Dear Santa,
We know that the following list is not the kind that you can just deliver to us. We're hoping, however, that some of the magic of Christmas will make our wishes come true! Here's what we'd like:
1. Please help our clients understand that required paperwork is not mandated by us, and that we are the ones who get in trouble if it isn't signed in a timely way;
2. Please remind our clients that only get paid when a transaction occurs, so that they should realize how important it is for us to be compensated fairly when that happens;
3. We wish that everyone knew what things are within our job description--and there are a lot of them--and what is not, so that people would be reasonable about what they are asking us to do;
4. Please don't shoot the messenger--we only tell clients what the market is doing, not what we think it should be, and higher prices help us also;
5. We would love to be treated like the professionals most of us are, and in the same category as lawyers, bankers, and accountants;
6. Understand that we get into trouble mostly when we try to do something that isn't within our field, so remember that we are the agents, not the principals;
7. Help us meet all of the deadlines, and keep the communication lines open;
8. Please respect our time, especially since we are providing it regardless of whether we are compensated later for it;
9. Especially at this time of year, remind everyone that we have families and obligations also; and
10. Please, Santa, make 2020 a wonderful year for Connecticut real estate!
We wish Happy Holidays to all of our clients and friends, and best wishes for a wonderful New Year, and thank them for all of their business. And Santa, thanks for reading our list!
From all of the Realtors at Pearce Real Estate
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Showing posts with label christmas. Show all posts
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Saturday, November 30, 2019
Calling All Serious Buyers
Most people think of our local real estate selling season as going from the beginning of spring through Thanksgiving, and then taking a break through the winter. Although the number of buyers may be greatest in the spring, as well as the sheer number of listings, there are clear advantages to the holiday season.
Many of us are so busy that keeping a house in showing condition, especially with the possible addition of winter weather, seems too difficult to contemplate. But do you always go all out to decorate your home? You may be one of those sellers whose property looks its best at this time of year.
Buyers can be overwhelmed with parties, gift buying, recitals, work obligations,and vacations. However, those who squeeze out the time are usually serious buyers, who are often on a deadline. They may have a new job, or they may want to move for tax reasons, family growth, or just because the end of the year is a fine time to accomplish a goal. They are not as many in number, but they are motivated, without extra time to waste. Every year, one of our agents writes an offer on Christmas Eve. There's no time like the present for the ultimate present!
So, if you are a seller who wants to swim against the tide, and who may be willing to go the extra mile (or be doing it anyway) with seasonal sights and smells, here's your chance. Maybe your year-end buyer will end up under your mistletoe!
Many of us are so busy that keeping a house in showing condition, especially with the possible addition of winter weather, seems too difficult to contemplate. But do you always go all out to decorate your home? You may be one of those sellers whose property looks its best at this time of year.
Buyers can be overwhelmed with parties, gift buying, recitals, work obligations,and vacations. However, those who squeeze out the time are usually serious buyers, who are often on a deadline. They may have a new job, or they may want to move for tax reasons, family growth, or just because the end of the year is a fine time to accomplish a goal. They are not as many in number, but they are motivated, without extra time to waste. Every year, one of our agents writes an offer on Christmas Eve. There's no time like the present for the ultimate present!
So, if you are a seller who wants to swim against the tide, and who may be willing to go the extra mile (or be doing it anyway) with seasonal sights and smells, here's your chance. Maybe your year-end buyer will end up under your mistletoe!
Thursday, December 20, 2018
Monday, August 28, 2017
120 Days Left in 2017
If you leave out Thanksgiving and Christmas, there are 120 days between September 1st and the end of the year. But rest assured, this is not an ad for shopping days before Christmas! It is, however, a wake up call to action, for people who plan to move before 2018 comes along, or for people who want to move when the timing is best.
Every year, I remind agents and clients that the best time to buy a house is between Halloween and Thanksgiving. That's when the deals are, because sellers want to close before winter, and before another tax year begins. But what does that say about the timing?
The average residential transaction lasts, give or take, 120 days from start to finish. Therefore, if you are planning to buy this year, you need to start looking this week. It takes about 16 or 18 weeks to train for a marathon, so it makes sense that it would take as long to buy and move. Luckily, mortgage rates are almost always at their yearly low around Election Day, so that works out perfectly, if you find a home to buy around that time.
