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Tag Archives: Team works blog
Congratulations to our photo contest winner!
Melissa Rodgers was already a fan of THE Gail Spada TEAM on Facebook. The 37-year-old Palm Harbor resident says she has two reasons for regularly reading The TEAM Works blog. First, Melissa and her husband own a home inspection and pest control business, and she finds the consumer-driven real estate information published here useful. Second, Melissa is an animal lover and “anytime I see someone who is donating their time and money to help the local humane society,” I try to support them, said Melissa, a native Floridian who is the human companion of Snowflake, a 5-year-old, 6-pound Maltese. Now, Melissa’s decision to be a TEAM fan has paid off in a new way. Melissa is the winner of our 2011 TEAM Christmas Photo Contest. Her winning entry earns her a 4GB Flip MinoHD Video Camera. The photo is of Melissa and her 7-month-old grand niece, Abby. The photo was … Continue reading
TEAM Christmas Photo Contest & Grand Prize
In my day, it was called a “Kodak moment.” These days, it’s more like a “digital nanosecond.” The technology of how we capture the images that tell the stories of our lives has changed dramatically. Darkrooms and film are artifacts, replaced by laptops and pixels. And just about everyone is walking around with a gadget in their pocket that not only is a camera, but a phone and a mobile computer. This is good news in many ways. Besides convenience, it gives us almost infinite opportunities to create art, visually record history and tangibly catalog our memories. The latter pursuit leads us to today’s topic. Did you know that more photographs are taken at Christmas than any other time of the year? That is not surprising when you consider that for most Americans, Christmas is the holiday brings loved ones — and magic — into our homes. Whether it is … Continue reading
Our TEAM roots for military veterans
The 11th hour, of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Everyone who paid attention in world history class should remember that date as Armistice Day, which heralded the end of World War I. Or, as it was declared then, “the war to end all wars.” Unfortunately, it did not live up to its billing, and our country has been involved in numerous conflicts since then. It seems to be the price we must continue to pay for freedom and the hope for an enduring peace. Along the way, some have paid a higher price than others. Hundreds of thousands of U.S. military service members have died, and many, many more have been wounded or injured. And an even greater number of veterans have stood ready, during times of war and peace, to answer the call of their nation, fortunate and grateful to have survived their responsibilities unharmed. … Continue reading
5 reasons to choose a REALTOR® who knows REALTORs®
In a recent post we explained how vital it is for your REALTOR® to be a good listener and an effective communicator. Clear, prompt communication between a home seller and REALTOR® greatly increases the odds that your home will sell sooner and close to your asking price. But there is another advantage to listing with an agent who communicates well with you; she almost certainly is communicating well with other REALTOR®s. And having an established, reputable real estate agent who has earned the trust and respect of a network of peers gives you a decided edge as your property competes in the local housing market. This aspect of skilled communication takes a REALTOR® from good to great, and is essential to identifying serious home shoppers and closing a sale. Consider these five reasons for choosing a well-connected and communicative real estate agent who can enhance the experience of both buyers … Continue reading
Communication is key to selling your home
Success is tied directly to one’s ability to communicate effectively. Think about it: On every level, in both our personal and professional lives, our most satisfying and fulfilling achievements begin and end with clear communication. I have found that correlation especially true in the real estate business. Plain-spoken communication is the foundation upon which we build relationships with our customers. Once we understand each other — our goals, our roles and how we can target our resources and talents — we are on our way to a successful real estate transaction. Contrary to what some people may think, the most essential skill to be an effective communicator is not to be a good talker; it is to be a good listener. That’s why I listen very closely to our customers. I ask a lot of questions because hearing the answers helps me interpret the motivations and expectations of home sellers, … Continue reading
Sellers and buyers: Less social media means more
Imagine this scenario: You’ve listed your home for sale and as your REALTOR® is showing it, you mention, with a tone of disappointment, how long it has been on the market. In the course of casual conversation you also share that your spouse has accepted a job in another state and, even though you’re looking forward to the move, you’re a little worried about the timing. After your REALTOR® pulls you into another room and puts duct tape on your mouth, you realize it probably wasn’t a good idea to let your prospective buyer know you are so anxious to make a sale because now, in all likelihood, they will factor that perceived desperation into a too-low offer. Most folks probably would not offer that much insight into their personal circumstances in a face-to-face conversation. Yet, some sellers — and buyers, too — are carelessly posting information on social media … Continue reading
More incentives that sellers can offer buyers
In our last article, we talked about sellers offering to pay for home warranties as a way to sweeten the pot for potential buyers. Warranties are a very appealing option because they offer protection for the buyer and are relatively inexpensive for the seller. Still, warranties are not right for everyone. So, determined sellers may wish to explore other buyer incentives as they work with their REALTOR® to get a leg up on their competition and make their property more memorable. As we’ve said before, the key to catching buyers’ interest is affordability. Addressing that factor begins with a realistic listing price, and continues with being creative and flexible as you customize incentives to satisfy buyers who, especially in today’s market, are culling many options. In this installment we’ll take a brief look at a few other ideas that appeal directly to the buyer’s and seller’s bottom lines. Prepaid home … Continue reading
Home-selling incentives: The successful and the silly
With so many homes on the market, sellers in Spring Hill and Brooksville often ask “What can we do to make our property stand out from the others?” The short answer to that question is simple: Lower the price. But if you’re a seller who already has lowered your asking price — maybe more than once — and you aren’t prepared to go lower, it may be time to start brainstorming with your REALTOR® about incentives you can offer that will help bring buyers to your door. When it comes to incentives, the possibilities are virtually endless. And they are most effective when other sellers in your neighborhood also have reduced their prices on their real estate, which lessens your chance of being unique. Incentives can range from furniture to financing. But some are more practical and dependable than others. While offering to throw in a Harley-Davidson or a golf … Continue reading
Pet owners as home sellers
I love pets. Not just mine, but others’. And I have a special concern for those that are orphaned or homeless. I’m pleased to express that concern by being an active supporter of both the Humane Society of the Nature Coast and the SPCA of Hernando County. I was the primary sponsor of both organizations’ annual golf tournaments this year, and the events raised more than $23,000 combined to help sustain these indispensable community resources. I also donate a portion of my professional fee to the Humane Society every time I close on a “pet parents” home. (Check out this video!) But my personal fondness for our furry friends sometimes is at odds with my professional commitment to my customers who are listing homes in Brooksville and Spring Hill. Marketing a home where pets are present can be a problem. Even if your dog or cat is well-behaved and well-trained, … Continue reading
Here lies Open House — RIP, old friend
Thank you all for joining us today as we bid farewell to our very old friend, Open House. It wasn’t really so long ago that he was a vibrant part of our community. There was a time when he was respectable and dependable, a familiar face in our neighborhoods. But over the past 10 years or so we saw less and less of him. Rumor had it that he lost his reason to exist. There were a number of contributing factors leading up to Open House’s demise. For one, he no longer felt needed by his dearest friends, old-fashioned home sellers and unimaginative REALTORs®, both of whose days also are numbered. For another, Open House was hard to work with. He commanded a huge amount of time and energy. Vulnerable from suffering repeated rejections, frustrated home sellers and desperate REALTORs® often would turn to Open House to save the day. … Continue reading
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