Motivated means you're going to sell for less

We hear very often that a seller is "motivated".  If you are instructing your agent to tell other agents that you're motivated, you're going to get low-ball offers.  Motivated and "desperate" are synonymous in the brain of a buyer and their agent.  There have been too many occasions where a listing agent advertised that their seller is very motivated only to then hold firm to their list price when the low offer comes in.  If you truly are motivated and want to sell your home as fast as possible, reduce the list price and stay more firm during your negotiations.  You're going to get more interest, more showings and potentially more than one party interested which could lead to achieving a much higher sales price.  If you've been on the market for three years at $350,000 and telling your REALTOR that you'd take $300,000, just drop your price to $314,900 and get it sold.  If you're home is only worth $250,000, this won't work.

Your cousin, Zeke, from Flint may not be the best REALTOR

Your cousin, Zeke, may be able to turn a squirrel into the tastiest pasty on the planet, and I'm sure you love him to death, but this is a big deal and he may not be the right choice.  Sometimes we get REALTORs from downstate working on behalf of family members or friends in the sale or purchase of property in northern Michigan.     I can't imagine trying to do an effective job representing a family member in an area I know nothing about. The schools, body of water, neighborhood, and many other factors play a huge role in a property's value and I wouldn't know the first thing about any of those things in an unfamiliar area.  If Zeke really wanted to help you, he'd help identify a strong local REALTOR and take a referral fee from them.  He can still help with advice and consult during the transaction with the other REALTOR if he really wants to look out for your best interest. 

It's okay to pay full price

Don't let your pride prevent you from getting the right property.  When you find the one that is best for you and your family, buy it if it's priced right.  Things are getting very competitive among buyers in many markets. We're seeing more and more multiple offer situations.   If a great house hits the market, go see it immediately. If it's perfect for you and the sales comps support the list price, pay the price or even more because there's a good chance someone else will and you'll be back to square one.   I'm not sure why it is, but many buyers end up missing out on multiple homes until they finally step up and do what's necessary to get a great home in a strong market.  This doesn't apply to every property and every market but a great agent will let you know when it's time to get off your wallet.

You're going to take a hit

The market, and especially the buyers in it, don't care what you paid for your house or how much you have into it.  If you purchased in 2004 - 2007 in northern Michigan and are trying to sell now without doing some major upgrades, you're going to take a hit.  Roll your head a little bit when it comes at you and it will soften the blow.  The other common one we see is when a seller overbuilt their home for the area. If every home around you is 1,500 square feet and you chose to build a 4,000 square foot palace with marble floors and Viking range, you're going to take a hit.  I hope you enjoyed your time there because it's going to hurt financially when you have to sell.  Regardless of how you found yourself in the position that your home is under water (you're not alone by the way), it's simply no longer worth what you thought it was going to be. Come to terms with it emotionally and make your financial plans around that cold hard fact.

Some REALTORS stink at photography

I saw a listing photo recently that was apparently taken while sitting in a recliner and the photographer's bare feet were actually in frame.  I'm pretty sure The Dukes of Hazard was on t.v. too.  It threw me off so bad that I honestly can't remember what the house looked like.  It didn't help that the rest of the photos were so poorly lit that I couldn't tell if the counter tops were plywood or granite.  It could have been a well built home in a terrific neighborhood but anyone looking online likely did the same thing I did and simply clicked "next".  The reality is, if you find a house online that suits most of your needs from an objective standpoint and is in your area of interest, you owe it to yourself to go take a look.  Often times the photos are deceiving in either a positive or negative direction.  You may end up finding a hidden gem that no one else was willing to look at because of naked feet.  Don't make the decision to tour or buy a home solely from what you see online.  You still have to put your feet on the ground and actually visit the home or property you're considering.  Better yet, get a good agent who's willing to preview homes for you and trust that they'll make you jump in the car to come see the ones that suite your needs.  If you're a seller and can see your agents' feet in your listing photos, fire them.  That's just gross!

Don't be cheap!

You often get what you pay for

When choosing the REALTOR to list your property for sale, cheaper is rarely better.  The best agents and brokerages invest a lot of money in their marketing efforts and technology and it can make a huge difference in their ability to sell your property.  Rather than find the cheapest REALTOR, find the one that has a track record of success.  Ask them for a record of all their sales for the past two years and see for yourself if they've been successful for other clients.  Ask them to show you the marketing they did for another property they represented.  Once you come across that agent or broker who obviously knows what they're doing and has a proven track record, pay them.  Every broker sets their own commission rates.  Paying an extra percentage point is going to cost you some money on the front side, but don't be short sighted.  They'll more than make up for it in sales price due to their efforts and you'll be able to move onto the next chapter in your life.

Pigs get fat, hogs get slaughtered

Too often we come across buyers who are seemingly out for blood and won't be happy until the seller has basically thrown their first born child into the transaction.  Don't be a jerk.  Many sellers are in a tough spot today and they're simply trying to get out of a bad situation.  If they're asking a fair price for their property based on the comps, just buy the house and let them move onto the next phase of their life.  Beating them up on price then nickel and diming them because of silly items during inspections isn't doing anything for your karma.

Great properties are expensive

No we cannot find you a newer 3 bedroom craftsman style home on Torch Lake for $200,000.  They don't exist.  Every buyer needs to determine what they want to give up on their "dream home" search if they're working on any sort of a budget.  If you're a buyer set on having a new home on a great body of water in an affluent community, it's going to be expensive, period.  The homes that people are getting terrific deals on are a little beat up or dated or maybe in a little less attractive community.  Everyone is looking to get the best deal possible but if you start out with unrealistic expectations, your home hunt will likely be frustrating, drawn out, and ultimately unsuccessful.  Contact a good REALTOR, give them your budget and your three or four "must haves" and they'll be able to guide you to the property that best matches your needs.  If you're willing to do some painting or landscape work, even better!

Snapping turtles don't buy homes

Your Lake frontage consists of 6 inches of water over 18 inches of smelly black sludge. Humans want to swim in sandy bottom areas.  You're property may be worth 1/2 of others on the lake with prime frontage. Adjust your price until it sells or pay a company to improve your lakefront.  Click the image for a link to a company that can actually create a sandy beach and even go through the DEQ permitting process for you.  It will cost a bit but the investment will pay off 10 fold.

Brown paneling is ugly

Its 2014 and no one wants a home that hasn't been remodeled since the 70's. Paint over that paneling with a nice neutral color and it will make thousands of dollars of difference in your sales price and, more importantly, allow the home to sell.  That carpet isn't going to help either.