For sellers, this is a reminder that New Haven is a university town. We still do things by the school year calendar, and that includes real estate. Late August sees a big increase in activity and traffic. If you've been planning to sell next spring, you might think again--this can be a really good time, since the end of the year provides a nice ending point for buyers to aim for, and that tends to make things move more quickly. That tends to cut down on the random lookers, too. Mortgages also tend to have a way of going through the system faster when the holidays are coming.
So are you listening? This is your moment. Fall is here, and it's time to act!
Every year, I remind agents and clients that the best time to buy a house is between Halloween and Thanksgiving. That's when the deals are, because sellers want to close before winter, and before another tax year begins. But what does that say about the timing?
The average residential transaction lasts, give or take, 120 days from start to finish. Therefore, if you are planning to buy this year, you need to start looking this week. It takes about 16 or 18 weeks to train for a marathon, so it makes sense that it would take as long to buy and move. Luckily, mortgage rates are almost always at their yearly low around Election Day, so that works out perfectly, if you find a home to buy around that time.
For sellers, this is a reminder that New Haven is a university town. We still do things by the school year calendar, and that includes real estate. Late August sees a big increase in activity and traffic. If you've been planning to sell next spring, you might think again--this can be a really good time, since the end of the year provides a nice ending point for buyers to aim for, and that tends to make things move more quickly. That tends to cut down on the random lookers, too. Mortgages also tend to have a way of going through the system faster when the holidays are coming.
So are you listening? This is your moment. Fall is here, and it's time to act!
Monday, December 19, 2016
Our Changing Sales Calendar
The rule in residential real estate has always been that people look at homes in the spring, and close and move in the summer, so that they can begin a new school year on time. That cycle has worked well for sellers, who can then avoid fixing up or showing their properties in bad weather, so they get their homes ready in early spring, list in May, and move in midsummer.
With fewer school-age children in the State, and more flexibility, this seasonal certainty has begun to change, especially near universities and hospitals. Those two categories work on a fiscal year, usually from July to June. They typically make their offers during the early part of the year, and get answers by early spring. That means that, during the period when people are considering offers in and around New Haven, there is very little available and on the market. This can lead to frustration, but it can also be good news for sellers who have their houses ready to go in late winter.
Every year, I listen to agents say in February and March that they have nothing to show relocating families. Every year, I tell agents to remind folks of this fact, and to get listings sooner. Now we have proof, since we got a report of our website hits over the past 52 weeks. Surprisingly, the highest number of unique visitors came in---drumroll, please--late January! That continued into early March, and then settled down, before dropping to lower points in midsummer and late fall.
So why not aim to have your property listed when the most potential buyers are looking? We know that weather is a factor, but internal decluttering--the biggest issue for most people--can be done in any season, and why not do it when going outdoors is so much less tempting? Internet etailing has taught us that the smartest sellers give the buyers what they want, when they want it. In this case, that means that they'd like more choice earlier in the calendar year. While some may be willing to wait until the traditional season, this really is a case where the early bird catches the worm!
With fewer school-age children in the State, and more flexibility, this seasonal certainty has begun to change, especially near universities and hospitals. Those two categories work on a fiscal year, usually from July to June. They typically make their offers during the early part of the year, and get answers by early spring. That means that, during the period when people are considering offers in and around New Haven, there is very little available and on the market. This can lead to frustration, but it can also be good news for sellers who have their houses ready to go in late winter.
Every year, I listen to agents say in February and March that they have nothing to show relocating families. Every year, I tell agents to remind folks of this fact, and to get listings sooner. Now we have proof, since we got a report of our website hits over the past 52 weeks. Surprisingly, the highest number of unique visitors came in---drumroll, please--late January! That continued into early March, and then settled down, before dropping to lower points in midsummer and late fall.
So why not aim to have your property listed when the most potential buyers are looking? We know that weather is a factor, but internal decluttering--the biggest issue for most people--can be done in any season, and why not do it when going outdoors is so much less tempting? Internet etailing has taught us that the smartest sellers give the buyers what they want, when they want it. In this case, that means that they'd like more choice earlier in the calendar year. While some may be willing to wait until the traditional season, this really is a case where the early bird catches the worm!
