Jimmy White Hosts Two Day Waterfront Information Event

Gimmick’s do not sell houses PRODUCT, PRICE & PROMOTION do!

With the challenges of today’s real estate market sellers and their agents are often looking for unique techniques and strategies to get the house noticed and sold. I have seen offers of a new car or boat thrown into a deal for an acceptable offer. In some condo communities we have seen buy one get one free deals. This type of marketing may help in getting attention but can also lead to a sense in a buyer that the property is not a value in and of itself. It can perhaps lead to problems with bank appraisals as the value of the gimmick item should be correctly deducted from the home value or reported as a subsidy.
Most often a home buyer is not looking for a car, they are looking for a house. They normally are only looking for one house, not several and they want to pay as little as possible to get it. That’s why a marketing plan that begins with a framework built around PRODUCT, PRICE and PROMOTION will be your strongest most efficient way to go.
The PRODUCT is of course the house. Some homes are excellent with updated kitchens, baths, carpets and floors. Some are pretty good, some average and some not so good. It is important to prepare the house as well as possible given the financial ability of the seller. Once that condition is determined you will want to determine the most effective PRICE at which to offer the home for sale.
Setting a homes list price is very important. You will want it priced to attract as many prospective buyers as possible, yet leave no dollars behind. it is unreliable to go by rumors in the neighborhood about what this or that house sold for as they are often wildly inaccurate and can lead to pricing a home too high or too low. Those who sold the house tend to inflate the number a bit, neighbors tend to round the number down.
The only reliable source for this sold information is the recorded public record of the sale in tax records and or a multiple listing service for the area. The valuation on your property must be based on the reported sold homes of similar size and features over the previous six month period. It is true however that recently some bank appraisals for loans are only looking back 3 months. With this info in hand you will match up your property to others. Adjustments will be made to compensate for variations as seldom are two homes exactly alike. The overall condition must be taken into consideration, for instance, if a very similar home with new windows, kitchen, and baths sold for $385,000 and you home still has a 20 year old kitchen, and needs all new appliances and carpet you should not expect it to sell for as much unless there are other attributes that your home has. For example, a larger yard or extra structure like separate garage. An informed decision, based upon the improvements needed, as to the value should be made and the price set accordingly.
The final P in this equation is PROMOTION. Years ago listing a house with a listing service and putting a sign in the yard was enough. Today is much different.
You will want first a strong realtor. One who has a demonstrated set of results over the past two years. When interviewing do not let them tell you what they have done in their life, or 5 years ago, or that they are on the GOLD TEAM. Get a specific answer to how many transactions and what volume they have achieved over the past two years. They should be able to show you their internet marketing component, how well they have marketed themselves and examples of the sales materials and techniques they will use.
Ask them where will the flyers be distributed? When and where will the home be advertised? Why will it be advertised in those publications?
Selling a home is not much different than selling any other product. Gimmicks such as car giveaways occasionally get some attention. But a steady plan of action built around a correct formula of PRODUCT, PRICE and PROMOTION will get your home sold in the least amount of time for the most money possible.

Historic Chester Manor Offered for Sale

When built in the early 1900s, Chester Manor was the crown jewel of the area – a sizeable horse farm nestled between the sleepy downtown port of Chestertown on the Chester River and the campus of the historic Washington University. Later in the century, the estate was subdivided and the property became a funeral home for wealthy Chestertonians. After extensive restoration in the nineties, the property, at 206 Washington Avenue was turned into a bed and breakfast, operating as such for five or six years before being sold due to family issues.

The current owners (Chestertown Preservation LLC) purchased the property in 2010 and lovingly restored that which needed attention­­. In their opinion, Chester Manor is truly an exceptional property, in very good condition. The primary objective of Chestertown Preservation LLC is to see that the property is preserved in a manner fitting of its heritage.

This beautiful Victorian home is literally steps away from the College. The main house boasts a full commercial kitchen, original hardwood floors, numerous fire places, commercial fire (sprinkler) and security systems, upgraded propane-fired hot water baseboard heat, and generous porches - front, side and rear. The home is beautifully situated on a double lot with a detached 1BR/1BA guest house, plenty of off-street parking, a 3-car garage w/ loft and a very nice yard. Aggressively priced in the low 400’s.

To view this property online Click Here

To see this property contact Jimmy White directly 410-320-3647

Fantastic Aerials of Bloody Point

Call me if you would like to see this house or any of the houses in Bloody Point. 410-320-3647

THE JIMMY WHITE TEAM TOP REAL ESTATE TEAM FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR

THE JIMMY WHITE TEAM TOP REAL ESTATE TEAM FOR FOURTH STRAIGHT YEAR

At their Annual Awards Dinner, The Bay Area Association of Realtors recently named Jimmy White and Mary Elaine Casson of the Long & Foster Kent Island Office the Top Team in the Bay Area for 2010.

The award is based on sales of homes during the calendar year 2010 during which period, the Jimmy White Team racked up nearly $13 million in sales volume with 28 units sold. White credits the success to understanding the “push and pull” of today’s real estate market and efficient, effective marketing. “A good marketing plan must be balanced and well-rounded, and when it comes to the Internet, if you are not on the first page, you may as well not be there at all,” said White.

Prices of homes sold by the pair range from town houses in the upper $200,000’s to waterfronts well over a million. White, who lives on the water in Prospect Bay, has sold more homes there than any other Realtor in the past two years. “I think that being a boater, knowing the local water and living in a golf course community helps me to better serve buyers looking for that type of property.” Marketing aside, the pair says hard work and emphasis on customer service plays a major role in their success. “Between the two of us, we work every day of the week and pride ourselves on never missing a call”, said Casson. “We answer our cell phones 24 hours a day, every day”, she continued. Although the market in the Bay Area is not in distress there has been an increase in short sales in the past 18 months and Casson has become an expert in the proper handling of these highly specialized cases. White is optimistic about 2011 citing an upward trend in sales in 2010 over 2009. “I think sales will continue to improve this year”, he said adding; “I think more homes will sell and that prices will begin to inch back up”.