My house didn't sell over the summer... HELP!!

Sweet Fall.  For most people, Labor Day is the welcomed celebratory end of Summer and threshold to cool autumn air. To a homeowner whose property sits on the market and remains unsold, however...  

... the passing of the Labor Day weekend can be stressful as traditionally, this holiday also ushers in the slower Fall selling season here in the Midwest.

Each year around this time, I have distressed homeowners reach out to me. Most of the time, they have been listed all Spring and Summer with another Realtor, resulting in no sale. They typically are at the end of their listing contract (and rope), unsure what to do next. Most times, the current relationship with their Realtor is strained, the line of communication is fractured, and they do not wish to renew their listing contract.   

It happens.  

Whether the unsuccessful Seller stumbled upon my information on Social Media or they confided in a loved one or coworker who coincidentally was one of my past clients and graciously passed along my business card... they seek honesty, understanding, advice, guidance, and HELP.

Before I proceed, I will preface by stating that a good Realtor makes the job look easy. However, it is incredibly difficult to walk into a homeowner's space - their sanctuary - and barrel off what needs changing to make the property appeal to the masses. A number of agents find this aspect of the job unbearable, revealing to a homeowner that their house needs tidying, cleaning, rearranging, redecorating, or renovation. 

Realtors also typically face a Homeowner who clearly states what they financially expect or "need" out of the property, despite what the statistical comps indicate the TRUE market value to be. Added pressure.  As a result, some agents are not honest with their Sellers... often resulting in months on market and hard feelings.

My take?  Having these difficult conversations is the basis of a Realtor's job. A difficult part of the job, yet the most IMPORTANT part of the job. A good agent faces this situation head-on and refuses to be bullied by an unrealistic Seller, even if it means potentially losing the listing.

The fact is:  While the truth sometimes hurts, information is POWER to a Seller.  It allows them to control the process and not have the process control them.   In addition, it is during these moments that an understanding is made between Realtor and client and an open line of communication is established. Both are IMPERATIVE to a successful transaction.

Listings don't sell for a variety of reasons.  As we had (and continue to have) a healthy 2019 season for Sellers in St. Louis, with a lower inventory and enticing interest rates, market/financing conditions can likely be removed as a culprit.  
The unsuccessful sale can typically be attributed to 1 of 3 factors, or a combination of the 3:

1) Realtor Blunder: 

• Dropped the ball in their preparation, pricing, and staging advice. 
• Haphazard pricing not in line with the statistical comps. 
• Didn't honestly reveal to a Seller that their house has an undesirable odor or is dirty.  
• Sloppy MLS entry with spelling mistakes, incorrect showing instructions, or incomplete or incorrect property information.
• Used an inappropriate psychology of words in marketing, not focused on the targeted Buyer pool.  
• No Open House plan in place for extended days on market.
• Low quality or inadequate photos of important house features. 
• Inadequate (or lack of) staging advice prior to photos and/or showings.  
• Poor/ inappropriate exposure across the internet and social media space.
• Vast exposure with lackluster marketing/photos to back it up.  
• Lack of communication with the Seller.
• Lack of communication with the general public or fellow Realtors whose inquiries were not met with timely response if any at all.  Yes, this is quite common.
• Didn't properly prepare the Seller with showing guidelines and expectations.  
• Didn't share showing feedback with Seller and encourage them to adhere to it.
• Didn't define communication expectations with the Seller.
• Didn't keep the line of communication open with the Seller.  
• Didn't provide the Seller with honest Buyer feedback received.  
• Made promises that they knew they couldn't keep. 
• Didn't defer a Seller who they knew they couldn't help.  
• Listed at a commission that is so low it deterred Buyer's agents.

