He’s my quote word for word “A quick thought….do you think the decline in the percentage of homes selling under 500K had anything to do with alot of homes that sold between 475K and 500K last year now selling for 501K to 525K? I don’t know whether this is happening but it just points out how careful you need to be when reading anything into published statisitics.”
I asked a question which I do not know the answer to. It would be extraordinarily difficult to answer it. I understand how real estate data is collected and reported. Trust me, I understand it far better than your pal Bob and it is far far from perfect! I asked the question to get you all to think a little harder. When you hear something you disagree with you are quick to attack it and question its validity. When you hear something you agree with you give it a pass as the gospel. I encourage you to question EVERYTHING, that which you agree with as well as that which you do not agree with.
As for spying on Bob? Are you kidding me? That is information any one could find out rather easily. Spying is not necessary. Too much of people’s real estate decisions are based upon perception and not the truth. I speak the truth. You relied on your perceptions and then promoted him as something he is not. I dont blame you for being fooled…there is a lot of fooling going on out there. Bob Casagrande is one of many trying to pass themselves off as some sort of expert. The sum total of his knowledge comes from analyzing and interpreting poorly compiled data. Real knowledge comes from experience. I am not here trolling for clients. I have been complimented several times and asked for contact info, websites etc. I have never contacted one of these people nor will I. I am here to learn more about the market psychology and to provide balance to some very one sided opinions. Bob is trying to buy clients by being perceived as an experienced knowledgable Realtor. He spends a tidy sum doing so and obviously has had a very poor return on his investment. Pretty much the only thing I spend money on is to promote my clients property in ways I believe will directly help sell it not to get more listings. You will never see my face on a shopping cart nor a website no one every really goes to (realtor.com is the only place I spend money on the net because it directly helps drive traffic to my listings).
Here are a few tips when dealing with Realtors.
1. Look them up on the CA DRE website. Its http://www.dre.ca.gov Ask them how long they have been in the business and see whether they lie to you. Inexperience is not as bad as lying in my book.
2. Ask them how many transactions they have done in the last two years. If they havent done many, you will be one your own for alot of tough issues.
3. Do they own their own home? There are a very high percentage who have never owned a home. This may be due to them not making enough to buy one (i.e. no experience) not beleiving in the market (then why are they selling something they dont beleive in). But here’s the biggest problem. There are a lot of issues that come with home ownership (repairs, maintenance etc.). It’s kind of like asking someone with no children what its like to be a parent.
3. Ask for at least 5 references. You don’t even need to contact them. If they cant provide them quickly…run away.
4. Ask them what they will specifically do to sell your property. Too many practice the 3 P’s…Put a sign up, put it in the MLS and Pray! There are lots of things smart creative minds can do to help sell your home. If they dont have approaches beyond those 3, you might as well just list with a discounter like Help U Sell and save the money.
I could go one and on but most importantly ask questions and demand truthfullness. You deserve it!
