In the "I wish I'd thought of that" category I have to tip my hat - large, straw, Panama-style - to Gerry Morrissey of our RE/MAX office.
He had a huge ad in today's Skaneateles Journal (www.skaneatelesjournal.com) highlighting his properties in the area. One of the things he offers as an incentive is a free home inspection prior to listing. WOW! Now that should make him stand out and yes, he does have a ton of listings.
I also urge people some of the time to have an inspection so they know what the problems are in the home. I think it's an invaluable tool - plus if it hasn't been done there may be safety issues that have been overlooked and should be addressed anyway, whether it's being listed or not.
I like getting a very tough inspector both when I'm listing and when I'm selling. There are enough horror stories out there about issues that were ignored or just not seen. It's costly, and I hate to have anyone upset. I'd rather lose a sale than have anyone live in a home that was not as thoroughly inspected as possible. Knowledge is power.
After speaking with Gerry about his offer to pay for inspections, I was surprised to find that people have not taken him up on it! Incredible - I guess "ignorance is bliss" outweighs "knowledge is power"...?
What is that saying about the sincerest form of flattery? I will start offering pre-listing inspections, too. Thanks, Gerry!
Wednesday, 14 May 2008
Tuesday, 13 May 2008
House of the Week
What a lovely day in the village and on the lake! Now that the Governor has decreed that he wants those huge trucks to avoid the village at all costs - their costs - soon we will be the tranquil place we've never really been. I told Kay at Green Mountain that it seemed quieter already.
Back to broker's opens.....I picked up my friend Janet and we combined talking and planning with seeing homes. She is looking at homes for a friend, I am just gathering information and comparing properties. We saw a couple homes that "were what they were" - a village home in need of work (the hole in the wall in the front hall was a dead giveaway) and a surprisingly light and bright home along soon to be quiet Route 321.
But the one that knocked our socks off was a little camp in the true sense of the upstate New York word. Only 861 square feet, it promised evenings of playing Monopoly, bunking with the cousins, telling tales around the wood-burning stove, dealing with the tiny sink in the tiny bathroom. And living on the deck to soak in the view - up and down the lake, like a picture postcard, Janet said.
It wasn't the melting chocolate chip cookies served outside in the sun - honest, we each had only one! - or the ancient bedspreads that reeled us in. It was simply "camp," just "camp." Offered for $559,000 - and worth every memory you and your children will have!
Back to broker's opens.....I picked up my friend Janet and we combined talking and planning with seeing homes. She is looking at homes for a friend, I am just gathering information and comparing properties. We saw a couple homes that "were what they were" - a village home in need of work (the hole in the wall in the front hall was a dead giveaway) and a surprisingly light and bright home along soon to be quiet Route 321.
But the one that knocked our socks off was a little camp in the true sense of the upstate New York word. Only 861 square feet, it promised evenings of playing Monopoly, bunking with the cousins, telling tales around the wood-burning stove, dealing with the tiny sink in the tiny bathroom. And living on the deck to soak in the view - up and down the lake, like a picture postcard, Janet said.
It wasn't the melting chocolate chip cookies served outside in the sun - honest, we each had only one! - or the ancient bedspreads that reeled us in. It was simply "camp," just "camp." Offered for $559,000 - and worth every memory you and your children will have!
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
Interesting experience, today, looking at the numbers. I thought I had made a mistake because there are, once again, no properties listed as sold within the past week. I checked the past month - nothing there either. Not a good sign, I thought, knowing that I have a property coming on the market in the next couple days. Look further back - only 2 "k"ed in the multiple listing system.
So I tried "P" for pending. This means the homes have had home inspections, checks with the code enforcement office for projects the new owners would like to do, repairs designated, etc., and now all they are doing is waiting for the bank to set up closing. "Pending" is a good thing, in other words. There are only 5 homes listed in the system under Skaneateles in this category: 2 waterfront, 1 large parcel, 1 being built, and 1 regular old house.
But this week there are 127 properties for sale, with 6 new listings. Not surprisingly 3 of the 6 are re-lists ("Let's try again now that it's spring.")
