Today marks the nine year anniversary of one of the most tragic events to happen on US soil since Pearl Harbor. An event so recent that anyone reading this probably remembers that day as if it were happening now. It was an event that has shaped and changed the lives of so many people. One in which I will never forget.
I was unfortunately there during the attack on the world trade center. I had a first hand view of the events as they unfolded. I watched in utter shock as the events unfolded not knowing what was happening or what to do. Ii watched firefighters put their lives on the line to rescue people they never knew with no regard for their own lives. I watched people from all races, creeds and backgrounds unite as one to help each other out. I watched as friends and collegues were killed or never found. I watched as families saw their lives destroyed and children will grow up without a parent.
As we reflect back on the events that happened nine years ago and construction contunues to rebuild we are asked to reflect on that tragic day and what it has done to our lives and where we were during that event. I know for me, it has signifcantly changed the person I am; for the better. I realized how short life really was and the importance of family. Yes, the events are tragic but it has made me a better father, husband and provider for my family. I attended too many services for friends and co-workers to ever forget the impact that day has had on mine and so many lives.
Today may mark the ninth anniversary of what in my lifetime may be the most devasting attack on US soil....but for me this is one day that will always feel like it is happening now. And one day I will NEVER FORGET.
Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com
Saturday, September 11, 2010
Friday, September 10, 2010
Is Your Realtor Marketing Your Home?
On the surface this subject line might sound ridiculous to anyone who has sold a home or Realtors who are listing homes. But, are we truly marketing a home to the demographics and buyers that are most likely to be purchasing that home? I find in a lot of cases the answer is NO.
if I have a house in a golf community that backs up to a fairway or a green am I going to be marketing my home to boaters or outdoorsman who like to hunt or fish? Or am I going to go after the golf enthusiast out there? The same can be said with homes in the mountains and near lakes and ponds that hunting or fishing is viable. What if your home was close to a University, or mass transit to uptown here in Charlotte. Is your home priced for a first time buyer? Are you marketing the home to get it in front of those type of people? Or are we just putting a sign in the yard, placing it on the MLS system and letting it feed to the various real estate websites and sittign back and waitign for an offer to come in?
I recently had a few expired lsiting presentations that homes were located in such markets. By properly marketing the home to the type of buyer that woudl be interested in that style of a home, or location I was able to pull in three different buyers on three separate homes. All went under contract in less than 45 days. 2 of the 3 had said they have been looking for sometime online but never noticed the house they bought.
Now, I am not saying it will work with every house. There still is homes that are marketed properly to the right demographic of buyers and have not sold. But, is it not the job of your Realtor to market the home to the best of our ability to get it in front of as many qualified buyers as possible?
These days buyers have a lot of choices to make. In some cases to many. So, is your Realtor marketing your home to the right demographic buyer? And if not, Why?
Dave diCecco
Realtor/broker
www.davedicecco.com
if I have a house in a golf community that backs up to a fairway or a green am I going to be marketing my home to boaters or outdoorsman who like to hunt or fish? Or am I going to go after the golf enthusiast out there? The same can be said with homes in the mountains and near lakes and ponds that hunting or fishing is viable. What if your home was close to a University, or mass transit to uptown here in Charlotte. Is your home priced for a first time buyer? Are you marketing the home to get it in front of those type of people? Or are we just putting a sign in the yard, placing it on the MLS system and letting it feed to the various real estate websites and sittign back and waitign for an offer to come in?
I recently had a few expired lsiting presentations that homes were located in such markets. By properly marketing the home to the type of buyer that woudl be interested in that style of a home, or location I was able to pull in three different buyers on three separate homes. All went under contract in less than 45 days. 2 of the 3 had said they have been looking for sometime online but never noticed the house they bought.
Now, I am not saying it will work with every house. There still is homes that are marketed properly to the right demographic of buyers and have not sold. But, is it not the job of your Realtor to market the home to the best of our ability to get it in front of as many qualified buyers as possible?
These days buyers have a lot of choices to make. In some cases to many. So, is your Realtor marketing your home to the right demographic buyer? And if not, Why?
Dave diCecco
Realtor/broker
www.davedicecco.com
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
Does Your Realtor Return E-mails And Calls In A Timely Manner?
Recently I have noticed more and more that potential clients are telling me that the previous Realtor they had never returned calls or e-mails. And when they did; it was days later...not hours. I am sorry but that is UNACCEPTABLE. If you have a home on the market to sell and your Realtor is not returning your calls or e-mails in a timely manner; what are they doing when another Realtor calls or e-mails them with a question or to present an offer? Are they treating them the same way?
