Depending on the circumstances, I quite often help a Hawaii Home Seller out with preparing their home. Many times I will actually get down on hands and knees to make that home shine or get into the dirt of their yard and throw down some colorful bromeliads or potted greenery in a townhouse fenced courtyard.
Many of you may not agree to getting down and dirty but in certain circumstances it just may prove beneficial to put your expertise and personal touches into a home.
It may just be a generation thing. You know, like when I was growing up we were military kids with a dad who had a modest paycheck. Living in Hawaii with a bit higher cost of living my mom had to work to make ends meet. We all helped out and our home was always comfortable and clean and our yard always colorful and green....with my mom's green thumb of course.
Maybe I carried it into my life and career. My mom is older (82 last month) and we help out as much as we can ....so she can go to work, play golf and hit Vegas twice a year. Seriously, we do some serious yard work in her valley of shrubs, trees, fruit trees and flowers every couple of months.
Helping out older clients or some in need (can't afford to hire this and that) seems to be the right thing to do. Besides, the listing will surely be ready and in superb showing condition with my hard work, effort and my personal touch.
Get Back to Where You Once Belonged.....
I suppose quality ....instead of quantity is what I'm about.
A pristine home does a market good.
Hmmmm... I really have one ulterior motive....like MAKING me excercise :) Does the body good. :)
I used to do all kinds of things with the Sellers to help them, but I learned that if they do not see how much work it is and their responsibilities, then when they get an offer they are not as motivated. Further I have such extensive marketing I am doing that I have to focus on that aspect. I mentor my Sellers, get your home packed up and staged so your energy is already packed up and gone and the buyer can see themselves moving in. But I have to focus on marketing for them.
Sally and Mary, I think you are both right. I will help any client who needs help. My broker impresses on us the need to be consistent with help to avoid charges of discrimination. I have seen cases where an agent tried to help clients in terms of staging, clean up, and make ready type assistance, only to be criticized or even victimized by the client claiming the agent did not do enough to get the home sold. I will make suggestions, but the homeowner has to take ownership of getting the house in sale condidtion in my opinion.
Mary: That's why i said in some circumstances. I market like heck and still make time...if they are in need. That goes for many others (not clients) in the community as well.
Wayne: Believe me...I don't go for the unappreciative and think I'm a slave...nope...only the good people
SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE
Awesome post Sally!! It doesn't hurt to help out when people need help! I would be scared of liability from hiring a cleaning crew. I hired one last week for the first time and they put some wet rags on our pool table and they left stains on the felt. I would feel AWFUL if that happened when I hired someone to go into someone else's house and they did that. Now I don't feel it is that big of a deal because we are actually moving the thing for some new flooring in the next 60 days and we will refelt it then - but they didn't know that!
Renee: I've given names of cleaning crews....and I've been embarrassed on a couple of occasions....pleased in a few as well..but I trust me, another agent I've worked with and my daughter. That way I KNOW it gets done right......then again, that's only if they really need me.....this isn't an every day perk. Only SHINY HAPPY PEOPLE are in my court :)
Sally, I have spent quite a bit of time moving that soil so the home could pass the pest inspection. You just never know where this business is going to lead you.
Hi Sally - You are a good girl! I don't understand agents who insist that it is not their job to dirty their hands ("I'm a professional!"). I clean, move furniture, rake, vacuum, water, weed, whatever needs to be done to make the listings sparkle if the seller can't. I agree with you that it makes sense to help our clients and it also gets the home sold more quickly and for more money.
Sally, I agree with you. Helping clients prepare the home is sometimes the right thing to do.
Sally, we had a listing about a year ago. The husband had passed away and the wife could not bear to visit or go to their "special getaway cabin" in Shingletown, CA. David and I did a lot of work to get that property ready to show. The previous agent did nothing. He left the estate items that had not sold just lying all around on the floors with all the kitchen items in the middle of the room. We spent two days getting it all put back together and staged with what items were there. We sold the property. I guess that is the proof in the pudding! Nice post as usual!
You're just top notch, Sal. If if ever sell my house, I'm going to have you come over and list it.