I still say at some point the houses are going to sell, and then there will be a deluge. One of these new ones is coming on the market under the assessed value - and I believe this is the way it will play out. New houses will come on with "right pricing" and be snatched up. Others will come down or the owners will wait for the prices to catch up to them.
Whatever happens, it will be a fascinating next few months!
So I tried "P" for pending. This means the homes have had home inspections, checks with the code enforcement office for projects the new owners would like to do, repairs designated, etc., and now all they are doing is waiting for the bank to set up closing. "Pending" is a good thing, in other words. There are only 5 homes listed in the system under Skaneateles in this category: 2 waterfront, 1 large parcel, 1 being built, and 1 regular old house.
But this week there are 127 properties for sale, with 6 new listings. Not surprisingly 3 of the 6 are re-lists ("Let's try again now that it's spring.")
I still say at some point the houses are going to sell, and then there will be a deluge. One of these new ones is coming on the market under the assessed value - and I believe this is the way it will play out. New houses will come on with "right pricing" and be snatched up. Others will come down or the owners will wait for the prices to catch up to them.
Whatever happens, it will be a fascinating next few months!
Wednesday, 7 May 2008
Milestone
Here I am in the office, the third night in a row I've been here after 7:00 doing work. It's raining gently, the door is open and people are rushing by with their purchases from Doug's. The cars stopping at the sign on Fennel shine their headlights in the window, and the light shimmers on the wet pavement.
As I signed in to blogger.com tonight I saw that I had published my 100th blog last night. it occurred to me that I had started this journey about this time last year. I looked back in the archives and sure enough - amazingly - my first blog was May 7th.
I'm distracted by the number - 100 - that seems like so much. And yet that means on 266 (it's leap year) days I didn't write for one reason or another. My blogging mentor, Jill Hurst-Wahl, has chosen to blog every day and has succeeded for years. But that's okay - that's her choice and I am impressed, but I couldn't, or should I say, didn't.
I did write 100 times though. Wow.
And many of you read my blogs, thanks to my own self-promotion and www.skaneatelestalks.com and whatever word brought you here by serendipity. Thank you.
I hope to be here next year, in the same desk by the same open door. The listings I have now will have sold, people will have bought and moved into homes and condos, new houses will have been built. Bob and I will be a year older, God willing, and so will you.
An agent from Toronto stopped by last night inquiring about rentals on the lake and we got to talking. She asked if I knew how beautiful this village is, how very special. She pronounced it "The Most Beautiful Place in the Whole World," and she said she had traveled extensively. I agreed, and assured her I treasured its beauty, too.
As I signed in to blogger.com tonight I saw that I had published my 100th blog last night. it occurred to me that I had started this journey about this time last year. I looked back in the archives and sure enough - amazingly - my first blog was May 7th.
I'm distracted by the number - 100 - that seems like so much. And yet that means on 266 (it's leap year) days I didn't write for one reason or another. My blogging mentor, Jill Hurst-Wahl, has chosen to blog every day and has succeeded for years. But that's okay - that's her choice and I am impressed, but I couldn't, or should I say, didn't.
I did write 100 times though. Wow.
And many of you read my blogs, thanks to my own self-promotion and www.skaneatelestalks.com and whatever word brought you here by serendipity. Thank you.
I hope to be here next year, in the same desk by the same open door. The listings I have now will have sold, people will have bought and moved into homes and condos, new houses will have been built. Bob and I will be a year older, God willing, and so will you.
An agent from Toronto stopped by last night inquiring about rentals on the lake and we got to talking. She asked if I knew how beautiful this village is, how very special. She pronounced it "The Most Beautiful Place in the Whole World," and she said she had traveled extensively. I agreed, and assured her I treasured its beauty, too.
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
House of the Week
Tuesdays are brokers' open days in Skaneateles. We all run around to see homes that are held open for two hours or so to familiarize ourselves with them and ask the agents questions. Generally the agents try to entice people to come by serving lunch or goodies.
Last week there were 8 homes on brokers' open. I made it to 5 of them and then stayed at one so the agent could see some of the closer ones. In such a short time span it's almost impossible to make it to everything, but I do believe it's important to know what's out there firsthand.
