What Should I Do? Overpriced Listings, Just Looking, and More

When clients I haven't spoken with for a while call for advice or a recommendation, I swoon. I love that they turn to me in these times.

Here are a few of my recent interesting client situations, and the advice that I gave.

If you have any of your own real estate questions, please call / email / text me for a great convo!

There’s a house I like, but it seems way overpriced. What should I do?

While being prepared and moving fast is generally a good strategy, in a few recent transactions, my best advice has been to wait to make an offer. 

I know this may be confusing, but I knew for sure through my experience that one of the properties was overpriced, and I knew these clients didn't want to overpay. SO ... I told them to wait it out. 

Our thinking together was that If it went under contract in the first 2–3 weeks, it would be because someone was offering more than it was worth. When Week 5 rolled around the property made a price reduction, but not big enough to create urgency. 

In the end, I had my clients wait another week to make the offer. We offered what amounted to a 10% price reduction on the original listing price, and it was accepted without a counteroffer. 

Know when to hold'em, know when to fold'em, right?

I’m selling my house. Are there any free/cheap ways I can give myself a better chance?

Believe it or not, the Kelvin temperature of your lighting could be jeopardizing your home sale.

Also, with my design background I super geek out on design features, especially in new construction and remodels. Vent covers, light switches, and dishwasher walls are tell-alls for me. Upgrades like these can often help how your house shows, which can drive better offers.

I’m so early in the buying process that I don’t want to bother you yet, I’m just looking. Is that OK?
I have some friends who were casually looking for a property with an agent they were connected with on Zillow. They said they didn't want to bother me with their looky-loo curiosity as they weren't sure they were ready to buy.

Well, they found a home that they loved and had this broker write an offer.

Unfortunately, it became clear to them that this broker wasn't able to negotiate for them the way that they had hoped, and they did not get the home. 

The next week, they found another property and called me immediately. I was able to work out a fair referral compensation with their first broker that allowed my friends to break that broker contract with them free and clear.

As I say often, there is no “Too early” to contact me, because you never know when you’ll find your perfect home and need to move quickly. I have a full guide about When to Reach Out to a Realtor available here, but I’d say that if you’re thinking about buying or selling at all, give me a call!