2)  Homeowner Blunder:

• Chose to list at a challenging time of year, outside of peak market.
• Didn't properly interview and/or ask the tough questions prior to selecting a Realtor. 
• Didn't hire a Realtor with a proven track record and client recommendations. 
• Didn't trust or follow the Realtor's advice when given. 
• Wasn't realistic about value, despite statistical data given.  
• Hired a discount Broker with shoddy marketing and representation- you get what you pay for!  
• Didn't properly prepare the property before photos, listing, and every single showing- from clearing the sink of dishes to scooping poop in the yard.
• Bulldozed their Realtor and insisted on controlling the process. 
• Ignored showing feedback regarding property and price.
• Didn't make their property readily available to Buyer's agents and their clients, even if inconvenient for them. 
• Was problematic, disrespectful, or rude to Buyer's agents.
• Was problematic. disrespectful, or rude to their own agent.
• Publicly broadcasted their house woes on Social media, alienating their Realtor or snooping Buyers. 
• Didn't give potential Buyers adequate time alone in a property. 
• Didn't keep the line of communication open with their Realtor.  
• Didn't keep their Realtor informed, including withholding questions or stating concerns as they arose. 
• Was not realistic about profit potential despite comps given. 
• Used their agent as a verbal punching bag when frustrated.
• Refused price adjustments when the time arises or feedback/days on market reflect it to be necessary.

3) Location/Property features that are out of your control: 

• Market or neighborhood inventory saturation (too much supply for demand).
• Stigmatized area or property. 
• Certain location or property features automatically reduce the Buyer pool, thus prolonging the listing period, for example: vicinity near commercial or a school, busy street, power lines, flood plane, airport, swimming pool, certain architectural styles (split foyers and slabs in St. Louis), extremely stylized decor, unusually small or large lot, strange lot topography/grading, unappealing neighboring properties, etc.

OK, SO WHAT NEXT?

The key to recovery after a lengthy unsuccessful listing period is to pause and regroup before you sign another Listing Agreement.  Ask yourself the question: Should I stay or should I go?  Do you want to remain in the house or are you willing to do whatever it takes to sell that house, even if it means switching things up, engaging in difficult conversations, taking on some new projects, and/or taking a financial hit? 

Should you decide that selling is your preference,  it is time to seek a 2nd opinion, a fresh perspective, IMMEDIATELY.  Speak with a new Realtor (or two).  Conduct a formal interview.  Ask for professional references and CHECK THEM. Take the lessons learned from your 1st experience and seek someone who you think will be a better match and earn your trust.   Be honest about your past frustrations, admit what you could have done better, ask the tough questions that you should have asked the 1st time around, and ask them to highlight what they see as the key selling obstacle from an outside perspective.  9x out of 10,a skilled Realtor can directly pinpoint the problem just by pulling up the listing, carefully examining the current comps, and visiting the property.  

Most important:  

• Do not panic and stay positive.  
• Wipe the slate clean.  
• Own your mistakes and learn from them.
• Hire someone who you have confidence in.  
• Be clear about what you need and expect from your new Realtor. 
• Trust the process.  
• Trust your Realtor's advice and do not be afraid to tap their wisdom and confide in them. 
• As difficult as it is, try to approach your new agent with a positive attitude and with faith, devoid of the frustrations and bias caused by the previous agent.  
• Take each day and part of the process as it comes and keep in mind- this too shall pass.  

The fact is:  every property has a Buyer.  The key is getting your property into the hands of the right person to present it on your behalf to the world.

If you are a St. Louis homeowner currently feeling shackled by your unsold property and do not know where to turn or what to do... please do NOT be afraid to reach out.  I welcome this contact. I can help you. I do not judge. 
     
My clients, whose praises I wear like a badge of honor, will attest... 

I am brutally honest and take my professional integrity seriously. I will not compromise either of those things. I will not lie, even when the truth may sting or is extremely difficult to deliver.  

I bring to the table over 18 years of residential real estate experience, a proven track record of success, concrete statistical data, and an unbiased opinion.  When working with a Seller, I will not sign a listing agreement until the issues of the property are well-understood, discussed, and remedied.  If a Seller is unwilling to remedy issues that I address, I ensure that they understand the possible financial consequences of not doing so. 

If I think that prolonging the listing until the Spring is advisable and/or necessary to maximize profit potential- I disclose that immediately.    If I think that I am not the match for that Seller- I reveal that and politely decline the listing.  My single goal as a Realtor is to sell your property, making it as stress-free and profitable a process as I possibly can for you.  All of my advice given will support that goal. 

