Janelle, Great observation! It boggles the mind why sellers still fail to stage an impressive presentation of their homes. When and if they do, agents should enlist the best help on photos/videos they can afford. Capture interest creatively; available communication tools are better than ever.

Wed May 14 2008, 06:52

I don't know if any of you are having this same experience but I have had an insane amount of virtual tours and internet hits on my inventory. Flyers are not being taken and there really isn't much point at putting up directionals... people just aren't driving around, burning through gas and looking at inventory. It is now essential that you have top notch listing photos that feature the home well, clutter free and staged to perfection. There are so many houses to choose from that buyers are weeding out the inventory they DON'T want to see on the basis of what they view online. Gas in our area is now $3.85 a gallon for regular unleaded! Time to kick up your internet presence and offer professional virtual tours!

Tue May 13 2008, 23:08

I didn't think that looked right...affected. dah

Fri May 9 2008, 08:26

I am grateful for the higher fuel prices! You may think I'm crazy but there is a method to this madness. I have a "cute" little car, it's a '92 Mercury Capri that is still shiny and showroom fresh AND it's a convertible! It had a serious problem that left in parked in the garage for the past 4 years and having no book value it just sat there parked waiting for me to take some time and fix it. Well with nothing to do in this slow market and the cost of gas going up up up, I decided it was time to play auto mechanic! I’m not much with wrenches and I had taken it to 3 different shops to get fixed but they could not find what was wrong, I took it all apart, spread out on my garage floor, and found the offending part, replaced it, reassembled it and yippee! It worked! Maybe I can be a mechanic in my old age!

My other "Urban Real Estate Assult Vehicle" is a full size van. It has a 36 Gallon Tank and from empty to full now requires $133 which will carry me 310 miles, the capri costs $40 from empty to full and carrys me 420 miles! The downside is I had the van "wrapped" last year when I bought it and now that nice rolling billboard isn't rolling!

Pray for Rain

JD “Dan” Weisenburger, GRI
Broker-Associate REALTOR®
Vanguard Realty, Inc. GMAC Real Estate

Thu May 8 2008, 20:21

OMG. I know! I released it, then noticed my mistake. Then, I could not figure out how to edit it. I am horrified -- please do not tell my business partner. I was an English major in a former life. He would never let me live it down! Uggggggggggg.

Thu May 8 2008, 18:57

Ok, Ok, I was going to ignore it...but I can't stand it! "Affecting"

Thu May 8 2008, 10:38

They have not really effected our buyers here in Wichita Falls just yet. We've had our 2 best months so far this year. People are still buying and willing to go out and find their dream home.

Thu May 8 2008, 10:11

I got rid of the big car and am driving my '94 Miata.

Wed May 7 2008, 11:21

Chris i like the motorcycle idea. You can ride a bicycle for the really close ones lol. Just put them on your handlebars. I hear that gas will be hitting $5 a gallong buy July or August.

Wed May 7 2008, 11:08

Joy,

About 3 years ago, I determined that we would likely be paying these kinds of prices, and planning ahead really worked out for me.

I started farming the geographic area that was within 2 miles of my home, and almost all of my listings are typically in that area. I also purchased a motorcycle that gets 80 MPG for showing homes...(and no, contrary to collegue chuckles, I don't throw the client on the back seat and show homes, they follow me)

Even with the solid planning, though, Michigan is rainy so I can't always use the cycle and it doesn't work for open houses either. Also, I do get referral from outside of my farm frequently.

Even good planning comes with flaws!

Wed May 7 2008, 11:06

Lynne, Well said. Economize as much as possible, but in the end we cannot pare back on the needs of the clients.

Mr. Melby, Yikes. Time for a Prius?

Rob, Love your idea about Google steet view. And sometimes it makes sense to ask buyers to drive by the property to check out the neighborhood and exterior; this is particularly true if they are having are hard time narrowing down the area.

Wed May 7 2008, 10:15

Joy, gas prices are affecting my business in another way. We are a rural, recreational area and usually have large crowds on holiday weekends. I don't expect to have nearly as many "flatlanders" coming to the area over Memorial Day weekend this year. Not as many people equals not as many clients.

As for using gasoline to show properties, I do try to schedule a route for expediency and logically, if at all possible. And I tell clients about homes, show photos, etc. in the office first to help cut down the list. But it still boils down to doing what you have to do to serve the client, and if that means extra driving, so be it. I look for other ways to save money to make up the difference, i.e., sending postcards instead of letters, emailing instead of making phone calls, scanning and emailing copies instead of using a printer and mailing copies, etc.

Wed May 7 2008, 09:53

They're killing me. I complete circa 15 broker price opinions for banks every week, and great amount of driving is pushing profitability way down.

Wed May 7 2008, 09:17

Joy I am also having the clients preview the property on Googlw Street View so that they can check the property off if they don't like the street. It is better than pulling up and having them say I don't like it.

Wed May 7 2008, 09:13