Making a Grand Entrance

Whether you think 'Belle of the Ball' or making a big SPLASH or simply standing out in the crowd, it all comes down to getting noticed. Effective marketing is all about creating the positive first impression. You might think this post is intended to provide guidance for a job interview - and it could as it certainly applies! But my topic title today is about how important it is for folks selling real estate to have their property in 'show ready' condition. In the next few moments I hope to illustrate to sellers how important it is to 'make the grand entrance' into the real estate market.

Property in today's market has to reach out and capture the emotions of potential buyers. This is especially critical when sellers have multiple properties to consider as the competition for qualified and willing buyers becomes much stiffer. Sellers should not kid themselves. Purchase decisions - ALL purchase decisions - are driven off emotions. It is a fact. And it is critical for the motivated seller to recognize this fact in how they present their property to the market. Seller's cannot control the economy any more than they can control the location of their existing property. However, sellers do control the marketing strategy and they absolutely do control the condition of their property as it is prepared for introduction to the market. Capture the emotions and you've captured the buyer.

Just remember this: ALL purchase decisions, and especially the purchase of homes, are emotion-based decisions. I'll illustrate this key point with one question: Are residential property buyers shopping for 'houses' or are they shopping for 'homes'? The answer is they are shopping for 'homes'. Houses are structures. Homes are those places where people get together and create all types of warm, fuzzy memories. Homes are where the chocolate-chip cookies are baked and where families gather for celebrations and holidays.

A buyer's first impression of your property is the most critical moment in that potential transaction. Is the property neat and clean or does it look like 'work'? Is the yard picked up or will a prospective buyer feel like they are invading someone else's space? Is there a light on at the front steps, are the windows sparkly, is the siding clean and free of blemishes, does the house role out the red-carpet in 'grand entrance' fashion and say 'Welcome Home!'?

I've sold real estate long enough to recognize the look on a buyer's face when they have found 'the one'. And very, very often that 'look' appears before the buyer has even entered the property. They become captured in the moment - their thoughts swirling with emotions of relief and joy in having found their home. Just like in job interviews, homes need to create the positive first impression. If they do not succeed in doing so, the game may already be over.

Are you serious about selling a property soon? Make it SPLASH! Create the grand entrance.

Until next time . . .

Jon Drews
Associate Real Estate Broker
www.SearchFergusFalls.com

A few random thoughts . . .

Greetings to all! All signs suggest we have most certainly locked into our Minnesota summer groove. Roadscapes throughout our lake-splashed county are views of lush green woods and waves of maturing corn, beans, and wheat. Blue skies and glistening water treat travelers with unrivaled splendor.

Another sign I notice of summer's advance is the staggering number of raccoons found 'sleeping' along our roadways. (As parents are prone to do, we used to shield our kids from the crushing realities of road-killed critters with this 'sleeping' reference.) In any event, raccoons do not fair as well in road-crossing as do chickens. But in the raccoon's defense, I have never, ever observed a chicken crossing the road - nor have I ever wondered why a chicken would want to cross a road . . .

Along with sleeping raccoons, I have noticed a good many turtles smacked prone on the asphalt. I ask myself, 'How is it that turtles are forever being hit on our roads?' It is not like they are able to jump out in front of speeding vehicles. It is only a theory of mine but if there is some evolutionary process at play enabling creatures to become more adaptive it has certainly overlooked the turtle. If turtles were evolving to their environment their upper shells would have taken on the form and color of blaze-orange safety cones long ago.

So, what does any of this ramble have to do with real estate? Not a darn thing! I'm just settled back on my patio pondering random thoughts whilst I enjoy some of the most alluring weather and fixating waterscapes on the planet. Minnesota - land of 10,000 lakes . . . and inspiration for my finest dreaming. Till next time -

Jon Drews, Associate Broker with Century 21 Vista
www.SearchFergusFalls.com

Minnesota Summer Dreams . . .

Hello, Folks - It has been too long since my last post. The summer in Otter Tail County is in full swing. Lake activities are the place to be! Swimming, boating, and fishing are where you will find the 'tanned and sassy' crowd.

Real estate sales, despite what is being touted by national media, remain very healthy for quality lake front - and Otter Tail County has some of the most 'qualitiest' (I just made that word up this very moment.)

Yours truly has also made time for some high-end water recreation. Except, instead of becoming tanned and sassy, I wound up turning 'red and crispy'. Guess who spent 11 hours out on the water and forgot their sun screen . . . Would somebody plesase flip me over, I'm starting to stick!!

There is no better place on earth than Minnesota in the summer time. If you haven't experienced it, you need to. And what better way to experience a Minnesota Summer Dream than to own your own slice of it. Talk to an area real estate agent today and ask about available properties in Otter Tail County - the Land of 1,000 (and forty-eight) Lakes!! Oh, yes, and be SURE to remember the sun screen.

Take care,

Jon Drews
Associate Broker with Century 21 Vista, Inc.

www.SearchFergusFalls.com