three for my buyers. 

All homes have some sort of scent/odor, so it's hard to make it completely neutral.  Sometimes, frankly, the scent is too strong in the other direction (i.e. it smells heavily perfumed, which is equally distracting).  I think the worst possible combination is when there is a bad smell that is clearly (though not completely) covered with an air freshener:

 

"Is that rotten laundry smell with a hint of lavender?  Ahhhhh....nice."

"WOW!  Is that damp mustiness and lemon freshness combined?  I like it!"

No one says these things.  You must eliminate the source, not just spray Febreze and call it a day.  For the record, I like Febreze for the most part, in case you were wondering.

The best solution is to allow someone else (such as your real estate agent) to give you the lowdown on this.  We tend to get used to the smell of our own home, which is why it is sometimes jarring to sleep in another house when visiting relatives.  If you are wondering if your home has a distinct smell, I would recommend going outside for a few minutes and then coming back in.  The results may surprise you.  This method sort of cleanses your nasal palate, so to speak, and you may discover a problem that you didn't realize existed. 

Essentially, you are just going for a clean scent or something that may evoke a positive memory.  Real estate trainers the world round recommend baking something or at least using a few drops of vanilla on a cookie sheet when doing an open house.  There are tons of other techniques, but this post is really just to teach you the importance of this (often overlooked) angle when selling.

Take it from me: when you are trying to sell your home, smells do matter!  You want them to focus on your granite counters, or your high-end flooring upgrades, or your designer paint colors, not the cat boxes.

 

If you are considering selling your home anywhere in the general Austin area, please feel free to give me a call.  I would love the opportunity to help you get it sold quickly.  You can visit my primary Austin Texas real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  You can also reach me anytime on my cell phone at 512-796-7653 or via email at jason@austintexashomes.com.  I hope to hear from you soon!

I have loved the Stone Canyon neighborhood for years, having assisted many buyers and sellers in the area.  We have some very good friends in this subdivision, and I always enjoy getting a chance to visit the area parks and trails with our kids.  One of the agents who works for our company has lived there for eight years, and she knows the area inside and out. 

Located just off of Highway 620 next to the Round Rock Medical Center, it offers strong amenities, natural beauty, and high-quality homes.

Currently, there are 27 homes available on the MLS in Stone Canyon, with an average asking price of $237,758.  The average square footage for these homes is 2,668, for an average price per square foot of $89.78. 

There are 7 homes under contract right now in Stone Canyon, with an average price of $224,614.  The average square footage on these homes is 2,119, yielding an average square footage price of $106.00.  Although this represents a big increase in the square footage amount from the previous six months, the home size that is selling readily is quite a bit smaller than before.

Over the summer months, there were 20 sales closed within Stone Canyon.  The average listing price was $242,789 and the average sales price was $237,278.  This means that homes sold for  97.8% of the list price.  This number is exactly the same as it was for the first six months of 2008.  The average number of days on the market was 63 days, which is less than the average for the Austin market right now.  The square footage of the homes sold averaged 2,647, and the price per square foot for the sales was $89.65.

If you are a homeowner living in another neighborhood in or near Austin or Round Rock and you are interested in seeing the trends in your particular neighborhood, please don't hesitate to contact me, and I can create a custom report for you.  All of my contact information is below.

If you are considering selling your home in Stone Canyon (or anywhere in the general Austin or Round Rock area), please feel free to give me a call.  I would love the opportunity to help you get it sold quickly.  You can visit my primary Austin Texas real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  You can also reach me anytime on my cell phone at 512-796-7653 or via email at jason@austintexashomes.com. 

Thanks for checking out this brief analysis!

I am often asked about which areas our company covers with regard to listing properties.  The short answer is that we handle the entire Austin metro area and beyond in about 30 minutes in each direction.  The long answer is that we are able to assist you in any of the following areas (not broken down into neighborhoods - if your neighborhood is in one of these towns, we can likely help):

Austin

Round Rock

Pflugerville

Cedar Park

Leander

Georgetown

Liberty Hill

Rollingwood

Westlake Hills

Spicewood

Lakeway

Volente

Lago Vista

Jonestown

Manchaca

Dripping Springs

Driftwood

Wimberley

Bastrop

Buda

Kyle

Manor

Elgin

Coupland

Jarrell

Hutto

Taylor

Any homes on Lake Travis or Lake Austin

 

We have sold homes in every area listed above.

