Would you operate on yourself?? No?? Why not?? What if you read enough things online or watched enough TV to know what you think you need to do?
One of the greatest myths in real estate is that REALTORS®/ real estate agents sell homes. That is the farthest thing from the actual truth. Homes sell themselves, but also the home owners sell homes, not real estate agents. Let me explain in generalities, though I know there are exceptions...
A house is what it is. You can't change the location. If a buyer doesn't like the location, I, as the agent, cannot force my buyer to like it and purchase it. If the floorplan isn't what the buyer is looking for, like the master bedroom is up instead of down, I can't force my buyer to like it and purchase it. Condition and cosmetics can always be changed, so I'm not necessarily talking about those things. It's unlikely for a buyer to lift a house and move it to another location, and it's also unlikely for buyers to knock down walls and change a floorplan for something major, though I know it's done with older homes with a full rehab.
What am I there to do if I'm not there to sell the house? I'm there to help you sell your house by bringing qualified and approved buyers to you. I assist you by taking care of all the logistical paperwork that protects you on the legal side as well as providing expert advice.
One of the largest reasons I'm there is to help you present your "product" to the potential buyers in its best light. I help with the staging and the suggestions to change this and change that. I'm there to point out the negatives buyers will probably point out so we can turn negatives into positives before buyers ever know. I'm there to help you remove the emotional side of the transaction and look at it from a logistical, business side.
I help make the selling process effortless for the home seller with my professionalism and treating you with top priority. I've been doing this for 10 years now, and have been very successful with my Home Selling System. If you think you've watched enough DIY or HGTV and read enough Contracts books, by all means, you might not think you need me... but just because I watch the Discovery Health Channel, I'm not going to try to operate on myself!! I would want the expert, and I would gladly take their advice and opinions as it's their everyday job, not their hobby.
**Are You Packed Yet?**
Donna Harris, REALTOR®
RE/MAX Austin Skyline
www.DonnaHomes.coma
Donna@DonnaHomes.com
Austin TX Real Estate and the surrounding areas of Lakeway, Bee Cave, West Lake Hills, Cedar Park, Round Rock, Spicewood, Circle-C, Steiner Ranch, and everywhere in between... Hill Country Austin TX Real Estate and beyond. Whether you're buying or selling an Austin home, I'll be with you every step of the way.
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** #1 Agent in my Office for all of 2008 **
Copyright© 2010 By Donna Harris, All Rights Reserved. You may re-blog with links back to this post.
* Would you Operate on Yourself? - Austin TX Home Sellers * was first published on donnahomesblog.com
Ha! I love the title! Thanks for getting this out today for us members of AR
It's appreciated!
Patricia/Seacoast NH & ME
I think I'll re-blog this post.....
Thanks again!
Patricia
Very good point, Donna. My wife is a nurse, and we say things like this all the time. Thanks!
This is SO going to get featured Donna. Great post, great topic, and great views. I couldn't agree more.
Donna, this is so perfect! After many years in real estate I can tell you that this should have been required reading for those who thought they could do it themselves! ~ Susan
Donna
Great post and especially great headline. We need more analogies like this to pass on to our would be clients.
Patricia, Thanks for the reblog!
Phil, Does she give herself the Flu shot? LOL
Jared, Thanks!!
Susan, I'm glad I could explain it in simple terms!
Todd, Most people don't understand it's not like changing your own oil... but maybe that'll be my next title!
Hi Donna, often times, I see alot of agents (me included) comparing the home selling process to a doctor's surgery. I understand what you mean but these 2 abilities are not equal (far from it). The education, tenacity, perserverance and not to mention intelligence to get a real estate license and a license to practise medicine are too far apart.
Some sellers do get lucky or know how to price their property below the market to attract and know how to keep a house clean do end up selling their own house to save some money. It's not rocket science. With enough training and experience, most people could do it.
On the other hand, operation - not quite the same.