I can help.  Let's connect!  Many of my professional accomplishments can be found here on the blog.  Learn more about me HERE at my bio, on my LinkedIn where I have numerous professional recommendations,  or contact me directly at...

Carrie Nenonen

Licensed Realtor - State of Missouri

Selling St. Louis since 2001

9-time recipient of the St. Louis Magazine 

“5 Star Realtor Award” for best customer service

Coldwell Banker Gundaker Corporate Headquarters

#2458 Old Dorsett Road, Suite 100

St. Louis, MO  63043

www.MoveWithCarrie.com

314. 452. 7675   cell / text

314. 298. 5275   office
carrie.nenonen@cbgundaker.com

My clients are talking.  Read some of their testimonials HERE!

❤️A gentle reminder...

4th quarter roundup, both personally and professionally.

I will admit that I have been rather lackadaisical on the blog recently...

I haven't forgotten about you, Bloggers!  

I bumped into a former client last week while holiday shopping at the Galleria, and she mentioned that she has enjoyed the more frequent glimpses of my family and personal happenings recently on Instagram and Twitter.  She also questioned whether the market was still holding strong, as she noted that I haven't been "talking work" as much recently.

The fact is, the 2015 St. Louis real estate market was incredible.  Per our local MLS system, these are the year-to-date stats in Missouri real estate...

Staggering, right?  

Per my office's latest year-to-date tally, my personal production has landed me in the Top 10 thus far at the Coldwell Banker Gundaker Corporate Centre Sales Office...

While I don't tend to focus or dwell upon rankings, I am beyond blessed by the number of wonderful families I was given the opportunity to assist in 2015.  My Buyers made solid investments, my Sellers walked away with more equity in their pocket than they have in YEARS with less days on the market, the condo market finally started moving again, and lateral this-house-just-isn't-a-match moves became possible again.  The rates stayed constant, the inventory was swift, lenders loosened up, and St. Louis was MOVING. The fact that 4th quarter dropped off in to seasonal slowdown this year is a positive thing, as that is a sign of a NORMAL and HEALTHY market here in the traditional Midwest region of the country.  

The healthy St. Louis real estate market is cyclical and Mid-October through New Years is traditionally a forced hiatus for most Midwest Realtors.  Even the most pressed clients typically pause in the 4th quarter to enjoy the season and their family, only to start back up again on January 1st with a bang. A productive Realtor plans around this time of year both financially and personally.  We manage our money to account for the financial drought and use the extra time off for travel and family commitments that are impossible during peak season.    

Summer through Fall was notably busy for me in 2015 with back-to-back closings, time-pressed Buyers, and complicated negotiations. Over 4 to 6 peak months, a full-time Midwest Realtor typically works 7 days per week, often 12-16 hours per day.  As you can imagine, it is an exciting yet tiring whirlwind. Hence, the 4th quarter hiatus is a terrific breather.  I personally use this time to recharge and enjoy my family, connect with my clients on Social Media on a more personal level, and shift my focus to super-prepping for new year.

So what do Realtors really do behind the scenes during this time of the year in addition to the "fun stuff" that we share on Instagram? While we do have the opportunity to enjoy holiday family time, travel, and complete personal projects, much of a Realtor's holiday season is spent sitting behind a desk under a pile of paperwork.

Over recent weeks I have been...

• Interviewing with potential clients who have made contact with me for their consideration of representation.
• Prepping my 2016 committed Sellers with numerous home visits, listing consultations, and staging appointments.  Gauging the market, pulling comps, and pricing.
• Getting to know my signed Spring Buyers and their preferences while creating their hot sheets to begin their search after the New Year. 
• Getting my marketing plan together for 2016. 
• Getting my receipts and tax papers organized from 2015. Tax time, ironically, hits during a Realtor's typical PEAK time, hence getting the bulk of it prepared in December is ideal. Everything is added and in the correct category, rearing and ready to go for our accountant once our final statements come in. Imperative for an independent contractor.

Overall, December has been an incredibly productive month for me that has prepped me for a seamless 2016 transition.  I am excited.  I can't wait to get going!! I love the post-New Year real estate frenzy and I am super eager to enjoy the fun here on the blog.