BUT HOW?!?

After looking at this extensive list, you are probably wondering how we can cover so much ground.  Since I have 15 agents on my team, many of whom live in outlying areas of town, we probably have an agent or two in your neck of the woods. 

With regard to my philosophies on listing homes, you can check out the following posts that I have written on this topic:

How to Choose the Best Listing Agent for Your Needs

Top 10 Most Common Mistakes to Avoid When Selling Your Home - In fact, I'll throw in an extra one for you!

If you are considering listing your home, you owe it to yourself to call me first.  Perhaps we are not the best fit for you, in which case I will tell you this, rather than trying to make the square peg fit into the round hole, like some agents. 

I have been in Austin real estate full-time for almost 12 years now.  There are certainly others who have sold more homes than I have, but you would be hard-pressed to find an agent with more integrity than me.  I would rather talk you out of a home purchase or an offer on your home than to assist you in making a bad decision.

If you are considering selling a home in Austin (or anywhere in the general central Texas area), please feel free to give me a call.  I would love the opportunity to help you sell your property as quickly as the market can bear.  You can visit our primary Austin Texas real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  You can also reach me anytime on my cell phone at 512-796-7653 or via email at jason@austintexashomes.com.  Thanks!

According to a report from Business Week magazine which was released today, Austin real estate has not suffered the same ill effects that have plagued many markets around the U.S.  The zip code 78749 placed SECOND (behind Sunnyvale, CA) for the lowest number of days on the market, at 68 days.

The article contains the following statement:

Austin has the University of Texas, plenty of high-tech jobs, and one of the most vibrant rock music scenes in the world. The real estate market is one of the nation's real estate bright spots.

As a 20-year resident of Austin and a 12-year veteran of real estate here, I couldn't agree more. 

The overall market in Austin is also brisk, with an average time on the market hovering around 80-85 days, just slightly up from last year.  There are zips within the Plano and Houston markets that placed on the list as well.

Here is Austin's snapshot page within the article:

http://images.businessweek.com/ss/08/09/0905_fast_selling_homes/3.htm

If you are considering a home purchase here in the Austin area, I would love the opportunity to help you with this.  I have been selling homes in Austin since 1997, and our team is knowledgeable with regard to almost every area of central Texas. 

Here is my online relocation package if you are interested in checking it out:

Austin Texas Relocation Package

Having lived here since the fall of 1988, I can assert that Austin is an absolutely terrific place to call home.  I hope you decide to join us here!  If you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to contact me.  My cell phone number is 512-796-7653 and my email address is jason@austintexashomes.com.  Our main site for Austin homes is http://www.austintexashomes.com.  I look forward to hearing from you soon! 

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Falcon Pointe is a 700-acre master-planned community in the fast-growing Pflugerville area. As the largest master-planned community in Pflugerville, Falcon Pointe offers homes priced from the $170,000s to $300,000s by leading builders, along with a popular Residents Club, parks and greenbelt trails. Falcon Pointe is home to three on-site schools, all part of the highly acclaimed Pflugerville Independent School District.

I have lived in the adjacent Blackhawk area for almost six years, so I try to stay on top of trends in the area.

Currently, there are 32 new and resale homes available on the MLS in Falcon Pointe, with an average asking price of $263,876.  The average square footage for these homes is 2,970, for an average price per square foot of $90.43.

Presently, there are 6 homes under contract in the subdivision, with an average listing price of $212,676, and an average square footage of 2,603, yielding an average price per square foot of $88.85. 

Over the past quarter (April through June 2008), there were 9 sales closed within Falcon Pointe.  The average listing price was $262,647 and the average sales price was $244,489 (93% of asking).  The average size was 3,081 s.f., which put the average price per square foot at $81.00 with the average days on market running at 81 days (slightly more than the overall Austin market). 

I have noticed a trend toward larger homes in Falcon Pointe lately, with five homes over 4000 square feet under construction presently.

In other immediate area news:

Located at the intersection of the aforementioned toll roads (45 and 130), Stone Hill Town Center is slated to open within a few months, and it promises over 1,000,000 square feet of shopping and entertainment.  Home Depot, Best Buy, Chili's, several retail clothing stores, a large Cinemark theater, and a fitness center are among the anticipated tenants.

