Email ElizabethMarketing Bloopers, Home Selling Mistakes
Marketing bloopers, home selling mistakes. A great title, love it. I was on MLS today and I found a listing just like the one Elizabeth is referencing below. I laughed out loud. Thinking about this post below was deja vu. Do agents really write dumb things like below in the MLS? Do they publish horrible photos? Answers to both I’m sad to say are yes, they absolutely do. It is frankly so embarrassing. Clients send me things on the MLS all of the time in disbelief. You have to keep your humor and just laugh out loud sometimes or you might feel like crawling under a rock. This is a previous post for another website by Elizabeth. Enjoy the read.
–JaCi Wallace
Looking through MLS today, I came upon a listing that was just reduced, so it must have been on the market at least 30 days or more; I don’t recall. But what struck me odd about the listing was the marketing comments in MLS. The marketing section in the Sacramento MLS gives agents the opportunity to write glowing reviews and stunning ad copy.
This listing contained one line in the comments: “This home has many unique things.” That’s it. The agent isn’t going to tell us, apparently, just what those unique things are. In fact, I’m betting if you were to ask that agent why there was no description of this home’s uniqueness, he would say in earnest something silly like, “I want buyers to be curious enough to come to look at it.” What this agent doesn’t realize is buyers are going to say, “Next.” They will tour homes with multiple photographs and an enticing description. Which is not this listing.
Read more about Home Selling Marketing Mistakes.
If you want to avoid marketing bloopers on your listings then hire Elizabeth Weintraub, Broker #00697006 and JaCi Wallace #00773532 with Weintraub & Wallace Realtors at RE/MAX Gold. Call us today at 916-233-6759.
Elizabeth Weintraub
How Do Home Sellers Get The Money at Closing?
A client asked yesterday how do home sellers get the money at closing? This couple often prefaces their questions with an apology for not knowing protocol for selling a home. They tend to over-explain about why they ask certain questions, despite my assurances that there are no dumb questions. Because I believe that statement. There are no dumb questions in real estate.
Part of my services to sellers is to be available to answer questions. Regardless of many questions or even how often. If a client has a question, I will answer it. I do know most of the answers. After 40+ years in this business I should, right? Also, I would never think less of a client if they asked a question.
As for how do home sellers get the money at closing, the answer is basically how do you want to get it? When the sellers asked me where does the money go at closing, I told them it all goes to me. Yup, they put it in my money market account. There was silence on the phone for a minute and then I realized they did not get my joke. Uh, oh. My bad.
No, the money doesn’t go to me. How do home sellers get the money? In this case, they will give the routing number and account number of their bank account to escrow. These sellers do not have a checking account, only a savings account, and no deposit slips.
It’s OK, I assured them. They do not need a deposit slip. Just write down the bank account number and routing number, and the mobile signer will send it to escrow for disbursement. At closing, escrow will wire the money to their bank. Of course, you can always do things the old fashioned way and go to escrow to pick up the check. Or have escrow mail the check to you. But most people wire funds today.
Call Elizabeth Weintraub, Sacramento Broker, #00697006 with JaCi Wallace at RE/MAX #00773532, at 916.233.6759.
The Kiss of Death for a Sacramento MLS Listing
Almost everybody makes fun of bad MLS photos, but no photos at all is the kiss of death for a Sacramento MLS listing. You know, some people experience reoccurring nightmares of appearing naked as a jay bird in public. My idea of a nightmare is having a listing go live in MLS without any photographs. It’s happened once to me for all of 3 seconds but it happens for other agents a lot more.
It makes me cringe. Do you know why it is the kiss of death for a Sacramento MLS listing? Because without photos, buyers won’t even bother to read all of your fancy schmancy marketing comments. They will just skip to the next property. Which means the listing agent just blew her sellers’ biggest chance to make a favorable impression.
We have one chance to download our information from MLS for distribution. Sure, we can make updates to MLS, and those updates will update some other websites, BUT NOT ALL WEBSITES. Once that initial information is out there, it’s pretty much final on a static website.
When I signed on to MLS yesterday morning, the first listing I saw had no photographs. It mentions being a rental, so there are probably photos in Zillow but not in MLS. It is possible the listing agent does not want a buyer’s agent to bring a buyer, too. Just because it’s listed with a cooperating broker commission does not always mean the agent wants to pay it. It could be a way to encourage buyers to call the listing agent directly. Yes, some agents are that slimy.
I go so much further than most agents with my listings. Because I do not want to encounter the kiss of death for a Sacramento MLS listing. I am constantly scrutinizing how my listings are viewed and received by the public.
For example, one of the listing perks I give my sellers is a separate website for their property listing. That particular layout screen showcases two large photos, side-by-side, and then the rest of the photos in a smaller format below. Once a person clicks on the photos, they can view them all in large format, but it is the initial impression that I focus on. What do buyers see when they first click on that link?
The two large photos are pulled from MLS as the first and second uploaded photos. This is why I often will move them around, especially if the second photo is a close-up of the door because that’s not always visually appealing on this particular page. For example, on a recent pending listing with plenty of curb appeal, I may showcase the front of the home and the gorgeous back-yard pool.
Another trick I often employ is to make sure the first 6 photos are the most enticing photographs. Why? Because the layout in MLS after opening the listing shows a preview of photographs below the larger main photo. A quick glance at the listing needs to entice the viewer to click through all of the photographs.