Are you considering a move in 2016?  A proactive December/January is the key to success!  The time to start preparing is NOW, regardless of your target dates.  Interviewing?  I would love the opportunity to speak with you and appreciate your consideration!  Learn more about me at www.MoveWithCarrie.com, see what my clients have to say about me HERE, or call me at 314.298-5275.

Rules of Real Estate: Timing matters. Midwest Seasonal Slowdown Advice for Sellers and Buyers.

Farewell to jack-o'lanterns and spooky stuff...

November has arrived and the holiday countdown has begun!  In the Midwest, not only does our weather have four distinct seasons... so does our real estate market.  To achieve your individual real estate goals, timing matters a lot.

While the phenomena varies dramatically across the different regions of our country, seasonal slowdown in the real estate market is pronounced here in the Midwest! During the 4th quarter(Oct/Nov/Dec), here in the middle of the country, homeowner focus and finances are traditionally spent "decking the halls" and being merry! 

We in the Midwest tend to covet our holiday season.

For this very reason, 9x out of 10, I advise my SELLER clients to avoid listing during this period and/or pull their listing off the market if it hasn't yet sold by the time that late October rolls around. As an average transaction is anywhere from 5-7 weeks from contract to close, an October contract puts a Buyer and Seller move smack in the middle of the holidays. In the Midwest, most clients prefer to avoid that scenario. As a general rule here in St. Louis, a Seller who remains listed during the 4th quarter is either especially motivated or has received not-so-great real estate advice, in my opinion.  

Midwest Sellers: if your goal is to maximize your profitability, in my 12+ years of local residential experience, I urge you to avoid listing in the 4th quarter of the year. Most of my clients will attest that this is almost ALWAYS my recommendation. During the 4th quarter, Midwest Sellers tend rack up unnecessary days on market and battle winter weather and an unusually small Buyer pool that results in numerous price reductions and inevitably a lower sales price.

For that very reason, however, 4th quarter is a FABULOUS time for Buyers! FABULOUS. While there is less inventory to choose from, deals are a plenty! There is less competition, far less rush, and far more Seller desperation. If my Buyer clients are willing to remain focused on the process during the holiday season, I STRONGLY urge them to work the 4th quarter for all it is worth! Buyers are in control during the Midwest 4th Quarter. It is an AWESOME time to buy.

As a general rule during 4th quarter in St. Louis:  

Sellers- hold off until after the New Year to list in order to be on a more even playing field.  
Buyers- frivolously scour the current inventory to see if you can find a match, as you OWN this market!

A HUGE misconception in the Midwest is that a Seller and Buyer must hold off until late March/April/May in order to benefit from the strong Spring market.  Not true.  The fact is, once the clock strikes Midnight and the New Year turns, our local real estate market is back in full force unless the weather is especially treacherous! 

1st quarter is an excellent time for both Buyers and Sellers, as it is more of an even playing field.  Sellers have a plentiful Buyer pool eager to spend their money and welcome Spring in their new home.  Buyers have a LOT of fresh inventory to choose from, but not the competition and pressure that is generally encountered during the 2nd quarter of our real estate market.  In addition, tax time often puts a little more money in a Buyer's pocket, to aid in the closing process.  1st Quarter deals tend to be more amicable and pleasant deals for all parties involved.

The 1st quarter tends to be my favorite part of my professional year.  As the days grow longer and the weather warms, clients are renewed from the holidays and excited for the process.  Their energy is contagious... I thrive on it!  If you are contemplating a late 2014 or an early 2015 move (particularly in the 1st quarter), the time to contact a Realtor is NOW!  Knowledge is power in this process, and planning and preparation is KEY to a stress-free and profitable transaction.  I have been meeting with my 2015 Sellers all month and providing them with a healthy to-do list for the cold winter months.  They will be let out of the gate and prepared to list MILES ahead of their competition as a result!

Looking for advice or an agent to work with in the St. Louis area?  I am always looking for new clients and would love to chat with you!  I have numerous references both online and upon request.  Visit my website at www.MoveWithCarrie.com to learn more about me and see what my clients have to say.

Personal Valentine's Day thoughts & link love...