Here is a link to the developer's map, showing the stores and restaurants committed to open there:

http://www.newquestproperties.com/property_retail/property/Stone%20Hill%20Town%20Center/SitePlan/pfu5-07.pdf

Additionally, at 685 and Pfluger Lane, Pfluger Crossing is already open and expanding to 500,000 square feet.  Starbucks recently opened on the northern edge, and other stores there include Wal-Mart, Gamestop, Sprint, and Baskin Robbins.  The expansion will include a Radio Shack location facing Highway 685.  They recently opened a Starbucks there as well.  

If you are considering selling your home in Falcon Pointe (or anywhere in the general Austin area), please feel free to give me a call.  I would love the opportunity to help you get it sold quickly.  You can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com.  You can also reach me anytime on my cell phone at 512-796-7653 or via email at jason@austintexashomes.com.  Thanks for checking out this brief analysis! 

As a six-year resident of the Blackhawk area and a 13-year resident of Pflugerville, I like to keep an eye on the market values here in the area.  When the toll roads opened about a year and a half ago, the prices started trending upward and they certainly have continued to appreciate, even in a slower market.  As a fellow homeowner, this stuff is important to me, too! 

Currently, there are 17 resale homes available on the MLS in the Fairways, with an average asking price of $246,292.  The average square footage for these homes is 2,638, for an average price per square foot of $94.25.  The number of homes is quite a few more than normal right now - last quarter there were just 6 on the market when I ran these numbers.

Presently, there are 2 homes under contract in the subdivision, with an average listing price of $253,741, and an average square footage of 2,947, yielding an average price per square foot of $85.48. 

Over the past quarter (April through June 2008), there were only 3 sales closed within the Fairways of Blackhawk.  The average listing price was $289,118 and the average sales price was $280,000.  This means that homes sold for approximately 96.8% of the list price.  The average number of days on the market was just 27, which is about 40 days less than the average for the Austin MLS.  The square footage of the homes sold averaged 3,247, and the price per square foot for the sales was $87.00.

 

In other area news:

Located at the intersection of the aforementioned toll roads (45 and 130), Stone Hill Town Center is slated to open within a few months, and it promises over 1,000,000 square feet of shopping and entertainment.  Home Depot, Best Buy, Chili's, several retail clothing stores, a large Cinemark theater, and a fitness center are among the anticipated tenants.

Here is a link to the developer's map, showing the stores and restaurants committed to open there:

http://www.newquestproperties.com/property_retail/property/Stone%20Hill%20Town%20Center/SitePlan/pfu5-07.pdf

Additionally, at 685 and Pfluger Lane, Pfluger Crossing is already open and expanding to 500,000 square feet.  Starbucks recently opened on the northern edge, and other stores there include Wal-Mart, Gamestop, Sprint, and Baskin Robbins.  The expansion will include a Radio Shack location facing Highway 685.  They recently opened a Starbucks there as well.  

 

If you are considering selling your home in the Fairways of Blackhawk (or anywhere in the general Austin area), please feel free to give me a call.  I would love the opportunity to help you get it sold as quickly as possible.  You can visit my primary Austin real estate website at www.austintexashomes.com. 

You can also reach me anytime on my cell phone at 512-796-7653 or via email at jason@austintexashomes.com.  Thanks for checking out this brief analysis!

As a six-year resident of the Meadows of Blackhawk, I like to keep an eye on the market values here in our neighborhood.  When the toll roads opened about a year and a half ago, the prices started trending upward and they continue to appreciate.  As a fellow homeowner, this is important to me, too! 

Currently, there are 27 homes available in the Meadows, with an average asking price of $220,201.  The average square footage for these homes is 2,629, for an average price per square foot of $84.53.

Presently, there are 8 homes under contract in the subdivision, with an average listing price of $215,998, and an average square footage of 2,502, yielding an average price per square foot of $85.62. 

Over the past quarter (April through June 2008), there were 13 sales closed within Meadows of Blackhawk.  The average listing price was $220,894 and the average sales price was $214,112.  This means that homes sold for approximately 97% of the list price.  The average number of days on the market was 48, which is about 20 days less than the average for the Austin MLS.  The square footage of the homes sold averaged 2,644, and the price per square foot for the sales was $82.00.

