What To Do With All This BS?

Author’s Note: Due to a complaint about the legitimacy of information in this post I have double checked my sources and found the data to be accurate and made some notes below. I have also made some edits to help protect the home buyers/sellers involved as well some of the language has been edited due to individual interpretation of the specific words used.

I think I need a skid of these to deal with it all!

I hear all sorts of stories in this business. I recognize that they all start with a kernel of truth and through the art of story telling they get altered slightly. We all remember playing broken telephone as children, right?

I was out putting up the first of two sold signs in Cambridge last Friday when I came across a flyer blowing aimlessly on our client's door step. I am sure it fell out of the door jam or mailbox but there it was carefully avoiding my feet as it tried to get my attention.

I picked it up to see the same drab excuse of a flyer we expect from a (replaced Joe Schmoe with) ordinary agent. What popped for me was the PropertyGuys.com sign in the photo. (Using other people's trade marks in your advertising is not allowed and was a big motivator to this post. I have scanned and presented the flyer as it was found and included another company logo only to show the flyer in it's entirety.) When I read it in detail I knew it was a stretch of the truth at best. It is the exact opposite of everything we see in the market...so I did some digging.

Nothing is the truth except the truth, and here it is.

Address deleted
Listed with PropertyGuys.com on July 14 2008 at $267,900
Cancellation date deleted
Listed with Robert Wollziefer on Sept 30 2008 at $269,900 MLS® #0894383
Relisted with Robert Wollziefer on Dec 1st 2008 at $259,900 MLS® #0895294
Sold Date Jan 29 2009 for $255,000 (There was some question to privacy laws in publicizing the sold value of the property. This is already public information available through the Municipal Property Assessment Corporation aka MPAC)
Total days on MLS 121
Estimated commission paid at 3.5% $8,925 plus $446.25 in GST
Net amount client sold for deleted

Here are some points that Robert fails to point out in his marketing piece:
Details of the price drop of $8,000 in listing price and $12,900 to the actual SOLD price
(Deleted a comment regarding bottom line price client received after commissions payed).
Property was relisted after 60 days on the market

Here is (in my opinion) the absolute (replaced false with) misleading statement made:
"One day they received 3 offers and can now move forward"

As you can see from the truth above, they were listed for a total of 121 days with Robert (deleted “and not the 1 day he states”. It was brought to my attention that the client did in fact receive 3 offers in one day, the ad fails to mention that it took 120 days prior to that happening). The truth is they were listed twice as long with Robert than with PropertyGuys.com and needed to drop their price because it was price that was the issue not their choice of marketing. (Deleted language specific to the client and replaced with) One of the true benefits of selling privately is the fact that you are able to lower the cost of the transaction. Those costs can either be kept by the seller or used as a tool to lower their price, making them more attractive in the market place and sell faster.

Way to help them "Move Forward" Mr. Wollziefer, (grammatical error replaced your) you’re a gem!

Do you have a similar story? Leave a comment! Your story may help someone else avoid the "Rubber Lips"...


M

She Needs Your HELP!

Do you remember the Ypreneur Gene contest I blogged about earlier this month?

Things are starting to heat up with over 25 contestants vying for top spot and a $100,000 franchise package from CYBF and PropertyGuys.com.

We have seen our first entry from the Waterloo Wellington area entered by our very own associate Martha Neath. Martha joined our team in September of 2008 and quickly became a valued member. Her belief in Private Sale spread like an infection. She was passing it on to everyone she knew. But then she realized it was more than just that.

When she found out about the contest that could put her at the helm of her own Private Sale ship she came to the conclusion her infection spread so fast because she had the Ypreneur Gene.

Now it's time for you to help make her dream a reality. The first round of the Ypreneur Gene contest is a down and dirty popularity contest. She needs your votes by 11:59pm Oct 31st. So HELP MARTHA OUT!

Here is her video submission for your viewing pleasure...

Have You Seen This Dinosaur?

Now why do you think he ended up here?

There are many theories as to why the dinosaurs disappeared. Many creatures have gone the way of the Dodo Bird and more often than not it was because of their inability to react and adapt to changes in their environment.

When the travel industry was faced with the internet changing their business many were doomed for the tar pits. The ones that remained did so either through specialization or over the top customer service. The everyday ordinary transaction has gone online. The majority of people are now booking basic travel needs either direct with airlines like WestJet or using services like Hot Wire and Expedia.

Why has the real estate world taken longer to adapt than the travel industry? In travel it was a company dealing with a consumer. One large company can make decisions quickly and change an industry. In real estate it is a consumer to consumer transaction. Instead of one or two CEO's changing the course of an industry it is millions and millions of home owners each making the decision one at a time, as the situation arises. This no doubt has lead to the extended yet agonizing march into the pit for those not ready to adapt to a changing market place. As is with any tipping point, the closer you get to it the quicker it picks up speed. Have you noticed a change happening? Has it been picking up speed?

