...it just makes cents

In the midst of today’s Buyers Market, recent reports continue to confirm that Michigan’s Metro sales are lower than any other urban area in the nation.  The large inventory of homes combined with the small number of buyers is what fuels this frenzy.  Sellers are desperately looking for any edge to get their home sold, and even offers of free rent for a year or trips to Disneyland aren’t helping.  That is why educating ourselves about the cold hard facts of the market are so crucial in accomplishing this mission. Most homeowners realize that it’s hard to sell their home in this market, but homesellers' don’t realize the expected loss and what can be done to soften the blow.  

First of all, know that 95% of all sales are finalized due to the willingness of the seller contributing to the buyer’s closing costs (averaging $5000). In this age of credit card debt and job instability, most buyers are cash poor.  Then there’s the realtors commission, which on average is 6% - 9% of the sale price.  And lastly, there’s the listing price.  If the home is still on the market after two months, the home seller will be advised to reduce price, thus losing more money, yet again.  So how can Michiganders sell a home in a reasonable amount of time and still walk away with some pocket change? 

An innovative realty company has addressed this exact issue.  Sensible Realty Services just makes cents in todays real estate industry.  It provides incredible savings to their sellers.  “Sensible Realty offers the exact same full services, with a palatable, flexible fee of just 4%.” (Sensible Realty keeps 1% and co-brokers receive their traditional 3%).  “If it could do it for less,” says Deborah Fix; Broker of Sensible Realty, “Sensible would.”  The reduced commission allows home sellers to be more price competitive and still netting a higher dollar than would normally with traditional real estate commissions, all without sacrificing the quality service  deserved. 

Sensible Realty Services is not to be mistaken for a discount or limited service broker, far from it.  “The same avenues and MLS system that franchised realtors do, offering and providing the same amount of exposure as the franchisers, as well as aggressively negotiating on behalf of the clients.  Because of the use of the internet, Realtor.com and the ability to reach across the world, we’re on the same playing field as franchised brokers.”   So many homeowners are unnecessarily spending thousands more than needed to when hiring a realtor.  “The MLS is the greatest form of advertising and home sllers simply need to decide what they're willing to pay to use it.”  People have always wrestled with having to pay realtor commissions and never really had a choice until now.  “Michiganders are pleased to know that there are alternatives.”   Sensible Realty Services, is the perfect balance of full service without exuberant costs with the focus being on top-notch quality service at a fair price. 

Keeping with quality service, Sensible Realty recognized that in order to get homes sold in this market, the homes needed to be better than the best.  “Realtors started noticing that buyers were overlooking homes that weren’t “move-in ready.”  There is just so much to choose from that buyers can be as picky as wanted.  In this particular market, the buyer is in the drivers seat, ” says Fix.  Therefore, home owners started using the services of the home staging company “Address For Success” (Home Stager), who is fast becoming the solution for many frustrated home sellers and realtors throughout the tri-county area.  Although staging homes does not guarantee a sale, it does increase the odds, and helps the home stand out among the competition.  Not to mention, the faster the home sells, the less likely the homeowner will be subjected to yet another price reduction. 

Tracy Allen, owner of Address for Success, has a big job to do.  It’s most often a sensitive one, but thankfulness is just around the corner.  “Sellers need to accept that once the home is put on the market, the seller needs to let go of it (mentally).  It is now a marketable product competing against other marketable products.  The home needs to be dressed for success and at its absolute best.”  Her extensive interior design background allows her to prepare a home so it is appealing to the most buyers out there.  Being that funds are limited, Tracy utilizes items that are already owned and if money does need to be spent, she’ll direct the homeowner where to spend it to get the greatest value. “Potential buyers decide in a matter of seconds whether this home warrants a second look or an offer. Buyers want to see a finished product, not a work in progress.”  Tracy believes that realtors should not be without a home stager on their lists of important people.  “I educate the homeowner not only on how to get the home ready for sale, but how to live in it while it’s on the market without going crazy.  This way the realtor can show the home anytime with confidence, knowing it looks great.  Realtors can then focus exclusively on best, marketing the home.  Everyone ends up winning.” 

Working together has been an asset for both of these businesses.  Their missions are sincere and satisfying knowing that the role these folks play in getting homes sold is ideal presentation and substantial savings. 

Sensible Realty is hiring the Michigan Real Estate Professional who practices traditional real estate and willing to earn 100% commission

Houses and/or property which are reaching little sales proportion, include foreclosures, new construction, residential lease or rent, vacant land are all a victim of pricing.  Sensible wants the value to compete with the prices… but again, the privilege is not always there.  Cheap and cheapest are simply keywords and not used to describe this #1 service.  Traditional real estate and the practices that accompany it, are simple, just not affordable.  Other agencies need to get that.  Even the cheapest of bargain hunters want to be on that SOLD list. 

The objective with Sensible Realty is to offer reduced fees, such as 1% commission in exchange for market knowledge and exposure.  The fees are at a discount.  Sensible Realty and its' agency offers discount fees, it is not the service that is discounted.  It doesn't make sense for the FSBO or the traditional homeseller to spend money on alternative, or flexible methods of real estate thinking tol save money while purchasers search homes that are priced right, and properly exposed. To reduce price, should be as simple for the homeseller, as it is for the real estate professional.
Just do it.