Subscribe via Email
TheSomersTeamBlog
2Feb/120

Tip Jar: Don’t Fore-go Your Pre-Settlement Walk-Through!

This tip is for our buyers out there! A pre-settlement walk-through is what we do right before a settlement occurs. Typically it includes the buyers and the buyers' agent and it is an opportunity to check out the property before you sign off on buying that home. The walk-through allows the buyer to check on the condition of the property to make sure all repairs have been done and nothing new has popped up. We want to make sure there are no problems at settlement or post settlement. That is why we walk through the property the day of the settlement, the day before settlement or in this case a few days before.

This pre-settlement walk-through in the video reveals that only 50% of the repairs have been completed and the seller has only a few days to get things wrapped up. If the seller fails to do so, then these few repair items can delay settlement. We certainly don't want that to happen! So, buyers... do not fore-go your pre-settlement walk-through!

Share
26Jan/120

Tip Jar: Have a Bad Day

Success does not exist without the SUCK. So our tip to you: Embrace those bad days! They are going to happen.

When did it become a belief that success comes easy? It does not. It requires hard work, hard knocks, and sometimes a hard head to finally see the fruits of success. Success without the suck just does not exist.  We've all see the billboard...Bill Gates started Microsoft in a recession! That's what I am talking about. To achieve success you have to not only deal with moments of suckiness but also see the opportunity in that sucky moment.

Let me put it like this, sometimes you just have to cry through slicing that smelly onion to get the sumptuous flavor in your recipe!

I challenge you all to work through the SUCK to claim your SUCCESS.

Speaking of some well-earned success, congratulations to REMAX ACCESS in Northern Liberties, Philly for coming in at number 3 for the entire City of Philadelphia for total number of transactions (properties sold) in 2011. What a great year! Everyone simply kicked butt.

Share
25Jan/120

What is a Turnkey Property? Stephanie Somers Explains…

Come take a ride with Stephanie Somers and she'll explain what a turnkey property is, along with a peek at a ready-to-rock property for short sale in Northern Liberties.

Any questions? Ask Stephanie!

Related:

Tip Jar: To Sell or To Rent Your Property in 2012? Ask Stephanie!

Share
19Jan/120

Tip Jar: To Sell or To Rent Your Property in 2012? Ask Stephanie!

To Sell or Rent Your Property in 2012. That is the Question asked by Stephanie Somers.

Stephanie lets us take a peek of how she goes about determining the best strategy for her client. Stephanie is hands on and actually visits a home in Brewerytown.

This property is currently rented. The exterior 3 story home has a lot of original charm but has been greatly neglected as evidenced by the peeling paint and overall facade. After viewing the interior Stephanie explains that this 4 bedroom one bath home with tons of original details needs a lot of work. After going back to the office and crunching the numbers Stephanie comes to a conclusion. Market Value says it may be best for her client to rent the property for another year and reevaluate the market stats next year. Selling the home for a profit may not be possible in this market for this property.

What will you do with your home in 2012? Our tip? Ask Stephanie!

Share
15Jan/120

Insights from Agent Reboot New York City 2012

In hearing my friend Chris Smith give an opening presentation at Agent Reboot, he reminded everyone that it is still People First in our business.  Sure there is amazing technology, new gadgets and gizmos that we all want - the latest iPad, iPhone, apps and whatnot, but at the end of the day, the question is how much business are you doing and how many people are you actually connecting with?  Chris gave an example of a question that came up on the new hot Facebook group "What Should I Spend My Money On?"  where a recent technology-related question generated well over 250 comments.  However, when another question came up related to "Strategy", very few comments came up at all.  Which in my mind, is kinda backwards thinking.  So, getting back to basics, the acronym that was suggested was POST (people, opportunities, strategy, technologies).

Chris Smith at Agent RebootPOST

People

Opportunities

Strategy

Technologies               

 

 And to notice that technology is last.  The agent of tomorrow will be ahead of the curve of course with technology, but at the same time will be connecting with the most people, seizing on all opportunities and have a defined strategy for 2012 and beyond.

Another analogy that was stated was to be armed with the "Ready Aim Fire" strategy in your business instead of the off-the-cuff or impulsive "Fire Aim Ready"

A super synopis that goes into more detail of Agent Reboot New York City that day was an article written by Andrea Brambila (this is a must readReal Estate Marketing - Strategy First, then Technology.

If you like this post, please subscribe to the blog!

Share
12Jan/120

Tip Jar: 2 Sweat Free Tips to Personal & Home Improvement

I have two sweat-free activities you can do in Philadelphia that will shape you up and beautify your home. That's right. You can improve your self and your home simultaneously! How, you ask? By tapping into the Creative Right Side of your brain, that's how! This winter, rather than hibernating like a bear, embrace your inner artist and get inspired through homemade art and home design.

Make Art
This month try taking an art class such as painting, ceramics, knitting or photography at the Philly Art Center. Your personal creations will be real live works of art. Hang or display your artwork in a prominent room in your home and watch how it totally transforms your space! There is nothing more fabulous than real live art.

Visit the Show
Did you know that January 14th is the first day of the Philadelphia Home Show? This event is a real opportunity to feed the mind not the belly.  Go to this event and embrace your HGTV & DIY inner child. "Get inspired. Get educated. Get started."

So get off the couch and exercise the Right Side of your brain! Try these two sweat-free Tips to Personal & Home Improvement in Philadelphia.