But I'm also going to say, Just because a doctor knows how to cut a person open doesn't necessarily know how to sell his house, for the most amount of money and with the least inconvenience. Sales is a profession and so is brain surgery. We just get paid on a different scale too!
These are 2 different skillsets. Each to his/her own. I think we are comparing apples to oranges and they are not quite the same.
Your make some great points. I always trust a professional.
Loreena, But it's the same to an extent. I disected frogs in 7th grade and took Biology in 9th grade. I know how to use a scapel... I can practice giving myself an IV by using an orange as they say the skin is about as tough as that. Plus, I watched every episode in every season of ER. Heck, my kid might be named Carter!! Remember Doogie Houser, the tv show? He was a doctor by 16. Some people are fast learners and don't need all those years of schooling to be a doctor... But having a great marketing plan and selling system is a "science" that the regular home owner can't master within one sale. It's trial and error. You see what works and what doesn't over the years and you get the process down to near-flawless. I used to cut my own hair, but they need more license stuff than agents!
Honeycutt, Thanks!
These are very good points. I wish more people would realize we aren't there to MAKE people buy their home, we HELP people who want to a buy a home.
Hi Donna, I have used a similar analogy myself and understand what you mean. More sellers need to understand that homes sell themselves, people either like a home or they don't, plain and simple. We can't manipulate a buyer to do something. If a home is the nicest in its price range, it will sell, if not, it likely won't. Nice post, thanks for sharing.
I think it's funny how we're always bringing up the doctor analogy.
Here is a question... Does a skilled surgeon operate on himself? Do real estate agents hire an agent to handle their own property? Do lawyers represent themselves?
I think it's funny how Greg thinks it's funny that we're always bringing up the doctor analogy.
Hi Donna,
I think one of the difficulties with this is that the level of education required to be a physician is far and above the education of an agent. Even though most of our education is on-the-job its a tough analogy to work with. I don't have an M.D. - but I do have doctorate in a medically related field - the two are compeletly different. But that doesn't mean that any one can play REALTOR and do it well. Far from it.
Donna I preach this to people all the time. Buying a home is an emotional decision and homes do sell themselves. Realtors don't sell homes as many people like to put it.
Agreed, and the same thing goes for those Discount Brokers who my all means have a right for their business model. But, when it comes to negotiating it is rough. You are basically having to do it all.
Fun and fascinating post....thank you Donna
Many years ago, I went out and bought the tools necessary to clean my own teeth. I got the little mirrors, the different scrappers and picks and... off I go. Let me say that I do not have a clue as to what I am doing as I am imitating what I have seen done and what appears to be working. Am I thorough? NO. Do I take X-rays..NO. Do I do this regularly and with precision..NO. Do I cause some bleeding? Sometimes. Do I know what to look for? NO. Basically, I am skimming the surface and parroting the dentist, the pro..... who not only studied his profession, but practiced it gaining that valuable experience along the way. So, twice a year I see a dentist, the rest of the time I just maintenance....Want to buy and sell homes? I have been doing it for over 30 years. Perhaps I can contribute some thing that the FSBO or the buyer who tries to get a better deal by saving on commissions may overlook?
Excellent post with excellent thoughts, if only more clients would actually read this, their homes would sell so much faster. Thanks for posting it,
Donna, Thank You for a great post....headed out to pull my eye teeth.....
I completely agree with your comment back on my comment. Salesmanship is a skill. Negotiation is a skill. No one can master it in 1 sale. I recently felt bad that this agent doesnt know how to fully negotiate on his client's behalf on my multiple offer listing. That too is another skillset.
By the way, I love the name CARTER. It's a brilliant name for a doctor too (wink, wink)!
All you can really do is get the house priced right and staged properly, curb appeal, etc. The right kind of marketing helps. The house will usually take care of the rest all by itself.
Most MLS listings are sold by a selling/buyers agent with the qualified buyer in the car.
I love the comment about lawyers representing themselves. They should REALLY know better.