Starting today I want to use Tuesdays as "House of the Week" day. I like the idea because it makes me get out and see as much as possible, and also I need to think about what makes a home the chosen one. Seemed like a good idea this morning - but then I saw two houses and I had difficulty choosing.
I am going to pass on the 2.75 million dollar home with 150 feet of prime waterfront, the koi pond, the yards of granite and the very pleasant liveable home on the east side. (Wasn't that tricky?) My emotional reaction of "Oh, how wonderful!" belongs to a smaller cape down the road.
Down around the U or T firelane on the opposite side of the road sits a very sweet natural shake home with incredible filled window boxes. The air was redolent with the scent of blossoms from fruit trees - all along East Lake they were in bloom - and I looked for the ubiquitous white picket fence. Just a great setting.
Inside, I walked through a family room with wood-burning fireplace, a dining room and then saw beyond a screened porch, away from the noise of the road, overlooking the back acreage. The agent had chocolate covered cherries and sandwiches in the kitchen which did not detract from the granite countertops. With two bedrooms and a full bath on the first floor, I thought of one of my families who would have loved it for the mother who moved in with them.
But upstairs! Two bedrooms with a cute little something recessed under the eaves, as if elves lived there. Some child is going to be very happy to grow up here, I thought. What a great place to make memories!
And immaculate, too. Lovely presentation, easy to live in, not far from the village - $335,000 for 2200 square feet of very pretty home.
Last week there were 8 homes on brokers' open. I made it to 5 of them and then stayed at one so the agent could see some of the closer ones. In such a short time span it's almost impossible to make it to everything, but I do believe it's important to know what's out there firsthand.
Starting today I want to use Tuesdays as "House of the Week" day. I like the idea because it makes me get out and see as much as possible, and also I need to think about what makes a home the chosen one. Seemed like a good idea this morning - but then I saw two houses and I had difficulty choosing.
I am going to pass on the 2.75 million dollar home with 150 feet of prime waterfront, the koi pond, the yards of granite and the very pleasant liveable home on the east side. (Wasn't that tricky?) My emotional reaction of "Oh, how wonderful!" belongs to a smaller cape down the road.
Down around the U or T firelane on the opposite side of the road sits a very sweet natural shake home with incredible filled window boxes. The air was redolent with the scent of blossoms from fruit trees - all along East Lake they were in bloom - and I looked for the ubiquitous white picket fence. Just a great setting.
Inside, I walked through a family room with wood-burning fireplace, a dining room and then saw beyond a screened porch, away from the noise of the road, overlooking the back acreage. The agent had chocolate covered cherries and sandwiches in the kitchen which did not detract from the granite countertops. With two bedrooms and a full bath on the first floor, I thought of one of my families who would have loved it for the mother who moved in with them.
But upstairs! Two bedrooms with a cute little something recessed under the eaves, as if elves lived there. Some child is going to be very happy to grow up here, I thought. What a great place to make memories!
And immaculate, too. Lovely presentation, easy to live in, not far from the village - $335,000 for 2200 square feet of very pretty home.
Monday, 5 May 2008
Skaneateles Real Estate - The Weekly Update
Amazing! There are now 122 active listings in the Skaneateles area! Unbelievable! I remember when they averaged about 50, not that long ago.
So these listings: 34 of them are legitimate waterfront (as in on Skaneateles Lake) listings. Several are more probably shared lakefront masquerading as waterfront. The price always tells the truth.
The most expensive waterfront listing is $3,420,000 on West Lake Road. This is actually a "to be built" right on the water, with an artist's conception of over 4,000 square feet of fabulous living space. The lot alone is valued at 1M plus a good deal.
The least expensive is at the south end of the lake, in the Glen Haven area. Only $279,000 - a virtual bargain!
This past week a house sold, as evidenced by being marked contingent in the computer. It was a small place, listed and re-listed, over on Fennell Street near the commercial area. The last list price was $149,900.
Still only 16 closings this year so far. I heard a very interesting presentation this morning from a man who had been in the business for years and years, Joe Meyer (www.joemeyer.com). His take on the real estate situation is that it all swings, and soon homes will start selling, and when they do they will really sell. Kind of like those superdelegates.....just waiting for the floodgates to open.....
