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Why Would Elizabeth Weintraub Want to List That Home in Sacramento?
Nobody ever asks themselves, why would Elizabeth Weintraub want to list that home in Sacramento? That’s because most sellers figure all listing agents want to list every house they can get their grubby little paws on. But that would not be true about this Sacramento listing agent. There are listings I don’t want to take. For starters, I don’t want to list a home if the seller doesn’t need my help or won’t listen to my advice. If a seller believes she already knows exactly how to sell a house, she doesn’t need a listing specialist. She might need a stiff drink, but not a specialist.
Further, I work with the complete package. Every listing is customized. Every sellers’ needs and wants are different. Getting on the market is one thing but closing escrow is totally something else. Selling for top dollar, leaving no chunks of change on the table is what most sellers want, but my service goes beyond that. Everything about my client’s sale is personal to me. I’m very hands on.
Why would Elizabeth Weintraub want to list that home in Sacramento? Another reason is because it will sell and I can sell it. That’s what I do. List homes and close sales. If I can’t sell it, I do not want to list that home in Sacramento. You can bet I look at days on market from previous listings. Most of our archives go back at least 15 years. I remember every market from the last 15 years. I can tell when I look at the history if there was a problem due to the type of market at that time. If not, the house has a problem.
If I can pinpoint that problem and fix it, then I will want to list that home. That’s not to say I do not enjoy a challenge, because I most certainly do. If I really like the sellers and we have a meeting of the minds, then I will list even the worst house on the block, the hardest house in the world to sell. If I feel the sellers are disrespectful, no amount of money would entice me to take that listing.
I have a no-asshole rule. People know if they exhibit those types of tendencies. It’s not like I can come right out and ask a prospective seller over the phone, hey, are you an asshole? They would probably hang up. Although it’s not a bad question. Because sometimes, no matter how good my a-hole radar is, I can’t always tell right away. There have been situations I’ve had doubts about but they turned out to be OK. And others where I felt it was workable, which turned out not to be.
Since I am all out of our listings right now, I’ve been thinking about all the new appointments I have this week. Yup, I’ve sold my entire inventory. That hasn’t happened to me in 7 years. But even having no inventory at the moment does not mean I would consent to work with . . . you’ve already figured this one out . . . the asshole. So there you have it. Why would Elizabeth Weintraub want to list that home in Sacramento? Because she’s crazy good at it and likes you.
Imagine My Surprise to Open the Door to a Land Park Specialist
No way was I expecting to find a young man standing on my front steps proclaiming himself to be a Land Park specialist. He was dressed pretty spiffily, if you ask me. I, on the other hand, looked like a crazy homeless person. In the heat in Sacramento, I have not bothered to blow-dry my hair since last May. Well, I spent 3 weeks at our house in Hawaii in June, so certainly no blow-drying or styling my hair there. Nobody cares. And it’s just been too hot in Sacramento, so I twist it into a bun and clip or wear in a ponytail. When my hair is down and curly, I look like the wild man of Borneo.
I found this guy standing away from my door, almost getting dripped on by standing under my hanging flower pot that had just been watered. At first blush, I thought maybe he was a Jehovah’s Witness or from some other religious affiliation. He glanced at me furtively. It wasn’t just the hair. It was probably the rags I run around in at home. In fact, I go to great extremes to wear what others would consider dumpster clothing. Shirts with holes. Put this way, a t-shirt would be dress up for me.
When I go out to meet clients, I dress for the occasion. To look the part of being the top producing Sacramento Realtor that I am. Just not at home.
He just said, Hi, I am Matt, a Land Park specialist. Just want to know if you folks are thinking about selling your home or buying another home?
He stunned me. Just seemed so weird. I was tempted to holler to nobody in particular: Hey, Babe, do we want to sell the house and move? Some guy is standing on our steps asking if we want to sell our home. I say hell yes. OK? You with me? Let’s get the hell outta Dodge.
