August 9, 2007

Inconvenient Truths...

Selling a house is often romanced and presented differently than it's reality, prettier seen from a distance than up close. Most people who have been through it have a thing or two they would have done differently had they known from the beginning all that would be required of them. In this newsletter I treat readers as mature adults able to, as Jack Nicholson famously put it, "handle the truth." Over the years I've observed certain behaviors that highly successful sellers engage in that others do not--I believe mostly linked to their understanding of and willingness to accept and manage the "inconvenient truths" of house selling. Now, more than ever, it is important for you to understand, and as Jack says "handle" the truth.

Here are a few examples to wet your appetite...

#1-There Is No Tomorrow, No Yesterday, There Is Only Today.
The inconvenient truth is buyers will only be responsive to a price that is solely based on present moments, not the recent past or the promise of tomorrow's market.

#2-Being Cheap Costs More.
The inconvenient truth is bargains are most often offered by those less capable, and in the end aren't really bargains at all and end up costing you more.

#3 Experience Matters (A Lot).
The inconvenient truth is not all agents are of equal value. Not even close. You're asking for trouble if you focus on ANYTHING other than ability to perform the required task at the highest and best level (see #3 above).

#4 If It's Meant To Be It's Up To Me.
The inconvenient truth is you can fight, resist, or ignore your agent's advice and in spite of the agent performing their job perfectly your home can take longer to sell or not sell at all.

There is great temptation to shop for an advisor who give you advice you like and agree with. This is the temptation that virtually guarantees frustrating failure. Remember, unwelcome advice from a worthy voice is often the very advice you should follow.