In other area news:

Located at the intersection of the aforementioned toll roads (45 and 130), Stone Hill Town Center is slated to open within a few months, and it promises over 1,000,000 square feet of shopping and entertainment.  Home Depot is already open, and other retail building is getting close.  Best Buy, Super Target, Chili's, several retail clothing stores, a large Cinemark theater, and 24-Hour Fitness are among the anticipated tenants.

Here is a link to the developer's map, showing the stores and restaurants committed to open there:

http://www.newquestproperties.com/property_retail/property/Stone%20Hill%20Town%20Center/SitePlan/pfu5-07.pdf

Additionally, at 685 and Pfluger Lane, Pfluger Crossing is already open and expanding to 500,000 square feet.  Starbucks recently opened on the northern edge, and other stores there include Wal-Mart, Gamestop, Sprint, and Baskin Robbins.  The expansion will include a Radio Shack location facing Highway 685.  

If you are considering selling your home in the Meadows of Blackhawk (or anywhere in the general Austin area), please feel free to give me a call.  I would love the opportunity to help you get it sold quickly.  You can visit my primary website at www.austintexashomes.com.  You can also reach me anytime on my cell phone at 512-796-7653 or via email at jason@austintexashomes.com.  Thanks for checking out this brief analysis!

 

I have been selling homes in and around Austin, Texas since January 1997, and I have helped many, many sellers as a listing agent.  I am also the broker and owner of a company with 16 agents, and I train others on how to sell real estate. 

In a nutshell, part of my job is to prevent my clients from making costly mistakes.  I tend to see people make the same common errors, year in and year out.  By making these mistakes, they might keep their home on the market too long, or even, in many cases, keep their own home from selling at all.  I've taken the time to record some of these errors here for your benefit.  This is a long post, so you might consider printing it or bookmarking the page for future reference.

OVERPRICING

Frankly, the price is very important, especially with other underlying economic factors afffecting consumer confidence.  One of the best ways to prevent your home from selling quickly, or at all, is to list it at too high a price.  I'm sure that you don't want to pay too much for things, and neither do potential buyers of your home.

This is a sensitive issue for most people, because we tend to identify somewhat with our homes.  Many people think of their homes as an extension of themselves and their lives.  This is partially true, because our homes are the places where some of the most important events of our lives occur:  the baby's first steps, hugs and time with family, cooking and family meals.

While this attitude is understandable, when it comes time to sell your home, it's necessary to take a different view.  A home sale is a business transaction.  Your home, which you value so highly, and may even still somehow see as "basically new," will not be seen as such to potential buyers who are looking for a home in excellent condition, in a good location at a reasonable price.

Keep in mind that market value is determined by what a motivated and qualified buyer is willing to pay for your home, not simply what you feel it should be worth.

 

 

NEGLECTING NECESSARY REPAIRS

I have had clients who want to get everything perfect before selling, which is a problem in and of itself, but more often as agents we see deferred maintenance items on homes that we are looking to list. 

"What the heck is deferred maintenance, Jason?"

What this means is that sellers are saving money in the short-term by allowing things to remain broken, but when it's time to sell, it's time to fix these items.  It's probably best to put yourself in the buyer's shoes for a moment - would you like to buy a home with problems that the seller refused to fix?  Perhaps if it was priced well under market, but otherwise you wouldn't. 

Another common trait among sellers that we have worked with over the years is the idea that you have negotiated a fair price, so the buyer shouldn't ask for any repairs.  Again, put yourself on the other side of the deal.  While the buyer may be thinking this way, the more likely scenario is that they want the right price AND the right condition.

 

NEGLECTING TO STAGE YOUR HOME

This one is certainly more difficult in some cases than in others.  Every once in awhile, I see homes that are "showing ready", but usually they need some help preparing to show.  First and foremost, de-clutter!  You may be able to throw away a lot of things, or you may need to rent a storage unit, or both if you are in a serious clutter zone.  Regardless, this is an absolute necessity in a competitive market.  Your agent can usually help with some good ideas, or you may wish to hire a professional home stager (highly recommended if you can find a good one).  We know several good stagers who can help.

As a side note, you want to make your home as neutral as possible, in order to appeal to the broadest spectrum of buyers.  Home builders have known this for years, which is why they hire professional decorators to assist with the design and staging details.  You want to eliminate any odd decor items that may appeal to your unique sense of style, but which may appear strange to buyers.