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Happy Holidays!
Since this is the last full working week of the year, it's time to express our gratitude for all the clients and firms we have served over the prior year, and, indeed, over the past 57 years. We are proud to represent both you, and Connecticut, and will continue to strive to provide the very best in service and professionalism during 2015. From all of us at Pearce, we wish for you the very happiest of holiday seasons, and a new year filled with health, prosperity, and hope!
Friday, December 20, 2013
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
Blizzard
We were closed yesterday. I was supposed to be leaving town, but that obviously didn't happen. When I woke up, I couldn't tell how much snow there was, because it had blown around so much. There is no school this week, so I couldn't use the school closings as a guide. It was Monday after a holiday, so I didn't have yesterday's news to go by. Since we'd already cancelled the paper and Comcast was knocked out by the storm, I didn't have today's news to go by! So how did I decide to close?
Well, real estate is almost always a delayable purchase. Many buyers, as well as agents, don't want to drive if they don't need to do so. Those warnings and pleas from the Governor's office, to stay home if you can? They generally apply to us. In addition, most people don't want their properties shown in bad weather, because they don't want to take the risk that a prospective buyer would fall or get hurt trying to get in. Most inspections, closings, negotiations, and other business can be delayed for a day. Everything else, including anything that can be done with a computer and email, will proceed as usual. It's one of the benefits of the change in real estate, away from bricks and mortar and toward clicks.
Of course, we always worry that we will inconvenience someone who expects us to be open. That's why it matters whether everything else is up and running. As far as I could tell yesterday, not much was. So why make employees struggle to come in, only to sit around without any calls or visitors?
Finally, I think a lot of people hoped that the Christmas spirit would linger one more day, if we all took a deep breath and relaxed. And, at least for us, it did!
Well, real estate is almost always a delayable purchase. Many buyers, as well as agents, don't want to drive if they don't need to do so. Those warnings and pleas from the Governor's office, to stay home if you can? They generally apply to us. In addition, most people don't want their properties shown in bad weather, because they don't want to take the risk that a prospective buyer would fall or get hurt trying to get in. Most inspections, closings, negotiations, and other business can be delayed for a day. Everything else, including anything that can be done with a computer and email, will proceed as usual. It's one of the benefits of the change in real estate, away from bricks and mortar and toward clicks.
Of course, we always worry that we will inconvenience someone who expects us to be open. That's why it matters whether everything else is up and running. As far as I could tell yesterday, not much was. So why make employees struggle to come in, only to sit around without any calls or visitors?
Finally, I think a lot of people hoped that the Christmas spirit would linger one more day, if we all took a deep breath and relaxed. And, at least for us, it did!
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Is the Tide Turning?
Yesterday was the busiest day for property sales that we've had in a long time. I spent the morning today trying to track down the reasons, and there are several possible causes. Two sales came about because the owners brought down their prices. In at least one instance, that produced multiple offers, so clearly buyers are motivated also. They aren't closing before the end of the year, so I don't think it's for tax purposes on the seller's part. It could, however, be due to the cold weather and the arrival of heating bills.
Two of the buyers are coming from Manhattan, so we're wondering whether the bonuses came early this year. There have been some news articles that make that claim, so it could be true. One buyer is about to start a new job, and was in a hurry (although, in the past, those people could have--and probably would have--rented in the short term). One renter turned into a buyer, and that could be an outgrowth of interest rates rising, with the prospect of higher rates next year.
We've had walk-ins as well, which means that people have gotten the message that the time to buy is now. Or maybe it's our Christmas present as agents! Either way, we'll take it.
Two of the buyers are coming from Manhattan, so we're wondering whether the bonuses came early this year. There have been some news articles that make that claim, so it could be true. One buyer is about to start a new job, and was in a hurry (although, in the past, those people could have--and probably would have--rented in the short term). One renter turned into a buyer, and that could be an outgrowth of interest rates rising, with the prospect of higher rates next year.
We've had walk-ins as well, which means that people have gotten the message that the time to buy is now. Or maybe it's our Christmas present as agents! Either way, we'll take it.
Tuesday, December 1, 2009
Last Call
The Wall Street Journal had an article about buying a house for your child for Christmas. I guess it's appropriate that such an article would be in the WSJ, but it's an interesting idea and deserves some thought!