Sally, I also have been known to get dirty. Sometimes it is the right thing to do. I know in the next few days I will be cleaning up at a listing, getting ready for the appraiser. Workmen have been there, there is dust all over, etc. What else can we do?
Sally - that is a wonderful thing - since I work mostly with buyers I am not in that situation often but have also helped move things out and taken things to Hospice before for clients-
Sally, I think that's wonderful to help these people out who probably don't know where to start. I can imagine a lot of Real Estate Agents wouldn't do this but I would help them; I'm sure they're having a difficult enough time.
Happy Birthday to your mother!!
I do this quiete often. Getting down and dirty I think is part of the job. It shows how much you care about their business too. I always do a little sprucing up before open houses. I also stop by randomly and check on things to see if anything needs to be done while the home is up for sale. I think any potential client that reads this post should hire you because you care.
Chris: It is for many... I appreciate your confidence :)
Carole: It sure is...and thanks to mom!
Barb: I do either or so I'm always up and ready.
Andrea: We do the right thing:)
Jim: that was cute :)
Jeanean: Now that is why I do what I do....
Thanks Maria...then you're in a good space too :)
Susan: I understand...they don't want to invest their own time, energy and don't believe it's part of their job description (which it isn't) ...in any case it's for me and a some others as well.
Marchel...no kidding. It may be yard at one...paint at another..cleaning...moving. I've done it all :)
Hi Sally! What a wonderful post and a great recommendation! I love working with elderly clients and always do what I can to help them prepare for marketing their home. Like you said, it's good exercise too!
Have a wonderful Super Bowl Sunday!
Sally I have been to some Open Houses where I just stand there and say to myself "what were these people thinking". In those cases where the Seller isn't going to do what needs to be done, then the Realtor needs to take charge or spend money to advertise it and just have it sit there.
Sally -what a great attitude to have about helping clients. I have done the same...many times. Since I work with a lot of out of town folks I tend to do alot for them before, during and after their home sales. I consider it my value add to the transaction, and I know they appreciate it.
Jeff
Sally, I love what you wrote at the very end; "A pristine home does a market good". So true. What a difference a little extra effort makes. I'm not above getting down and dirty either--whether its wiping out a sink, putting down a toilet seat, or scooping leaves out of a dirty pool--whatever it takes to help that home make the best possible impression. And yes, I've even cleaned up dog poop (how low can you go), although I would rather make the homeowner responsible for that!
So, what makes a Great Realtor? The one who goes "above and beyond" the prevailing "job description". Making the sale happen...that's what we are here for. But, don't let people take advantage of you, which I have seen happen, unfortunately. You could become the neighborhood cleaning lady...unpaid.
Hi Sally~ I usually will do whatever it takes to get the job done! As long as they don't expect it, I don't have a problem doing it!
Sally - Whenever I step beyond my role and do something like that it always smacks me right in the head. I was helping a client clean once and ended up ruining her expensive sofa cushions, Yep, had to fork over a check at the closing table. Helped clean out the fridge (same client), ended up with a ham in my trunk for a week. I try to stop myself now and stick to marketing their home.
Sally - That is a good thing you do! I will admit I have never done any real heavy cleaning but I do try to assit!
Vickie: That's the key.....appreciation, in need and no expectations.
Gail: I'm sure we all have been through times where they didn't like something...or we did something that wasn't quite the way we expected. But a ham in the trunk?
Gary: I only do the heavy cleaning when they really need my help. It's a good thing to do my part. :)
I think it's great that you pitch in when help is needed.
In our area we have an RSVP program (Realtors Service Volunteer Program) each spring when Realtors and affiliates volunteer a day of service for primarily elderly or disabled homeowners with household chores. Teams of 3 or 4 people will do chores like flip mattresses, change lightbulbs and smoke detector batteries, prune bushes, wash windows, clean out gutters and do small repair jobs. This is all coordinated in advance by marvelous volunteers who interview each prospective homeowner.
The gratitude of the recipients is so very heartwarminging--one of my favorite activities!
Woo Hoo, I have missed so many of your posts I am embarrassed and don't even know where to start. So I will start here. I like this and I do exactly the same thing. I won't get into the details but many owners just don't know what clean actually is. Orderly is orderly, clean is clean and there are giant gaps between these two things.