Attention Shoppers...

Welcome back. This past weekend seemed to fly by as usual, it always seems to when there's a lot going on. My folks took off for the beach Saturday, so I spent Friday with Mom & the rest of the family. The rest of the weekend was spent showing houses and celebrating some friends' graduations. Congrats again to my friend Andres, good luck out west!

So my company has decided to get a kiosk over at Southpoint Mall. Of course I signed up at the first opportunity, I think I'm going to be there for some 3-6 afternoon sessions in the coming weeks. I'm not sure what to think of it, but I figure it's worth a try.

Just so I'm not next to the kiosk where they try and re-use that sand stone on your hands when you walk by. Otherwise I will be forced to voice my opinion on the sanitation issues related with their whole marketing strategy. The folks at the massage kiosk seem pretty dedicated to their craft. Maybe I'll be next to them.

I talked in the last blog about listings & having home owners wondering why in the world their place won't sell. Aside from the fact that showings are down, I feel many agents are actually expecting the same thing. Put the house in the MLS, let it show & sell. I don't feel there is ever a time for that, especially now.

You could sell real estate for 40 years and have trouble explaining exactly what sells a house. I was selling one home some folks came to see & passed. The owners put in new switch plates all over the house in the time being. When the buyers came back a couple weeks later they decided to make an offer, "because the recent upgrades looked great" their agent went on to say.

This is what makes selling homes such a challenge and each one unique. For the long list of strategies I use and all the different marketing I'll put out, you rarely know what exactly captures each buyer. This is one way I've been trying to separate myself from the competition. I'm using every tool I have to market my listings and reaching out to every buyer that walks through that door.

As for the Land Transfer Tax I urged you folks in Orange County to vote against, well the results are in and it was overwhelmingly rejected. Still shaking my head that the council spent $100k of our tax dollars promoting it. http://wral.com/news/local/politics/story/2830778/

Unfortunately I will be ending on a sad note. Our family dog Murphy passed away recently, she was a week shy of 15. We are all grateful she

lived such a long & happy life. She truly was a miracle dog that gave us a few good scares over the years but just kept on truckin'.
You'll be missed Murphy.