Wanda's Blog From Billings, Montana

"But I just bought that refrigerator, and it cost me $2,700 and I love it and I'm taking it with me."  And that just sunk the deal!  Crazy!  In this real estate market, if you get a decent offer on your home, and the buyers want the refrigerator, then leave it! 

How much did it cost this seller?  How does $15,000 and the same d&^% refrigerator.  ($15,000 + $2,700 = $17,700).  That's the way I do math folks!

This happened to one of my seller's who were very fond of their refrigerator, and countered the deal for a few thousand dollars difference and "no" refrigerator.  The buyer's came back with a counter of their own that still included the refrigerator. My seller's said NO DEAL, they can buy their own refrigerator for that price. 

I begged, I stressed that you should never lose a deal over a refrigerator, it's an inanimate object, you can buy another one.

"It's the principal of the thing" says the seller's.  So the buyer walks.

And so the story continues, they wait, and wait, no more lookers.  The seller's really want to sell their house, so we talk about a price reduction, they finally agree, and we wait.

3 more months go by, no offers, we lower the price again.  Finally we get another offer!  Yea!  The buyer's want the refrigerator (it really is a nice one).  I deliver the offer and I tell the seller's "Never lose a deal over a refrigerator".

This time they got it, the sale that is.  And after all that time, the offer they accepted ended up $15,000 lower and it included the refrigerator.

Kiss that refrigerator goodbye, and have a Happy Valentines Day!

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link

What's my home worth?  How can a person make sense of the information available to make a good decision? 
Imagine you call me wondering if I'd be interested in listing your home for sale, and wondered about the process;

• I will ask you about your reason for moving?  job change, family status change, neighborhood interest, want to build?
• I will ask you how soon you'd like to move?  30 days or less, 3 months or less, 6 months or less, don't really need to move
• I will ask you what condition your home is in? (5) excellent, (4) pretty good, (3) average for the neighborhood, (2) needs cosmetic work, (1) needs structural work (roof, siding, windows etc)

Your answers to those questions will help identify your stage of readiness to sell;

• motivated to sell
• just testing the selling market, would like to sell, but don't have to

Our Real Estate market in the city of Billings and about a 100 mile radius has slowed down since it's peak in 2006.  The actual number of homes that successfully sold in 2010 was down 44% from 2006.  The motivations for buying have changed a bit, more people looking for a good home that will serve the needs of themselves and their families rather than an appreciating asset.  It's hard to predict the future, but the recent past is a good view to help with current market conditions.

So what's an Absorption Rate?  This rate is helpful in giving a picture of how long it would take to sell all of the homes on the current market.  A Real Estate Appraiser will look at the most recent past within a mile of the subject home (sometimes further and longer for rural properties).  The seasonal conditions can make a huge difference on showings and offers in our climate.  Too hot, too cold, much better somewhere inbetween!

The Quilting Realtor

Many Dream Of Living In Montana I'm One of the Lucky One's That Already Do! Wanda Thomas 2wandathomas@gmail.com Call or Text 406-698-8640 for help with all things Montana. Local MLS Search Link