However, for the average person, it's time to think about buying a property as a holiday gift for yourself. If you hurry, and really move on the mortgage and the inspections, you might even get in for the New Year's celebration. We bought our current house that way. We signed the contract around Thanksgiving, and moved in the weekend before New Year's Day. We even thought of the purchase as a present to ourselves, since, at the time, it was our second home. Many people now do that--buying a vacation home now, with the idea that you might retire to it, is increasingly common with baby boomers. After all, how many socks and sweaters do you need? Putting all the gift money together, and doing something big with it, is likely to be the present that you remember--and enjoy--longest of all.
However, for the average person, it's time to think about buying a property as a holiday gift for yourself. If you hurry, and really move on the mortgage and the inspections, you might even get in for the New Year's celebration. We bought our current house that way. We signed the contract around Thanksgiving, and moved in the weekend before New Year's Day. We even thought of the purchase as a present to ourselves, since, at the time, it was our second home. Many people now do that--buying a vacation home now, with the idea that you might retire to it, is increasingly common with baby boomers. After all, how many socks and sweaters do you need? Putting all the gift money together, and doing something big with it, is likely to be the present that you remember--and enjoy--longest of all.
Sunday, December 28, 2008
2009 Can't Come Too Soon
We real estaters are eagerly awaiting the drop of the ball in Times Square, so that the page can turn from 2008 to 2009, when we fervently hope that consumers will start buying real estate again. On my run this morning, I was explaining to one of my friends that it DOES make sense to trade up, since he will save more on the new house than he will "lose" selling the old one in this market. When will people stop putting their lives on hold? Of course, I'm biased.
I've been thinking a lot about consumer behavior over the past few days. We went to see Frost/Nixon in the Connecticut Post Mall, and discovered that the world is indeed still flocking to malls, or at least they were there, searching for bargains, on the day after Christmas. Movies seem to be attracting crowds, as we've seen on our movie binge after Christmas. In addition to Frost/Nixon, we saw Milk and Doubt. Of the three, Milk stands out as an amazing film; of course, I did see the play versions of the other two, so the suspense wasn't there. We saw all those movies after seeing several plays in a row at the start of the month. We loved A Civil War Christmas at Long Wharf Theatre, Rough Crossing at Yale Rep, and Mamma Mia at the Shubert, plus I also enjoyed Sister's Christmas Catechism at Long Wharf. It's amazing to be able to live in a small city like New Haven and see such a broad diversity of great theater. A Civil War Christmas, in particular, I expect to see popping up all over the country in the next few years--but we saw it here first!
According to other friends, liquor is selling, beauty salons are doing well, and restaurants seem to be holding their own. The last fact really puzzles me, and maybe it's not true. It seems as though eating out would be the first luxury to go, before you stop buying cars and clothes. I went into a clothing chain store yesterday, and the clothes seem to be selling for less than the cloth alone would cost. I'm glad that all you need to run is a pair of sneakers!
I've been thinking a lot about consumer behavior over the past few days. We went to see Frost/Nixon in the Connecticut Post Mall, and discovered that the world is indeed still flocking to malls, or at least they were there, searching for bargains, on the day after Christmas. Movies seem to be attracting crowds, as we've seen on our movie binge after Christmas. In addition to Frost/Nixon, we saw Milk and Doubt. Of the three, Milk stands out as an amazing film; of course, I did see the play versions of the other two, so the suspense wasn't there. We saw all those movies after seeing several plays in a row at the start of the month. We loved A Civil War Christmas at Long Wharf Theatre, Rough Crossing at Yale Rep, and Mamma Mia at the Shubert, plus I also enjoyed Sister's Christmas Catechism at Long Wharf. It's amazing to be able to live in a small city like New Haven and see such a broad diversity of great theater. A Civil War Christmas, in particular, I expect to see popping up all over the country in the next few years--but we saw it here first!
According to other friends, liquor is selling, beauty salons are doing well, and restaurants seem to be holding their own. The last fact really puzzles me, and maybe it's not true. It seems as though eating out would be the first luxury to go, before you stop buying cars and clothes. I went into a clothing chain store yesterday, and the clothes seem to be selling for less than the cloth alone would cost. I'm glad that all you need to run is a pair of sneakers!
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