This afternoon I stumbled upon a great blog post over at Tiny Buddha- Simple Wisdom for Complex Lives, and felt compelled to share it in honor of Valentine's Day. This particular blog is filled with fantastic advice and practical positive-living content.  I highly recommend it.

On Valentine's Day, the Internet and media always seems to be littered with 2 holiday extremes: the jaded and the mushy.  After 15 years of marriage, I view a holiday like Valentine's Day much differently than I did almost 19 years ago when Steve and I initially met. 

A loving and successful relationship is indeed a journey not a destination.   It is a constantly changing and shifting entity, much like Life in general.   People are inherently flawed.  We just are.  I have found that in those couples who don't "go the distance", many times at least one or both people in the relationship weren't paying close attention during the "good times and bad" part the vows.  They are there for a reason.

Life is indeed a ride. You need someone who will get behind you and give you a boost when struggling to overcome the bumps.  Someone who will help pull you out of the valleys when you feel like you will never dig yourself out. Most important, someone who will lift their arms, smile, and enjoy the ride side-by-side with you when times are good.

Regardless, this article is beautifully stated ...

What Love Isn't

“Love isn’t a state of perfect caring. It is an active noun, like struggle.

To love someone is to strive to accept that person exactly the way he or she is,

right here and now.”   ~Fred Rogers

Over the years, we form a lot of ideas about what love is, oftentimes based on unrealistic hopes and standards. We learn what we think it’s supposed to look like, and we may find ourselves frustrated when reality falls short.

It often does. Love can be messy, confusing, and imperfect, just like us, and life itself.

What Hallmark cards don’t always tell us is what love isn’t, but sometimes we need to strip away ideals in order to understand and appreciate what’s real.

Love isn’t always patient.
Sometimes we get short, brusque, or frustrated with the people we love the most. Love is, however, recognizing that, taking a few deep breaths, and then doing our best to see the people we care about with compassion and understanding.

Love isn’t always kind.
Sometimes we say things we later regret to the people we love the most. Love is, however, recognizing that, taking responsibility, and then doing our best to be caring and considerate in our future interactions.

Love isn’t always selfless.
Sometimes we fail to consider the needs of the people we love the most. Love is, however, recognizing that, taking their feelings into account, and then doing our best to find a balance between giving and taking.

Love isn’t always trusting.
Sometimes we doubt the people we love the most. Love is, however, recognizing that, taking a close look at where our suspicions really come from, and then doing our best to see the best in people instead of assuming the worst.

Love sometimes envies.
Love is sometimes easily angered. Love sometimes keeps a record of wrongs. Love does all these things because we sometimes do these things
.
Acknowledging this doesn’t mean condoning it.
It means recognizing that love doesn’t cure us of our natural human tendency to make mistakes.

Love doesn’t fail because we mess up from time to time.
It fails when we fail to accept that we all do, and then think something is wrong instead of making things right.

Love isn’t life without conflict.
It’s about wanting and working to overcome it together.

Link Love: Practical Tips for Productive Living

I stumbled upon this great blog post over at Practical Tips For Productive Living and felt compelled to share.  Their blog is filled with fantastic, positive-living content.  Love it.  This particular post really stuck out to me.  So much of it rings true and I found it to be excellent advice for a fresh, happy start to a New Year...

12 Things that Happy People Do Differently

by Jacob Sokol

“I’d always believed that a life of quality, enjoyment, and wisdom were my human birthright and would be automatically bestowed upon me as time passed. I never suspected that I would have to learn how to live - that there were specific disciplines and ways of seeing the world I had to master before I could awaken to a simple, happy, uncomplicated life.”  -Dan Millman

Studies conducted by positivity psychologist Sonja Lyubomirsky point to 12 things happy people do differently to increase their levels of happiness. These are things that we can start doing today to feel the effects of more happiness in our lives.

I want to honor and discuss each of these 12 points, because no matter what part of life’s path we’re currently traveling on, these ‘happiness habits’ will always be applicable.