But I didn’t say any of that. I started laughing. Honestly, I could not help myself. All I could manage from my lips was: you are so funny, and I couldn’t stop laughing. I’m a terrible person.
You know, back when I got into real estate in the 1970s, some agents did “farm” a neighborhood and knocked on doors to offer their services. I never did. It seemed to be ineffective for the amount of time expended. There was bound to be a better way to get business than trying to persuade people to move or hoping you’re hitting them at the right time by standing on their doorstep. Like, the U.S. mail, for one thing. Who would hire some person who showed up on their porch anyway?
I looked up this guy in MLS because he had slipped a marketing card into my mailbox slot (which is against federal law because there was no postage on it). He has never listed a home in Land Park or anywhere in Sacramento for that matter. He seems to represent buyers. Most certainly — not a Land Park specialist. Maybe in his own mind. But I guess that’s what you get with door knockers.
Happy 4th of July, everybody.
Not Quite the Fourth of July Open Houses for 2018
Before I talk about our not quite the fourth of July open houses for this year, please note the lovely photo of Compass Box The Circus Blended Scotch Whiskey. This was my dessert after dinner at Canon in East Sacramento on Thursday for my non-retirement birthday. I imagine it wasn’t cheap but I wouldn’t know since my husband treated. This is a limited edition, fewer than 2,500 bottles released in 2016.
He also gave me a Series 3 Apple Watch, which means I can now wander away from my phone, far, far away, because the new watches run on cell coverage. I suppose you have to be careful if you wear one of those into a medical marijuana dispensary because you’re probably not supposed to. Not that I have any first hand experience, mind you, just putting out my public notice to everybody.
Today we have three not quite the fourth of July open houses. I imagine next weekend many people will go out of town this year. Take Wednesday off, throw in a Thursday and Friday and call it 5-day weekend. It was a toss up to figure out which weekend was better for our not quite the fourth of July open houses.
16 Lake Katerina Ct, Sacramento, CA 95834 offered at $485,000. Built in 2017, only a transfer makes this beautiful home available. Hickory floors, plenty of premium upgrades, 4 bedrooms and 3 baths. Great Natomas Central location, Westshore. Hosted by the invincible Josh Amolsch from the Elizabeth Weintraub Team, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
3804 Los Cerros Place, Davis, CA 95618, offered at $1,145,000 in Lake Alhambra Estates. Over $200K invested in the yard with an outdoor kitchen, flagstone perimeter, custom benches, waterfalls and a gorgeous pool. Wood floors throughout, 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, over 3,500 sq. ft. Hosted by the amazing Amy McMullan from the Elizabeth Weintraub Team, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
1661 Del Dayo Drive, Carmichael, CA 95608, offered at $1,250,000. Exclusive neighborhood in Del Dayo. Tri-level with 5 to 6 bedrooms, 5 baths and over 5,000 square feet. Hardwood, ceramic and luxury vinyl plank flooring. Beautiful terraced yard with lush gardens and pool. Outdoor kitchen. Hosted by the Incredible Barbara Dow from the Elizabeth Weintraub Team, from 2:00 to 4:00 PM.
Tips When Selling a Home and Reviewing Offers on a Future Date
Although I am pretty much against reviewing offers on a future date when selling a home in Sacramento, there are circumstances when it makes sense. Sometimes I see listings that read “we will look at all offers next Friday.” Then Friday comes and goes and there are no offers. Now everybody knows that seller’s angle. They have the seller’s number. Exposed hand dealt. And sellers might pay for that arrogance.
The other drawback to reviewing offers on a future date is the fact sellers will eliminate buyers from trying to buy their home. From the seller’s point of view, if a buyer is interested, it doesn’t matter. But that’s because sellers often try to judge the situation from a seller’s point of view instead of a buyer’s point of view. They say to themselves, “well, if I were a buyer, I wouldn’t care.” But they don’t know that to be fact. They simply wish it to be fact.