One can only hope that if extinction is in their future they won't feel the pain...

Do You "Get It"?

Some people "get it" from the start, others, not so much...

I saw this quote on Facebook from the PropertyGuys.com Edmonton franchise.

"Just had a client who was listed on MLS for 2 weeks and was already getting the "Drop your price, drop your price, drop your price". The Realtor of course was going to get them "Top dollar" when she set the price two weeks prior. ...... So they dropped her and went with us. Listed Friday and already had 8 families through by Sunday. Somebody gets it, they really get it!!! Product......Price....Exposure."

More and more people are getting it.

Here in the Waterloo Wellington area we have been helping people pay themselves the commission for about 3 and a half years. Things are starting to come full circle in the local real estate market. Those leading private home sellers will be second time clients in the near future (we are already starting to see them).

As the Private Sale Circle grows so does the empowerment of you the home seller. The three card monte game of pricing your home with a realtor will end. No longer will you be lead astray in order to sign a contract. Pricing your home should not be a contingency on your listing. There is a better way. A licensed appraiser has to be objective. Here is a quote from their code of ethics

"public interest will be served by members acting responsibly, impartially, objectively, and with independent judgment."

Pricing shouldn't be tricky!

M

Getting A-Head

Can you judge a Realtor by their head shot?

I was having breakfast with some friends on the weekend and we were thumbing through one of the local real estate rags. It was everything to keep eggs from coming out of our noses looking at some of the head shots that local real estate agents use. I found an interesting blog post showing some of the "worst Realtor head shots" so I thought I would showcase some local talent and things some of the "traditional" and not so traditional poses.

Here are a few of my favorites (along with the one above) from the aforementioned blog:
Not your parent's real estate agent.
Spray Tan, check. Teeth whitener, check.

OK so here are some pics of locals that seem to speak to the stereotypical agent head shot:

"The Tilt"

Almost like stop motion falling. I dare you to not tilt your head when you look at them.
My favorite example of the "The Tilt"...Hold on to that contract!!

"The Lean"

Probably the most versatile of poses. Often imitated and always duplicated. Here are a few styles to choose from.
The Single The Double

The Classic The Pairs.

The Prop

Nothing says "I can sell your house" like a sunburst yellow Hummer!

"High School Confidential"

Kinda speak for themselves.

"She's a Brick....House"

There are right and wrong ways to use back drops.
Right Wrong

"SMILE"

How much teeth should one show?
Too much? Not enough?

"Location, Location, Location"

Let's take a stab where in the world they might be.
The outback? Down on the farm?
The Sun? ACC?
This guy is in Florida for sure!

"The Honour Role"

My mother-in-law cuts off the entire head!


I wonder if they are talking to each other?


Platinum Blonde called....um....they want to talk to you.


Is Facebook really the place to get your head shot?


Super Ben!

I guess at the end of the day, they're only pictures and it doesn't really matter...

Buzz

Can you hear private sale buzz getting louder? We sure can!

I had the pleasure of spending some time at the KW Fall Home & Leisure Show. You almost couldn't think the buzz was so loud.

Bzz Bzz Bzz

"Hey I just wanted to say hi. Tonya helped us with the sale of our home in Conestogo last month!"

Bzz Bzz Bzz

"That sign sure looks better with the SOLD on it. We just SOLD in 2 weeks in Paris with William!"

Bzz Bzz Bzz

"Our neighbour just SOLD with you guys. I can't believe how quick it was!"

Bzz Bzz Bzz

"Can we book an appointment to list our home today?"

Real estate agents, brokers, realtors all want you to think that private sale is going no where. They could not be further from the truth. The buzz on the street is growing. Our clients are selling their houses and telling everyone how easy it is. Word is spreading. Fast.

How fast does word of mouth spread? Have a peek at this video...


M

You SOLD Privately.....Now What?

Well if you are between 18-34 you can make a living at it....for FREE!

PropertyGuys.com has teamed up with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation to offer an unprecedented contest. You can win a franchise package worth $100,000. How is this "unprecedented"? Well by simply uploading a video on the website describing how the "Ypreneur Gene" effects you and the "symptoms" that you have you can be part of the narrowed field that gets to pitch to the stars of CBC's hit series Dragons' Den.

Feeling a little shy? Worried that someone might point and laugh? Carry on, we don't want you. Our winner will have the last laugh when they are looking at the business plan of their new business, an award winning franchise systems that has been featured on the cover of many Canadian business magazines! Shy need not apply.

Don't feel your worthy of such a prize? Than you probably aren't. We are not talking to you. Go punch your time card. You do not have the Ypreneur Gene.

Think you could hang out with Dr. Emmett Y. Browne....step right up and smile for the camera!


M