1. Express gratitude. – When you appreciate what you have, what you have appreciates in value. Kinda cool right? So basically, being grateful for the goodness that is already evident in your life will bring you a deeper sense of happiness. And that’s without having to go out and buy anything. It makes sense. We’re gonna have a hard time ever being happy if we aren’t thankful for what we already have.
2. Cultivate optimism. – Winners have the ability to manufacture their own optimism. No matter what the situation, the successful diva is the chick who will always find a way to put an optimistic spin on it. She knows failure only as an opportunity to grow and learn a new lesson from life. People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times.
3. Avoid over-thinking and social comparison. – Comparing yourself to someone else can be poisonous. If we’re somehow ‘better’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, it gives us an unhealthy sense of superiority. Our ego inflates – KABOOM – our inner Kanye West comes out! If we’re ‘worse’ than the person that we’re comparing ourselves to, we usually discredit the hard work that we’ve done and dismiss all the progress that we’ve made. What I’ve found is that the majority of the time this type of social comparison doesn’t stem from a healthy place. If you feel called to compare yourself to something, compare yourself to an earlier version of yourself.
4. Practice acts of kindness. – Performing an act of kindness releases serotonin in your brain. (Serotonin is a substance that has TREMENDOUS health benefits, including making us feel more blissful.) Selflessly helping someone is a super powerful way to feel good inside. What’s even cooler about this kindness kick is that not only will you feel better, but so will people watching the act of kindness. How extraordinary is that? Bystanders will be blessed with a release of serotonin just by watching what’s going on. A side note is that the job of most anti-depressants is to release more serotonin. Move over Pfizer, kindness is kicking ass and taking names.
5. Nurture social relationships. – The happiest people on the planet are the ones who have deep, meaningful relationships. Did you know studies show that people’s mortality rates are DOUBLED when they’re lonely? WHOA! There’s a warm fuzzy feeling that comes from having an active circle of good friends who you can share your experiences with. We feel connected and a part of something more meaningful than our lonesome existence.
6. Develop strategies for coping. – How you respond to the ‘craptastic’ moments is what shapes your character. Sometimes crap happens – it’s inevitable. Forrest Gump knows the deal. It can be hard to come up with creative solutions in the moment when manure is making its way up toward the fan. It helps to have healthy strategies for coping pre-rehearsed, on-call, and in your arsenal at your disposal.
7. Learn to forgive. – Harboring feelings of hatred is horrible for your well-being. You see, your mind doesn’t know the difference between past and present emotion. When you ‘hate’ someone, and you’re continuously thinking about it, those negative emotions are eating away at your immune system. You put yourself in a state of suckerism (technical term) and it stays with you throughout your day.
8. Increase flow experiences. – Flow is a state in which it feels like time stands still. It’s when you’re so focused on what you’re doing that you become one with the task. Action and awareness are merged. You’re not hungry, sleepy, or emotional. You’re just completely engaged in the activity that you’re doing. Nothing is distracting you or competing for your focus.
9. Savor life’s joys. – Deep happiness cannot exist without slowing down to enjoy the joy. It’s easy in a world of wild stimuli and omnipresent movement to forget to embrace life’s enjoyable experiences. When we neglect to appreciate, we rob the moment of its magic. It’s the simple things in life that can be the most rewarding if we remember to fully experience them.
10. Commit to your goals. – Being wholeheartedly dedicated to doing something comes fully-equipped with an ineffable force. Magical things start happening when we commit ourselves to doing whatever it takes to get somewhere. When you’re fully committed to doing something, you have no choice but to do that thing. Counter-intuitively, having no option – where you can’t change your mind – subconsciously makes humans happier because they know part of their purpose.
11. Practice spirituality. – When we practice spirituality or religion, we recognize that life is bigger than us. We surrender the silly idea that we are the mightiest thing ever. It enables us to connect to the source of all creation and embrace a connectedness with everything that exists. Some of the most accomplished people I know feel that they’re here doing work they’re “called to do.”
12. Take care of your body. – Taking care of your body is crucial to being the happiest person you can be. If you don’t have your physical energy in good shape, then your mental energy (your focus), your emotional energy (your feelings), and your spiritual energy (your purpose) will all be negatively affected. Did you know that studies conducted on people who were clinically depressed showed that consistent exercise raises happiness levels just as much as Zoloft? Not only that, but here’s the double whammy… Six months later, the people who participated in exercise were less likely to relapse because they had a higher sense of self-accomplishment and self-worth.