 

 

 GETTING HUNG UP ON SMALL STUFF

I worked on a ranch sale years ago that was a multi-million dollar transaction, and it was almost blown over the deer feeders, which probably cost $1000-2000.  When you are selling your home, keep the big picture in mind rather than allowing yourself to get hung up on something small.  Another example would be refusing to pay for a necessary repair (you will have to do it no matter what if you really want to sell), or not paying for a one-year limited warranty.  Is it really worth blowing your sale over something little? 

 

 

 

TURNING A BUSINESS ISSUE INTO AN EMOTIONAL ISSUE

As I mentioned above, a home sale is really just a business transaction, although it can often be difficult to make this distinction when you have so much of yourself invested in your home.  I have had a number of occasions when my clients did not personally like the people buying their home, but I have to gently remind them that they will not have to deal with them very long, and then they can move on with their lives.  Don't allow your emotions to prevent you from getting your home sold.  If you don't like the buyers, it really doesn't matter, as long as the terms are agreeable. 

Keep the big picture in mind and move forward.

 

 
TRYING TO SELL IT YOURSELF

Nationally, over 80% of the homes listed "for sale by owner" end up listing the property with an agent.  Clearly, this is a very low success rate.  To be sure, there are exceptions, such as when you are in a VERY hot area with good drive-by traffic.  Statistically, you actually stand a better chance of opening a new restaurant than you do of selling your own home.

If you do decide to "go it alone", keep in mind that you are responsible for screening everyone that sees the house, and for being available during the day for showings.  You also need to familiarize yourself with the contracts, and find a suitable office to close the transaction.  Add to this the relatively new challenge of tighter mortgage guidelines (Can this buyer truly qualify to buy the home?). 

These are all details that your agent can and will handle for you.

 

 

CHOOSING THE WRONG AGENT TO REPRESENT YOU

If you choose the wrong person to list your home, this is something that is difficult to overcome during the sales process.  If the agent has a bad, pushy or argumentative personality, no matter how experienced they are, RUN the other way!  Having a dishonest agent is another terrible situation to be in as a seller. 

Some agents will mislead you in order to get you to accept an offer that won't work for you, or they may try to scare you into thinking that your home won't sell at all unless you drop the price dramatically.
Primarily, you want someone who is friendly, loyal, honest, and who has your best needs in mind.  Next, knowledge of the market is important - make sure you understand what you are competing with, and which homes have recently sold.  Lastly, an agent with good marketing skills is worth their weight in gold.

 

 

NOT TRUSTING YOUR AGENT (unless it's the guy above)

Now that you have hired the CORRECT agent, trust them to do their job, unless you are given a strong reason to think otherwise.  This includes allowing the agents to communicate on your behalf, rather than attempting to speak directly with the buyers.  In some cases, it is necessary or even advisable for this to occur, but usually it doesn't help matters, especially during the negotiations.

In addition to selling lots of homes, I have watched a bunch of the home-selling shows on TV, and time and time again, I am able to predict the outcome (price, problems, etc.).  This comes from experience, and it is something difficult to teach or to learn from a book.  Trust that the advise your agent gives you is solid, as this is what they do every day.

 

 
SELLING AT THE WRONG TIME

Selling with bad timing can happen at least three different ways:

a. you are selling and you don't know where you are going,

b. you put your home on the market immediately before you have to move, or

c. you are selling at the wrong time of year. 

If you have no idea where you are going to buy next, it's probably not great to put your home on the market, unless you simply cannot afford your home anymore, or if you are in imminent danger.  The inevitable outcome of listing too soon is that you will receive an offer from someone who wants to move in right away, and you are forced to either reject the offer or move to temporary housing, then move again when you find the right home.  If you are like me, you don't enjoy moving, so why put additional stress on yourself?

If you are building a home with a particular timeline in mind, or if you are starting a new job and you have some time to prepare, don't wait until it's too late to get your home listed.  You don't want to leave the home vacant and (worse) have two house payments while you are trying to sell.  It's never too early to contact an agent and ask when you should list, with your particular needs and timing.

We sometimes have clients who spend too much time getting their homes ready to sell, and they miss the big selling window in our market.  Don't spend an inordinate amount of time preparing your home and end up missing the primary selling season in your area.