I recently had the opportunity to make a presentation for an expired listing. The gentleman was a very methodical person who spent a great deal of time and detail evaluating everything before making a descision. When the time came for him to interview Realtors; he sent out an e-mail to all the Realtors that had contacted him about listing his home for sale. In the body of the e-mail he asked that we each call him so that he could interview each of us over the phone. From there he would invite a select few to have a face to face interview with him.
Well, i responded within an hour of receiving his e-mail. Made it to the face to face interview and received the lsiting. When I asked him what made him choose me over my competitors he told me it was my responsiveness to his e-mail and follow up with him afterwards. in all, he was initally contacted by seven different Realtors. Out of those seven only two responded back to his e-mail request within 24 hours. His theory was if they did not respond to him in a timely manner to market his home; what were they going to do when other Realtors called or e-mailed them with questions or an offer on his home.
It is a tough economic time for everyone right now. Some Realtors have gotten out of the business and others have resorted to taking on part time jobs to supplement their income until things get better. But, we are being entrusted with the largest purchase or transaction a person is going to make in their lifetime. Do we not owe it to them to respond to them or anyone inquiring about the property in a timely manner?
Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com
I recently had the opportunity to make a presentation for an expired listing. The gentleman was a very methodical person who spent a great deal of time and detail evaluating everything before making a descision. When the time came for him to interview Realtors; he sent out an e-mail to all the Realtors that had contacted him about listing his home for sale. In the body of the e-mail he asked that we each call him so that he could interview each of us over the phone. From there he would invite a select few to have a face to face interview with him.
Well, i responded within an hour of receiving his e-mail. Made it to the face to face interview and received the lsiting. When I asked him what made him choose me over my competitors he told me it was my responsiveness to his e-mail and follow up with him afterwards. in all, he was initally contacted by seven different Realtors. Out of those seven only two responded back to his e-mail request within 24 hours. His theory was if they did not respond to him in a timely manner to market his home; what were they going to do when other Realtors called or e-mailed them with questions or an offer on his home.
It is a tough economic time for everyone right now. Some Realtors have gotten out of the business and others have resorted to taking on part time jobs to supplement their income until things get better. But, we are being entrusted with the largest purchase or transaction a person is going to make in their lifetime. Do we not owe it to them to respond to them or anyone inquiring about the property in a timely manner?
Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Is Your Home Availble For Showing?
In this market there are few things that you the seller can control and other things you cannot control. You cannot control who comes to your home or how many people tour your home. However; you can control when they come to your home.
A lot of people today work odd hours or spouses are working opposite shifts and sleep during part of the day. But the whole idea of putting your home on the market is to get it sold. One of the easiest ways for that to happen is to have your home availble for showings. In Charlotte, you cannot book a showing before 8a.m. or after 8p.m. Now, out of courtsey most agents will not even schedule a showing before 9a.m. or after 7p.m. if they know someone is living there. And generally they schedule a showing within an hour or two window.
But, when you make showing your home difficult or refuse showings you run the risk of losing that buyer. The buyer can perceive it as you are unwilling to sell your home or do not want to be bothered when they want to look at the house. Though, it may not be always true it is the perception that matters. Chances are if you did not make the home available for them to see when they are out viewing homes you will have lost them as a potential buyer.
In this market with all the choices availbel to buyers; why limit the chances you have to get your home sold?
Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com
A lot of people today work odd hours or spouses are working opposite shifts and sleep during part of the day. But the whole idea of putting your home on the market is to get it sold. One of the easiest ways for that to happen is to have your home availble for showings. In Charlotte, you cannot book a showing before 8a.m. or after 8p.m. Now, out of courtsey most agents will not even schedule a showing before 9a.m. or after 7p.m. if they know someone is living there. And generally they schedule a showing within an hour or two window.
But, when you make showing your home difficult or refuse showings you run the risk of losing that buyer. The buyer can perceive it as you are unwilling to sell your home or do not want to be bothered when they want to look at the house. Though, it may not be always true it is the perception that matters. Chances are if you did not make the home available for them to see when they are out viewing homes you will have lost them as a potential buyer.
In this market with all the choices availbel to buyers; why limit the chances you have to get your home sold?
Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com
Monday, September 6, 2010
Buying A Home With An HOA? Check The Covenants And Restrictions First
Home owners Associations are becoming more prevelant in communtiess today. Boards are also taking more active roles in maintaing the quality of their neighborhood and community property. Buying a home in an HOA subdivison or neighborhood can be both good and bad. A lot depends on what is written in the covenants and restrictions for the community and how the members of the board interact.