So these listings: 34 of them are legitimate waterfront (as in on Skaneateles Lake) listings. Several are more probably shared lakefront masquerading as waterfront. The price always tells the truth.
The most expensive waterfront listing is $3,420,000 on West Lake Road. This is actually a "to be built" right on the water, with an artist's conception of over 4,000 square feet of fabulous living space. The lot alone is valued at 1M plus a good deal.
The least expensive is at the south end of the lake, in the Glen Haven area. Only $279,000 - a virtual bargain!
This past week a house sold, as evidenced by being marked contingent in the computer. It was a small place, listed and re-listed, over on Fennell Street near the commercial area. The last list price was $149,900.
Still only 16 closings this year so far. I heard a very interesting presentation this morning from a man who had been in the business for years and years, Joe Meyer (www.joemeyer.com). His take on the real estate situation is that it all swings, and soon homes will start selling, and when they do they will really sell. Kind of like those superdelegates.....just waiting for the floodgates to open.....
Sunday, 4 May 2008
Hard to Believe
Hard to believe a week has passed and I haven't entered a blog. My excuse is that I've been busy - but not that busy.
I put in an offer this week for friends and I'm waiting here on a Sunday evening at the office for a response from the agent. She's called me to ask about progress in our negotiations, and I communicated her sense of urgency, but of course now I wait. It's usually that way - and yes, patience is a virtue!
I did an open house this afternoon, thinking that the cool day and the annual Skaneateles Pet Walk would bring people into the village, they'd see my sign, walk in out of curiosity, and buy the house. Optimism was high. It didn't happen - but some good ideas came of the afternoon at least.
I went to a different area yesterday with a client and we arrived late to an appointment at a house. I apologized profusely, and had called the agent to let her know we were running late, but the owner refused us admission to the house, claiming he didn't know anything about the appointment. How interesting, we both thought. Here was an agent who had traveled 50 miles, a buyer ready willing and able who had also traveled 50 miles, but because we were 15 minutes beyond the time we were closed off. Needless to say the buyer scratched the home off his list. Karma and all that.
And there it is - the subject I've been trying to get to through this rambling process. Karma. I think some people have good relationships with real estate, and others simply don't. All the homes I've bought have been the first ones I've seen. Others can look for months and months and not find anything - and when they do buy, they settle for less than they want and are unhappy. Or is it that I've made my houses work - or that I'm not really that particular - ? Or is it that I buy in great areas - Seattle, Saratoga, Skaneateles and now rural Elbridge.
I do know that I have luck - and to wind this up, the couple who are waiting to hear on their offer do not share that luck. So I wait, in this beautiful village at the office with the late afternoon sun pouring in through the open door.
I put in an offer this week for friends and I'm waiting here on a Sunday evening at the office for a response from the agent. She's called me to ask about progress in our negotiations, and I communicated her sense of urgency, but of course now I wait. It's usually that way - and yes, patience is a virtue!
I did an open house this afternoon, thinking that the cool day and the annual Skaneateles Pet Walk would bring people into the village, they'd see my sign, walk in out of curiosity, and buy the house. Optimism was high. It didn't happen - but some good ideas came of the afternoon at least.
I went to a different area yesterday with a client and we arrived late to an appointment at a house. I apologized profusely, and had called the agent to let her know we were running late, but the owner refused us admission to the house, claiming he didn't know anything about the appointment. How interesting, we both thought. Here was an agent who had traveled 50 miles, a buyer ready willing and able who had also traveled 50 miles, but because we were 15 minutes beyond the time we were closed off. Needless to say the buyer scratched the home off his list. Karma and all that.
And there it is - the subject I've been trying to get to through this rambling process. Karma. I think some people have good relationships with real estate, and others simply don't. All the homes I've bought have been the first ones I've seen. Others can look for months and months and not find anything - and when they do buy, they settle for less than they want and are unhappy. Or is it that I've made my houses work - or that I'm not really that particular - ? Or is it that I buy in great areas - Seattle, Saratoga, Skaneateles and now rural Elbridge.
I do know that I have luck - and to wind this up, the couple who are waiting to hear on their offer do not share that luck. So I wait, in this beautiful village at the office with the late afternoon sun pouring in through the open door.
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