 

 
NOT GIVING POTENTIAL BUYERS ACCESS TO YOUR HOME

This is a critical point: buyers DO NOT work around your ideal schedule. If it is a reasonable time of day (i.e. you are awake and most normal people also are), LET THEM LOOK.  Even if things are in disarray, LET THEM LOOK.  Even if the buyer's agent doesn't give you any notice, LET THEM LOOK.  Although I always try to prepare for showings the day before they happen (or at least several hours ahead of time) and I train our agents to do this, there are times when a buyer will spot a sign and ask about a particular home that is not on the list.  Sometimes, they buy this home.  Keep that in mind when you have your home listed. 

Another good point which warrants mentioning here is to get out of the house when buyers are looking.  Preferably, this means going for a walk or going to run errands, but at the very least, go outside and give them some privacy while they are looking with their agent.  Buyers never feel at ease when you are in the home hovering around them.  LET THEM LOOK on their terms.  If you are concerned about valuables, lock them up somewhere.

 

 

 

BUYING THE WRONG HOME IN THE FIRST PLACE

This is another area where having a good agent comes into play.  A good quality agent will prevent you from buying something that is not a wise decision (next to railroad tracks, under a freeway overpass, etc.).  If you can make a smart decision on your purchase, when it is time to sell, you will be much happier.  You can't change the location of your home once you have made the purchase. 

 

Although this is not meant to be an exhaustive list of important items when you are selling your home, these are among the most common problems that I have seen personally.  I hope you have found this list to be helpful.  Please feel free to contact me (Jason Crouch) at 512-796-7653 (cell) or by visiting our Austin Real Estate website at http://www.austintexashomes.com.  I look forward to helping you with your sale!

 

If you have decided to sell your home, it could be for any number of reasons.  Perhaps you just need more space for an expanding family or your lifestyle has changed, and your current house just doesn't fit your needs anymore. 

 

Sometimes, the reason is much more stressful, such as a divorce, death, or unexpected job relocation.  Regardless of your personal reasons for selling, the last thing you need is a high-pressure salesperson or someone who is unprofessional or doesn't understand the current market. 

 

Our team has represented clients from virtually every walk of life and of varying ages and cultural identities.  We can handle almost anything when it comes to selling your home.  We list and sell properties throughout Austin and most of the surrounding areas.

Am I the right listing agent for you?  Frankly, I am not sure - we haven't met in person yet. 

 

When you are selecting an agent, make sure you find someone whose personality doesn't grate on you from the beginning. 

Do they bore you to tears during your conversation? 

Believe me, THIS IS A CRITICAL POINT.  Even if an agent has terrific credentials and has sold a lot of homes over the years, they may not make you feel very comfortable or they may be just "phoning it in" (i.e. not trying very hard anymore).  This is a HUGE red flag, because you will be dealing very closely with whomever you choose, so you will want to choose wisely. 

 

Along the same lines, it's also important to note that this person will be your representative and your "face" to other agents and to any potential buyers throughout the period of time when your home is on the market.  If you don't feel comfortable around the agent, I can assure you that no one else will either.

 

Also, you want an agent who will tell you the TRUTH about your home, both with regard to the price and the condition.  Many agents just want the listing so badly that they will just go along with whatever price you select, with no regard for the market.  The mentality here is, "I'll just take the listing, then we'll work on getting it reduced later."  This is a huge mistake, since you will end up losing out on the initial buyers who might have seen your home when the price was too high.  Our team is skilled at pricing homes to sell as quickly as possible yet at the maximum market price.  I am not afraid to be honest.

 

In a competitive real estate market like Austin's has been for a number of years now, you also need a Realtor who will assist you in staging the home to sell.  I have a couple of terrific professional stagers that I can recommend for you. 

 

Experience counts (I have 11+ years of full-time experience myself), but it is not as important as the level of service that you will receive.  Many experienced agents put their name on the sign, and you will never see or hear from them again.  Instead, you may be dealing exclusively with a team member of theirs.  Ask them.

 

It doesn't hurt to also find out what the agent's policy is if you are unhappy during the process for whatever reason.  I would rather release someone from a listing agreement than deal with an unhappy client, or a strained and difficult relationship.

 

To put it simply, there's no magic formula for choosing the best agent.  It's usually a combination of factors that go into the decision making process.  We would love the opportunity to speak with you and/or meet with you if you are considering selling your home in the general Austin area. 

 

Please feel free to call or email me anytime with questions.  I hope to hear from you soon.  Thanks!

Copyright 2008  Austin Real Estate