I talk to a lot of homeowners in my community that were never even told about the covenants and restrictions when they bought the house. Some did not even realize there were any. I hear this from a lot of people in other communities as well. As an agent we are /should be responsible to get the buyer a copy of the covenants and restrictions to the property they are considering purchasing. Then they receive a letter in the mail letting them know they have violated the covenats and/or restrictions. They are told to correct the issue or be subject to a fine.
They may have purcahsed something or done an improvement without the consent of the board or in violation of the covenats and restrictions and not knew. Now, they may be not only out the purchase fo the item but the cost to remove it. I see this a lot especially with fences. Peopel go out and purchase certain types fo fences to find out after they put them up; they are not allowed to have that type of fence up and have to take it down.
In some cases certain improvements to your home need to be approved by the HOA board. That could eb as simple as installing a shed in yoru back yard to painting the exterior of your home.
There has been a lot of talk lately in this tough economic times about the powers of a HOA board. Homeowners are never really sure what they can and cannot do. Homeowners tend to pay their dues either monthly, quarterly, or yearly and forget about it. I have talked to some sellers when I go to list their home that do not know who is on the board, when they meet or who I can contact for a copy of coventants and restrictions. They just know the management company they write the check out to.
Without knowing you can get into a lot of problems and issues. For one, almost everyone I talk to never knew that if you do not pay your HOA dues that the board has the power to foreclose on your home. It can start out being as simple as a couple hundred dollars and end up in the thousands by the time legal fees are factored in.
The HOA board meebers can vote on improvements and spending of the funds without your consent. Things may be done without your knowledge or approval. But that is a power entrusted to them on just about every covenant and restriction I have seen over the years.
If you are looking to buy a home you will want to know if your HOA board memebers active in the community. Are they easily accessible? Do you know who they are? Do they publish newsletters? are they financially smart with your money? Are they running in the black or are they in the red? Is there a possibility of a special assessment or raising of fees?
These are all questions you need to know the answer to before you purchase a home in a neighborhood with an HOA. Not eveyone is the same. Most have very similiar attributes but can vary form neighborhood to neighborhood.
If you live in a condo or twonhome community that covers the exterior of your home...what is the age of the roof? Are you coming up in a year or so for an assessment for replacement of roofs? Are the units do to be repainted?
Ask a lot of questions if you are considering moving into a neighborhood that has an HOA...it could be the reason soemone is selling......
Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com
I talk to a lot of homeowners in my community that were never even told about the covenants and restrictions when they bought the house. Some did not even realize there were any. I hear this from a lot of people in other communities as well. As an agent we are /should be responsible to get the buyer a copy of the covenants and restrictions to the property they are considering purchasing. Then they receive a letter in the mail letting them know they have violated the covenats and/or restrictions. They are told to correct the issue or be subject to a fine.
They may have purcahsed something or done an improvement without the consent of the board or in violation of the covenats and restrictions and not knew. Now, they may be not only out the purchase fo the item but the cost to remove it. I see this a lot especially with fences. Peopel go out and purchase certain types fo fences to find out after they put them up; they are not allowed to have that type of fence up and have to take it down.
In some cases certain improvements to your home need to be approved by the HOA board. That could eb as simple as installing a shed in yoru back yard to painting the exterior of your home.
There has been a lot of talk lately in this tough economic times about the powers of a HOA board. Homeowners are never really sure what they can and cannot do. Homeowners tend to pay their dues either monthly, quarterly, or yearly and forget about it. I have talked to some sellers when I go to list their home that do not know who is on the board, when they meet or who I can contact for a copy of coventants and restrictions. They just know the management company they write the check out to.
Without knowing you can get into a lot of problems and issues. For one, almost everyone I talk to never knew that if you do not pay your HOA dues that the board has the power to foreclose on your home. It can start out being as simple as a couple hundred dollars and end up in the thousands by the time legal fees are factored in.
The HOA board meebers can vote on improvements and spending of the funds without your consent. Things may be done without your knowledge or approval. But that is a power entrusted to them on just about every covenant and restriction I have seen over the years.
If you are looking to buy a home you will want to know if your HOA board memebers active in the community. Are they easily accessible? Do you know who they are? Do they publish newsletters? are they financially smart with your money? Are they running in the black or are they in the red? Is there a possibility of a special assessment or raising of fees?
These are all questions you need to know the answer to before you purchase a home in a neighborhood with an HOA. Not eveyone is the same. Most have very similiar attributes but can vary form neighborhood to neighborhood.
If you live in a condo or twonhome community that covers the exterior of your home...what is the age of the roof? Are you coming up in a year or so for an assessment for replacement of roofs? Are the units do to be repainted?
Ask a lot of questions if you are considering moving into a neighborhood that has an HOA...it could be the reason soemone is selling......
Dave diCecco
Realtor/Broker
www.davedicecco.com
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