Here’s My Buyer…Do You Want to Sell Your Home in Milton?
categories: Buyers, Milton Real Estate, Sellers
(To the tune of Gershwin’s “I Got Rhythm”)
I got buyers
They’ve got money
They need to move
Who could ask for anything more?
In a buyer’s market, it is a good thing to have buyers if you are a realtor. I work with both buyers and sellers in my business, but my website and blog have always generated more buyers than sellers, which is understandable given that normally people seek out websites and information more often when they are looking to buy than sell.
Given I have this world-wide buyers magnet, I thought that I’d exploit it if you’ll indulge me. You see, routinely when I’m talking to sellers, particularly those who are considering “for sale by owner” or who aren’t terribly motivated to sell, they say “just bring me a buyer.”
These sellers either don’t understand or don’t appreciate how the home selling process really works (which is outside the scope of this post but worthy of another), or more likely they believe that realtors can just manufacture buyers for all shapes and sizes of homes, no matter what their shortcomings, demerits or hideous floral wallpaper are. Many sellers believe that buyers should be about to look beyond the decor and minor defects and that their home is God’s gift to some lucky buyer. It just doesn’t work that way in a buyer’s market.
Well, through the power of the web, while I can’t actually manufacture buyers, I have had some success in attracting them to North Fulton, Alpharetta and the surrounding cities. In the last 18 months or so, almost 1,300 users have registered on www.LiveInAlpharetta.com. Not all are serious, active buyers, but even if 10% are, that is still a significant number. The fact is: web marketing works and my business has proven it.
Traditionally realtors have marketed homes to buyers. Look at any newspaper, magazine or real estate website and you’ll see pictures of homes for sale. Makes sense. The homes are “the bait” to attract the buyers - and remember, everyone wants the buyer. He or she is the one with the money! Just bring me a buyer. That is all I need. Oh, yeah, and it only takes one. (That is another myth to be debunked in a later post.)
I thought that since I do have a bunch of buyers -and buyers are what everyone obviously wants - that I’d promote one here. Let’s flip the sales equation around and instead of marketing homes to buyers, let me market a buyer to a home (seller). Fells a little bit like the girl calling the boy up for a date, doesn’t it? I always loved Sadie Hawkins.
Without further ado, here is my buyer:
Currently residing in Northern Virginia. Wants to move back to GA to be closer to family. Has a home to sell that is on the market and getting decent activity buy no contract yet. Wants to be in Crabapple Crossing Elementary School district, but will consider other good schools in the area. Wants at least 4 BR, with a basement. Swim/Tennis neighborhood would be nice. Thinks that they would be able to possibly move at the end of the year (between school semesters). Price Range: high $500’s to $600k.
If you are a seller out there and thinking of selling but haven’t because you think the market is soft please consider my buyer for a match and contact me. Even if this buyer isn’t a match and you want to sell, please contact me. I have other buyers, as long as you keep in mind that I can’t actually manufacture one to your exact specifications! .
It does feel a little strange pitching a buyer to the seller, but I’ll get over it. In a buyer’s market you would expect there to be more sellers than buyers and that my buyer would have his pick of houses. Indeed, the MLS data bear this out. As of July 2007, in North Fulton (Alpharetta, Roswell, Johns Creek and Milton) there were 581 more homes on the market than in July 2006.
I just thought that since all the sellers seem to be clamoring for buyers - and because my buyer is not quite ready to buy - that I’d post his credentials and see if anyone wants the buyer bait for a change, instead of the other way around.
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If your client needs a great agent in Northern Virginia, I’m your gal!
Happy Friday
interesting post and more comments to come… hello there jennifer. are you a freelancer? =)