Buyers today tend to find more reasons not to want to see a house than to view it. They rely on photographs for an impression, and they often make fast judgments when clicking through listings. Listing agents need to give buyers a reason to click through ALL of the photographs. You can bet I study the numbers in my virtual tours too. I get a report that shows me how many photos a viewer looks at, and which photos get the most hits. My goal is the same number of views for all 36 photographs, which is the maximum MLS can show.
Do all Sacramento Realtors analyze their listings like this? Well, you already know the answer to that one. Call Elizabeth Weintraub at 916.233.6759 when you’re ready to work with a listing agent who truly cares.
With Inflation Rising, Is This a Good Time to Get a Mortgage?
Below is timely and original content for Weintraub & Wallace readers from our favorite mortgage lender, Dan Tharp of Guild Mortgage. He shares with us his expertise about getting a mortgage during inflationary times. Enjoy — JaCi Wallace and Elizabeth Weintraub
Inflation has been the word du jour of late, and we all feel it. My ah-ha moment was when I filled up my tank a few weeks ago at my favorite gas station, and gas was $6 a gallon! Unfortunately, we are not alone in this pain, as folks are feeling this worldwide. According to an energy data tracking company, gas prices in the U.S. ranked 70th among the 170 counties tracked. For our friends in Germany, gas is pushing $9, while in Hong Kong, it’s over $11!
Having been a mortgage professional in Sacramento for two decades, I get asked a lot, “Is this the right time to buy?” and second to the other most popular question, “What’s your rate?”. These are excellent questions, as I, too, seem to always focus on the financial benefits of homeownership. Thankfully, my new homebuyers remind me daily that owning a home is not a purely financial investment but a life-changing event. It provides stability for your family in a neighborhood you love and creates lasting memories as you turn that house into your home.
I am strongly inclined that you are reading this blog because you have been considering buying a new home. And I suspect the current economy might be putting a damper on those dreams. Are you basing this mood on emotion and fear? Have you considered the actual benefits of owning your piece of the pie? With home prices way up and inflation increasing the cost of life’s basic expenses, is now the right time to dive into your first mortgage? And if you wait, could you be priced out of the market altogether? You might not be entirely surprised by my answer. If you are ready for a long-term commitment and can comfortably afford the monthly mortgage payment and ongoing homeownership costs, then YES, YES, YES. It may be your perfect time to buy.
Let me hit you with some financial data regarding inflation and buying versus renting. According to a Stanford University study (January 2020), residential real estate has historically been an “investment safe-haven” during inflationary periods. In addition, during another moment of surging inflation (the 1970s), home prices rose relative to the size of the economy. Great news for homeowners since it meant their home’s increasing value helped offset rising costs elsewhere.
For my renters who have been stalking the market but are now not sure they want to buy, I always ask, “Is your rent going down?” According to CNN Business, rents in Sacramento jumped 19.5% from 2020 to 2021. For those wanting to make the leap to owning a home, “rising rents will remain a motivating factor even as for-sale home prices and mortgage rates continue to climb,” said Danielle Hale, Realtor.com‘s chief economist.
With home prices seeing such a jump over the previous few years, I have to drive the point with my new buyers that few of us are lucky enough to find our dream home the first time. So, think about compromising to find that sweet, happy medium instead of trying to get everything you want. The power of homeownership starts with your first purchase, and buyers have to start somewhere so they can eventually get to where they want to go. So, reach out to your favorite realtor to find that balance between home size, neighborhood, price, and all the bells and whistles.
Is Buying a Home a Hedge Against Inflation?
Homeownership, for many, is the ultimate American dream. Of course, people may not want to own a home for many reasons, but there’s no denying that being a homeowner can hugely impact your net worth. According to a CNBC.com article (Sept 2020), in 2019, homeowners in the U.S. had a median net worth of $255,000, while renters had a net worth of just $6,300. Let that soak in for a minute.
However, don’t think this answers all your financial needs. Buying a home is a big deal and not something to take lightly. Take your time to review the financials with your realtor, your mortgage person, and possibly a financial planner. Owning a home is a big responsibility to pay for and maintain. If you don’t feel you can stay rooted in that home for at least a few years, then renting might be the best route.
The above information is for educational purposes only. All data, loan programs, and interest rates are subject to change without notice. All loans are subject to underwriter approval. Terms and conditions apply. Always consult an accountant or tax advisor for complete eligibility requirements on tax deductions.
When you are ready to buy a home, please call Elizabeth Weintraub Broker / JaCi Wallace, RE/MAX at 916.233.6759.
Sacramento Realtor has Oral Surgery and Request for Repairs.
Sacramento Realtor has Oral Surgery and request for repairs go hand in hand. Only in real estate can you not take a few days off to heal up and this was no exception. Two repair requests came in and a boatload of work. Even when we are under the weather our clients come first. One request was so ridiculous that escrow fell apart. The other one had many local ordinances that we wondered how would it close? The buyer’s agent from Woodland had a list of repair people who did the work at half the cost. The buyer’s agent set all the work to be billed to escrow! Sheri has been terrific. Luckily my resources helped pull this escrow together, she is terrific.
I am still working just staying off the phone and working on the computer. All are full ahead of steam. My sellers are out of state so needless to stay they are thrilled. The motto of this story is if you get sick for any reason surround yourself with giving people and you can get through everything. this Sacramento Realtor is grateful beyond belief. Elizabeth Weintraub and team can sell your home and we don’t take off TIME without full coverage from our team. Call us today at 916-233-6759.
— JaCi Wallace
Sacramento Realtor Weintraub & Wallace Realtors
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