According to a recent study by Trulia.com - "Among the 100 largest U.S. metros, conditions in 50 are now shifting in favor of buyers, a ten-fold increase from just five metros a year ago. They determined this shift by examining an average of three buyer/seller balance-of-power indicators and analyzing how they’ve changed in the last year (from January 2018 to January 2019): the share of listings with at least one price cut, the monthly median days on market, and the sales-to-list price ratio (how a home’s final selling price compares to its list price). All three have shifted in favor of buyers.

This shift also shows up in other common housing metrics. Homes sitting on the market longer, for example, can also help push up monthly measures of inventory because home shoppers can count on listings remaining active for longer, giving them more options at any given time.

The shift in favor of buyers is also happening where home values have risen the most over the past six...

As we see more listings enter the market the competition for qualified buyers is rising. How do you help your listings stand out in a crowd? 

It's easy to only focus on price and terms but one area that is often missed is how you present a home to the market - in other words how you merchandise your listings.  To market the home effectively you need to point out the homes best features and amenities. In a recent study conducted by Zillow they found the following: 

Which listing features can help sell your home for more? 

• Steam Oven (34.1%)
• Professional Appliances (32.3%)
• Wine cellar (31.4%)
• Steam Shower (30.7%)
• Pot filler (27.5%)
• Shed/Garage Studio (26.5%)
• Heated Floor (26.2%)
• Waterfall Counter-top (26%)
• Outdoor Kitchen (24.5%)
• Prep Sink (24.1%) 

Which listing feature can help your home sell faster? 

• Open Shelving (11.2)
• Pergola (10.7)
• Mid-Century (10.7)
• Subway Tile (10.4)
• Exposed Brick (9.5)
• Smart Lighting (8.9)
• Farmhouse Sink (8.9)
• Butcher...

According to a new study conducted by Redfin open houses sell for $9,046 more money and spend seven fewer days on the market than homes not held open. Why? Listing agents who host strategically timed open houses aren't just advertising their listings they are marketing their listings to the critical "backlog of buyers".  

“I usually list properties on a Thursday or Friday, then hold an open house on Saturday or Sunday. I also hold private showings because it’s so important to get as many potential buyers into the home as possible,” said Jessica Johnson, an agent in Miami, Florida “Open houses can help homes sell faster. When homebuyers see other people at an open house, it can motivate them to place an offer more quickly than they otherwise would. I had two listings go under contract last week after just one weekend on the market. In both cases, the buyers first saw the home at the open house.”

In every market and price category...

Why do most homeowners sell their home? 

It's interesting that most real estate professionals can't answer this question. But consider it's impact on your marketing strategy. If you know the motivations behind why a homeowners may need or desire a housing change it can dramatically impact your marketing plan and listing presentation. 

The good news is that the National Association of REALTORS has provided an updated study of seller motivation. The study reveals the following reasons why homeowners consider selling. Here are the top five reasons listed: 

1. Home is to Small (15%)
2. Move Closer to Family and Friends? (14%)
3.  Job Relocation (13%)
4. Neighborhood Less Desirable (9%)
5. Change in Family Situation (8%)

See Entire Report:Click Here

Watch the quick video to learn how you can use this information to target homeowners in your local market. 

Do you need more leads, more listings, more buyers, and more closings? 

Explore Mastery Classes:

• Open House...

As more listings enter the market the competition for buyers and offers in many areas of the country is rising rapidly. Because of this it's important help your sellers position their home to have the best chance at selling. 

In a recent study of 4200 REALTORS it was founds that 68% of staged homes received offers at least 9% more than their counterparts who were un-staged.

Watch and learn what staging means, how to discuss it with your sellers, who pays for it, and the top recommendations from REALTORS nationwide. 

Are you ready for a real estate coach? Explore Mastery Classes that can help design the career and the life you deserve including:

• Sphere of Influence
• For Sale by Owner 
• Open Houses
• Expired Listings
• Business Planning

About Jim Remley:

Jim Remley is a nationally recognized expert in the field of residential real estate. Entering the real estate industry at the age of 19 he began an unlikely rise from college drop out to real estate Rock...

Have you considered refreshing and repackaging your listings with new visuals and ad copy? As the market changes and competition rises your skills as a marketing expert will become even more important to sellers. 

Yes, we have all seen horrible photos of real estate listings and we have also read terrible ad copy. But if you have listing that isn't selling now be a great time to refresh and repackage the listing with better visuals and a new approach to your marketing remarks. 

For some fresh ideas watch as Jim explores 5 Ways to Improve the Promotion of Your Listings + Tips on Rejection Proofing Your Ad copy. 

Are you ready for a real estate coach? Explore Mastery Classes that can help design the career and the life you deserve including:

• Sphere of Influence
• For Sale by Owner 
• Open Houses
• Expired Listings
• Business Planning

About Jim Remley:

Jim Remley is a nationally recognized expert in the field of residential real estate. Entering the...

While many real estate professionals volunteer their time, energy, and dollars to a wide spectrum of charitable causes many have not considers employing cause based marketing as a part of their marketing strategy. 

Cause based marketing can do many things for both you and your charity of choice. First it can help define you to consumers as someone who gives back and cares about the greater good, second it can inspire others to follow your lead, and third it can dramatically increase the amount of of time, energy, and dollars being donated to the cause. 

Watch this quick video to learn why cause based marketing should become an important part of your overall brand strategy and 5 Ways to Start Today! 

Are you ready for a real estate coach? Explore Mastery Classes that can help design the career and the life you deserve including:

• Sphere of Influence
• For Sale by Owner 
• Open Houses
• Expired Listings
• Business Planning

About Jim Remley:

Jim Remley is a...

Congratulations you have just been nominated for your first Oscar! I guess all those acting classes in college finally paid off.  Unfortunately the ceremony is tonight and you can’t make it because you’re on location with Vin Diesel in Bangladesh. (Blast!) On such short notice your agent has informed you that you only have six choices to act as your stand in to accept the award on your behalf. Your choices are: Johnny Depp, Jennifer Lawrence, Tom Cruise, Melissa McCarthy , Tom Hanks, or Susan Sarandon.

So who would you choose to represent you on Oscar night?

In a classroom setting the overwhelming majority of my students choose either Tom Hanks or Jennifer Lawrence. Why? They are well respected, like-able, and credible actors. They won’t embarrass you, make a fool of themselves, or run off with your statue.  In other words they represent you well. Our clients go through a similar process. This is sometimes known as the ego driven decision.

This ego...

Once you have mastered your core real estate presentation, many agents find it helpful to create a success portfolio. A success portfolio is a pictorial journal of your past success stories. One of the best ways to envision a success portfolio is to imagine yourself interviewing a photographer or an architect. Both of these professionals almost always have a success journal that shows off their talents, for instance a photographer may include photos of different scenes, lighting, models, and backgrounds, while an architect may include elevations, interior and exterior drawings, and most importantly completed projects.

Likewise many top real estate agents carry with them a success portfolio which may include photos of homes sold, past flyers and marketing campaigns, pictures of clients in front of homes purchased, brochures, website samples, advertising slicks, open house invitations, and most importantly quotes and pictures of satisfied clients. Some progressive agents are now even...