Have you ever seen ads for pricing your home…”Free service, just sign up and receive your free home analysis.” Did you wonder what the catch was…whether you’d really get the free analysis?
Well, most of these sites direct your inquiry to an agent who has purchased a zip code, city or county, as an ‘exclusive’ arrangement for obtaining leads. That’s right - the e-mail or call you’ll get will be from the agent who made this deal with the site owner. No problem…if you’re OK with that but if you thought you we’re not going to be on an agent’s radar, not so good?
Most any Broker will give you a “CMA,” (comparative market analysis) for your home. Some will require you let them visit your home and they’ll come armed with their ’sign here’ listing agreement. Others will e-mail it to you and follow up to try to get your listing. Hardly ever will you get an e-mail with the info you requested and no strings attached. Now the home visit is important as whatever amenities you might have could add to the value…things like granite counter tops, ceramic baths, new appliances, etc.
I remember years ago, working with one of these sites, and the surprise and alarm the homeowners displayed when I called. (A very watered-down description of their reaction.) I cancelled the service as I felt it violated the homeowner’s goals.
Many of these sites host tutoring seminars aimed at teaching the agents how to sneak up on these unaware home owners. Clever stuff, this?
Here’s what we do here but before I get to that, here’s what you should know about this game: Realtors don’t get paid to do these evaluations…unless you’re willing to pay them? Realtors often do a lot of work for nothing and they, much like yourself, don’t like to work for nothing…right? Realtors are concerned that they’ll do this work for you and find you’re really not ready to sell but were just curious about what your home might sell for…if you were going to sell it. Or, they’re concerned that they will give you the data you need and you’ll then call some other Realtor to sell your home. Could happen, right? So, what’s the answer, how do you get what you want without paying for it or being hassled to list your home with a Realtor you don’t even know?
Simple solution, call us…no obligation on your part…straight forward honest ‘CMA’ will be done for you. And, when we visit your home, we do not have anything for you to sign. You’ll get the info you asked for within 24 hours. We feel that if we treat people with dignity and respect, providing this service without a ‘hitch,’ when they’re ready to sell they’ll get back to us. So, fear not, no funny stuff, just good and accurate service you can depend on!
So if you’re considering the sale of your home, check it out ASAP…most industry sources feel that a lot more foreclosures will come in the next few months, putting additional downward pressure on home prices. Also, in this part of the country, home sales are the highest between now and July. Again, check it out…can’t hurt to be informed?
Buyers have only two weeks to identify the home they want and get a purchase offer in place, in order to get the govt. tax break. Why pass on a $6,500 (buyers who have not bought a home in the last five years) to $8,000 check or tax credit from the govt.? This is big…get your share. You have to have a signed deal before the end of this month and a close date by the end of June. The clock is ticking and we know we can find the home you want within the next two weeks. Give us a call and take advantage of our ‘cooperative search’ process, whereby you also get extra cash when you close on your new home.
Any stories you care to share with our readers? We’d love to hear from you. Just click on the title of this post and a comment box will open.
Ed (651-770-5000)
Tags: Add new tag, broker, county, foreclosure, foreclosures, home pricing, home selling, home value, homes, market, minneapolis, mortgage rates, pricing, ramsey county, realtor, selling my home, taxes, twin cities, washington county, what's my home worth
August 11th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
How can I get a honest appraisal. The last appraisal I had I was not allowed to have any contact with the appraiser at all. This does not seem fair since I am the one paying the bill.
August 11th, 2011 at 2:00 pm
About all you can do is hire your own appraiser and not let him know
what you’re doing. Just tell him you want to know what your house is worth in case you decide to sell it.
If his value is superior to the one the bank used, you can challenge the bank and ask for a 2nd appraisal.
This will cost you about $400 though, so, you have to know that it still may not get you where you want to be.
August 11th, 2011 at 2:13 pm
We offer a no cost, no obligation comparable market analysis for your home. We use the same “comps” the appraisers use.
To do the best job for you though, we should do a “walk through” of your home to adjust for amenities, things like; ceramic tile, wood flooring, granite or marble counter tops, etc., or… lack of these amenities. We can then give you a pretty accurate value range.
Just give me a call, and we can arrange a time for me to stop out. There’s no obligation and you can be sure you’ll get what you need to make an informed decision.
Call 651-770-5000 and we’ll talk.
Respectfully,
Ed Klein
November 17th, 2011 at 6:32 am
The information on this site is useful.