Pamela Howell

"Full time & Full Service"
  • I'm a:
  • Real Estate Professional
  • Company:
  • Keller Williams Realty Leaders
  • Location:
  • Web sites:
  • Phone:
  • (219) 201-0500
Pamela  Howell,  in Schererville
  • 2 Answers
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About Me
54 hour pre-licensing course completed December 15, 1998
Licensed by the State of Indiana in January 1999
54 hour pre-licensing course completed again November 7, 2005
eCertified for demonstrating superior knowledge in the use of the Internet for Communication and eCommerce
Concerned about constant changes in marketing techniques, financing options, and customer service it is my sincere desire to learn something new every day. Here is a list of some of the classes I've taken to constantly hone my skills to serve you better. These in addition to required classes every REALTOR(R) must take.
Understanding Purchase Agreements ---------- w/Vicki Anderson
Fair Housing Act & the REALTOR(R) --------- w/ Jeff Slaughter, Esq
Arbitration -------------- w/Kaye Hirt ABR,CRS,ePro,GRI,SRES
Antitrust --------- w/ Jeff Slaughter, Esq
a.k.a "This Lesson Today will Keep the G-Men Away"
Environmental Factors -------------- w/Bill Beranek, PhD.
Pricing with a Full Deck ------------ w/ John Hamilton
Appraising Fundamentals ----------- w/ Pam Fish
Home Inspections ------------- w/ Danny Maynard
Think Globally, Sell Locally ------------ w/ Terry Watson, C.D. (Cool Dude)
Home Staging --------------- w/ Linda Barnett, Owner -Home Matters LLC
State Forms --------------- w/ Tim McColly
Fair Housing ------------------- w/ Ruth Ann Morgan
Listing Contracts ------------- w/ Herm Hoge
Purchase and Contingencies ---------------- w/Herm Hoge
Antitrust and Real Estate ----------------- w/ Pat Pullara
Ethics/Professional Standards ------------- w/ Pat Pullara
Value Added Selling -------------- w/ David Knox
Buyer Counseling ------------- w/ Tim McColly
Avoiding Roadkill ------------------ w/ Terry Watson C.D (Cool Dude)
Building Your Business Base -------------- w/ Tim McColly
License Law -------------- w/ Tim McColly
Ameridream Home Buying Course
Intro to the Law of Agency -------------- w/ Tim Reed
Prudential P.H.D. Program------------------- 80 hours of advanced study in how to deliver the highest possible level of quality customer service to home sellers and buyers
Settlement Procedures --------------- w/Tim Reed
House enrolled Act 1001-2008 ------------- w/Joe Wszolek
Managing Risk in Todays Marketplace ------------- w/ Dan Strayer
Construction Builder Co-Op ------------ w/ Jud Motsenbocker
Environmental I.Q. -------------- w/ Terry Watson
Fair Housing --------------- w/ Terry Watson
Negotiating ------------------ w/ John Hamilton
Tech to Better Serve Customers -------------- w/ Kathy Harbaugh
Forms ------------------ w/ John Kolas
Financing ------------- w/ Ted Sherfick
Maximize your Potential Professionally ----------------w/ LeRoy Hauser
My Q&A View all >>
Pamela  Howe…'s Questions (0)
Pamela  Howe…'s Answers (2)
Pamela Howell answered:
You said your home had a market value of $460,000 a year ago. According to who? It's market value is what someone is willing to pay for it - not it's appriasal, not what it was compared "comped" at. If it's at $385,000 and it's past a month on the market are you gettting regular showings. If you are getting regular showings but no offers - hang in there. If you are not even getting showings you are overpriced, not being marketed broadly enough, or you need to fix/clean it up. Under most circumstances you can lease it while it's being marketed but tenants can mess up your investment, they can say "sorry, can't show it today" and make it nearly impossible to sell. Consider that by reducing your price you may take a hit BUT when you buy your new home you could recoup that money in what you SAVE on your purchase. Pay the standard commission and don't try to lowball the agents. Someone who can show homes and get 2% or show a home and get 3% will be more inclined to show the one where they will get more compensation. I'm not saying it's right but just as you are trying to make the most money, so is the agent. Also, consider what other points you might be able to negotiate to make your listing more appealing. Have an appraisal done, have a survey done (so the incoming buyer doesn't have the up front costs) Offer a home warranty so they don't have to worry about sinking a lot of money into a home and then not having any to spare if something goes wrong. Hold a "broker open house". Offer a simple lunch, beverage and dessert and have LOTS of AGENTS come over -- your agent should arrange a mass email or fax to every office in the area to announce it. By doing so it becomes more then words on a computer, they can recommend it to buyers based on what they've seen. Have a barbeque and invite the neighbors. Yes, even the ones you don't know. It's amazing how many people WANT to see inside your home but don't want to "bother" you. Make it easy for them. Neighbors sell homes by telling their friends and relatives!!! Make sure your agent has it in every available web site with multiple pictures. Statistics can lie but (supposedly) homes with more then 6 pictures get about 300% more viewings. And feel free to call me, our company is #95 in the country and we do business across the country. - Thu Jul 17 2008, 18:51
Pamela Howell answered:
Usually for 180 days after a listing has expired the REALTOR(R) can still claim "procuring cause" and collect a commission from the seller. Lacking complete information from both sides I can only guess why the REALTOR(R) did not write up the listing. A few examples... realtors are independent contractors and don't HAVE to work with anyone if they have a legitimate reason. If this agent purchases all their own forms and they know the offer is just too too too low and there is no way it's getting accepted, in fact so low you might insult the seller, then it's an expense they can save. With the newspapers making it seem like the buyers are in charge everywhere, some buyers are making crazy lowball offers. An insulting offer is not the way to keep open a line of communication that eventually leads to a sale. The REALTOR(R) has a reputation too and if his/her offers are perceived as ludicrous it will lead to other agents that would be just as happy to NOT work with him/her. Unless you've signed an agreement for your agent to be your "exclusive buyer's agent" you can move on to another REALTOR but remember that there is no reason for an agent to be loyal to you and keep returning your calls if he/she knows you are just jumping from realtor to realtor. Unless you understand home warranties, what inspections need to be done for different loans, how to get your title work, what possession escrow and a whole mess more, don't try to go it alone. Find a REALTOR(R), establish a relationship and trust with him/her and get to work on becoming a home owner! - Thu Jul 17 2008, 17:25
My Listings
225 E 40th Pl, Griffith, IN 46319 225 E 40th…
$164,900
5 br  2 ba  
619 E 40th Pl, Griffith, IN 46319 619 E 40th…
$124,900
3 br  1½ ba Listing Web Site
8732 Calumet Ave, Munster, IN 46321 8732 Calumet…
$319,000
4 br  2.0 ba Listing Web Site
9362 Shelby Ln, Crown Point, IN 46307 9362 Shelby…
$249,900
4 br  3.0 ba Listing Web Site
View all 4 listings
Specialties
Out of nearly 3000 agents in Northwest Indiana, only a small percentage work full time in the business. I don't get back to you when I'm "done at my other job" this is it. The only one.

The phone number you get is my cell phone - reach me at any reasonable time.

You may want to help you neighbor's, cousin's, best friend who just got their license but in this market it's no time to put your single biggest investment in the hands of someone without experience. I've been doing this since 1999. I also proudly wear the badge of "computer geek" and with over 80% of people starting their home search on the internet, you should have someone who knows what they're doing. That's me!
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