Buyers do not like multiple offers. No buyer hopes a million other buyers will bid on the same house. In fact, some buyers openly state if there will be multiple offers, they want no part of those negotiations. The stress is too much. Further, they feel pressured into making decisions they don’t want to make, like paying more for the house. Some feel overpaying is a fool’s job. Even though those that overpay often end up with the house and those who do not, cannot buy a house like that.
On top of which, overpaying is subjective and time sensitive. If other buyers are willing to pay more, it defines market value. If it’s market value, then a buyer is not overpaying. If the value is higher than appraised value, in a year or so, it won’t be. And bottom line, somebody will buy the house, why can’t it be a buyer who doesn’t particularly enjoy multiple offers?
Reviewing offers on a future date makes sense if it’s pretty much iron clad that demand will be high. If the property is gorgeous enough to warrant it. On the other side, it also makes sense when selling fixer homes. Two extremes. Polar opposites. It’s even easier to attract top dollar when pricing a home at that sweet spot. Then a seller can sit back and collect offers without feeling pressured. It leaves no doubt lingering in the seller’s mind that she could have left any money on the table. Investors don’t whine much about reviewing offers on a future date.
Why You Cannot Sell Your House in This Hot Sacramento Market
You cannot sell your house in our hot Sacramento real estate market for any number of reasons. Let’s look at a few. First, it is not always price. You might own a unique home, unlike anything else on the market. Unique homes appeal to a unique buyer. They do not appeal to your normal run-of-the-mill buyers. Sometimes we get lucky and a unique buyer pops up right away. Sometimes it can take 6 months to a year to find that needle-in-a-haystack buyer.
Another reason you cannot sell your house in our seller’s market might be due to improvements. Your home might be over improved for the neighborhood or under improved. If it is over improved, a price adjustment or outright patience will move that listing. Buyers want fixed-up, turnkey properties. If it is under improved, it might not sell at all at the price a seller wants.
Unless, of course, if it is a major fixer. Major fixers always have plenty of buyers fighting for the right to turn their lives upside down by trying to become a flipper. I’ve noticed hard-money lenders sourcing get-rich-quick seminars, trying to educate would-be flippers on how to do an incredibly difficult job fairly poorly. These same lenders also pull in investors to fund hard-money loans to their flipper audience. What a racket.
Sometimes sellers try to be helpful; they want to share tips they just pulled out of thin air to their Sacramento Realtor. Agents need to show compassion. Sellers don’t see where they might be disrespectful. Once a seller asked if I could put up 3×5 cards at a laundromat. Because they are not in the business, they do not realize all effective marketing is online. It’s not in that magazine at the beauty salon. It’s on the internet.
Another seller asked why aren’t visitors to Zillow clicking on his listing. What was wrong? When your marketing verbiage is excellent and the photos superb, it is probably because buyers aren’t looking for homes on Zillow. Or, there is not a big market for your house. Maybe too much competition in a particular neighborhood. Not to mention, interest rates are increasing, thereby reducing buyers’ purchasing power.
One of the things I do when I take a listing is look at how long it took to sell that particular home the last few times. Doesn’t matter when. I’ve got 4 decades in the real estate business, and I remember all of our markets. If I see a home sold near its original price in a super hot market with really long days on market, it’s a problem property. Odds are it may sell over a similar time frame again.
But do not ever be afraid to talk to your Sacramento Realtor about why you cannot sell your house. If you have a competent listing agent, I can promise you this, it is not your agent. That is not the reason. Also, anything will sell if it is priced right.
Please be aware that I predict we are moving away from a seller’s market in Sacramento. Time-tested strategies that have worked for the past 6 years are no longer applicable to today’s real estate market. Is your agent aware of the shift? Buyers are saying enough is enough. Besides, markets change all the time. Get ready, Sacramento! Change is on the horizon. I can feel it.
