Agents: Just say no to overpriced listings

Sellers often have unrealistic expectations about value of upgrades

BY BERNICE ROSS, THURSDAY, AUGUST 30, 2012.

Inman News®

House of dollars image via Shutterstock.

Overpriced listings have always been the bane of the real estate business. Given the tough lending environment, there is no longer any wiggle room when it comes to pricing. If your sellers aren't willing to be realistic, even if they do get into contract, there's a high probability they will never close.

It used to be that placing a property under contract was the toughest part of the transaction. Tight credit and major changes in the appraisal process have made it exceedingly difficult for agents to close transactions. In fact, when it comes to the appraisal process, many agents are finding themselves in an entirely new world.

For example, in the past, if a property had high-quality upgrades such as granite countertops, custom wood cabinets, hardwood or marble floors, appraisers would normally upgrade the value of the property. Today, that is almost never the case.

Realtor tries a new tack with music video Lip-synced spot designed to get clients to 'Call Me Maybe'

BY PAUL HAGEY, WEDNESDAY, JULY 25, 2012 Inman News®`

Video camera image via Shutterstock.

A Realtor in North Carolina is trying (tongue-in-cheek) a new tack to get potential clients to call -- making a music video. Call me, maybe?

Justin Bieber's done it. TheHarvard Baseball team's done it. Katy Perry's done it. The Miami Dolphins Cheerleader shave done it. Now a Realtor has done it.

Jessica Edwards, 30, an agent with Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty in Wilmington, N.C., got seven girlfriends together on a Monday evening a couple of weeks ago, hired her listings videographer and filmed a lip-synced music video of Carly Rae Jepsen's hit pop song, "Call Me Maybe," currently the No. 3 single in the iTunes Music Store.