[image from Philadelphia Home Show]

Share
11Jan/120

Got Scalped at Agent Reboot!

Agent Reboot
For those of you who do not know what Agent Reboot is, it’s a gathering of Real Estate and industry professionals who use social media and Internet stuff. It’s a crash course in the most current trends in technology and applications for entrepreneurs like Chris and I. We go every year.

This year, there was a lot of scalping going on at Agent Reboot in NYC. I am not talking about an onslaught of savage haircuts. And NO. I am not referring to snagging tickets from some seedy guy in a trench coat. Although, I guess anything is possible in NY, that s not what I am referring to.

What I am saying is that there were a huge number of Agent Reboot attendees showing their SCALPS during the presentations in NYC. Yeah. The tops of their heads! Side parts, bed heads, bald heads, big heads, and most shocking of all, Chris Smith's head!! (see image below...you rock Chris but put the hair gel down!) I think you will get the picture.

Chris Smith Agent Reboot Inman

 

Agent reboot live Tweets

As I was saying...Heads were down! But don’t get the wrong message here. Scalps availed in every row but NOT because the speakers sucked or the info was mind-blowingly dull. On the contrary, it was awesome! I saw scalps because the attendees were texting, typing, and tweeting like mad all through the presentations. Tweeting Live. Blogging Live. How cool is that?

In the past seeing an audience full of scalps may have implied you were a dull as a doorknob. if people were not making eye contact then that was a sure sign, the show was over. Today, seeing a person’s scalp is pretty much as important as seeing their eyes. It is no longer an insult when you are speaking to a group and you see some heads are down. It’s cool. It's a compliment and it is a sign of the times. If they like what you say they'll tweet it, blog it, and post it for all to see. People want to share what is happening “Right Now”.

The preferred medium for communication has changed dramatically over the years. Technology is paving the way. With a few clicks your photo or video can be seen by a huge audience. For consumers, people like you and me, we love receiving info through our social venues like Facebook and Twitter. We like our info captured live. And, most of all, the info must be relevant.

Therefore, next time you are in the audience and you like what you hear, feel free to Look Down and Scalp Them! Oh and PLEASE...Don’t forget to use your Head & Shoulders!

That was a dandruff joke guys!

Too flaky?

Share
29Dec/110

Top Tip Jars of 2011

There is one thing we can count on every single year as we approach January 1st. The Best Of's. You know darn well that before the clock strikes midnight on December 31st, we will have been subjected to The Best News Headlines of 2011, the Best Blockbusters of 2011, The Best Performers of 2011, The Best of the Worst in 2011 and whatever else the Year had to offer in 2011.

To go with the flow and stay on trend, here are the Best of our Tip Jar Tips in 2011. What was the best tip you received this year?

Tip Jar: Pheromones Sell Homes

Tip Jar: Stay Excited in the Bedroom and Beyond!

Tip Jar: Increase Your Home’s Value!

Tip Jar: How to Banish the 4 Letter Curse Word “MOLD”

Tip Jar: Open House Anarchy. A Top Philadelphia Realtor Manifesto!

Share
Tagged as: No Comments
22Dec/110

Tip Jar: Map It!

Map your Lifestyle.

Map your Lifestyle and let it Lead the way to your New Home!

We'd like to introduce to you a NEW WAY of Searching for Homes. Map it. Map out the nearest Cafe, Restaurant, Park, Nature Trail, School etc.  and find the homes for sale located closest to your Lifestyle trends.

Customize your own search, change your criteria, and save your search as a link and mail it to your friends and family!

Log onto our blog or website to use this Free Interactive Lifestyle Map. Try it. We'd love to know what you think!

Share
17Dec/110

Good Business Practice or Underhanded and Sleazy? You Make The Call

Is this good business practice or sleazy? A local real estate office buries their request for a seller to buy a one year home warranty in their internal brokerage addendum, not in the agreement-of-sale.  I am all about transparency and I believe any part of the agreement negotiated between buyer and seller Good Business Practice or Underhanded and Sleazy?should be stated on agreement-of-sale or an official addendum, not an internal brokerage document.  I rarely have my sellers sign these documents since they have everything to do with the buyer and the services the buyers brokerage firm is providing the buyer and nothing to do with the seller, even though sometimes their offices will insist our sellers sign anyway.

So one could argue that the listing agent should read through every word of the buyers internal document if she will have her seller sign the document.  Especially if the buyers agent does not communicate that "by the way, the buyer is asking the seller to pay for a 1 year home warranty" .  In our real life example, it was oh by the way, your seller agreed to pay for a 1-year warranty and the cost is $670.  And yes, technically, if the seller signs the document, they are on the hook.  But is it right? 

I am a huge proponent of having a one year home warranty included on a deal.  I think they protect sellers and give buyers an extra level of comfort.  There is just a right way to include them on a deal and a wrong way to include them, or a good business practice and a sleazy business practice.  And not for nothing, I have never heard of a warranty costing $670 for a standard rowhome, have you?  That makes it that much more sleazier!

It is a bit suprising as my friend owns this brokerage office and maybe he knows that this clause is in there and perhaps has good intentions.  But those intentions will not go over well with co-operating listing agents in the long run.  Just be honest and transparent up-front and ask for the warranty in the contract or during the home inspection negotiations, not some clause buried in an internal addendum.

What are your thoughts?

Good business practice or underhanded and sleazy?

And by the way, do not forget to subscribe to our blog!

Share

Phone: 215.253.6818