Fort Meade - USNA - Andrews AFB: May 2007

If you want to find out whether your canned follow-up programs are effective, register to receive them yourself.   

I recently registered on another agent's website to gain access to listings for my daughter, who is relocating to that area.  Since then, I have been getting canned email follow-ups every few days.

• They are very impersonal
• They are very "lecturing" in tone
• They are ANNOYING!  Say that again, ANNOYING!  (as in, too frequent)

Every time I receive one of these ANNOYING emails from the agent, I instinctively start to look for the unsubscribe link or the delete button on my email.  And I've grown to truly dislike her face, which is plastered at the top of every email.  However, I restrain from unsubscribing because her follow-up is an important reminder to me NOT to send anything like this to my clients.  Honestly, folks, after this experience I highly recommend throwing your canned follow-up programs into the "can".

After about 2 or 3 weeks of these most ANNOYING emails, I went into my Top Producer action plans and completely renovated my own follow-up emails.  I did as Michael Russer suggested and made each contact "all about the recipient", not all about me and my services.  The result:  RESULTS! 

Here are some of the changes I made:

• Reduced frequency to 7-10 days, not always the same.
• Provided a truly helpful tidbid and related link in each brief email.
• Asked for nothing - I didn't even ask for their business or promote myself.
• Prominently offered an unsubscribe link in every email.
• Phoned the consumer monthly, just to check in and find out if the information in my emails is helpful and whether there is anything in particular they would like to receive from me in the way of information.

(By the way, I asked my husband to register on my website so he would receive my follow-up emails; I knew I could count on him to tell me if he found them annoying, since that's a spouse's job - to protect us from ourselves.) 

So throw away those canned real estate follow-up programs, and develop a sincere and personal follow-up plan.  It will take a small investment of time - maybe an evening or two to set it up - but you'll be glad, if you do.

Remember, when you have a referral for the D.C.-Baltimore-Annapolis triangle, contact Margaret in Maryland at RE/MAX Vision

DAVIDSONVILLE MD 21035 

Sales comparisons between April 2006 and 2007 don't mean much for Davidsonville, MD, when there was only one sale during April 2006.  That seems crazy, but it's the information reported by Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc., the regional multiple lsting service that includes Davidsonville.

I think we need to focus on the 2007 information, specifically the fact that there were 14 new listings in April, 4 new contracts, and 6 new settlements (see Total Units Sold below).  Those 6 units were on the market for an average of 217 days - almost 2/3 of a year.  If you have a home in Davidsonville to sell, therefore, it would be a good idea to plan ahead.

Another factor to consider is the average sale price as a percentage of average list price - less than 90%.  So don't plan on a full-price sale!  Actually, I recommend pricing your property very conservatively - you might actually inspire a full price offer and even a bidding war.  That strategy has been known to work in past buyers' markets.There has never been a more important time to choose a real estate agent with experience - one who has successfully navigated a buyer's market in the past.  This is no time for you to be involved in any agent's learning curve!  The statistics speak for themselves on this topic.

ODENTON MD 21113 

Wow, this is interesting...  I've been posting MRIS sales statistics for Anne Arundel County, MD for a few days, and Odenton is the only zipcode (so far) where the numbers seem to be going up.

Total sold dollar volume, average sold price, median sold price, total units sold and average list price for sold homes - all UP from April of last year.  Unfortunately, the average days on market more than doubled.  And the average sale price as a percentage of average list price went down.  That last statistic does not take into account any price reductions before the sale, so it is possible that the number would be even lower, if measured against the original list price.

Overall, however, these are encouraging statistics for Odenton home sellers.  It is not as much of a buyer's market as other areas of Anne Arundel County.

One statistic that is less favorable is the ratio of new listings to new sales.  119 new listings in Odenton in April 2007 and just 35 homes went under contract.   To me, this is one of the best ways to measure the direction of the market.  At this rate, 3 homes are going on the market for every 1 that sells.  Supply and demand are not even, and THIS will impact prices as we go forward into the summer.

After spending a few hours online to post local sales statistics today, I can't believe the market isn't FLOODED with home buyers!  We real estate agents must not be communicating to buyers exactly how great a time it is to get out there and buy a home.

Interest rates are still very low, job security (in the DC-Baltimore region) is great, home prices are down, and home sellers are often giving away everything including a brand new kitchen sink!  Sellers are taking huge price reductions, offering incentives such as country club memberships or a year's worth of condo fees, paying buyer's closing costs...  WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR????????  This market is made for you, if you're a home buyer!!!

Find out more, by contacting me at mwoda@remax.net.  For the past five years, you've been in bidding wars and settling for homes without home inspections or any selling concessions.  Now is your chance to come out on top in the real estate market.

ANNAPOLIS MD 21401, 21403, 21409 

April was NOT good for home sellers in Annapolis (21401, 21403, 21409)!

GREAT NEWS FOR BUYERS!  If you're smart, you'll take advantage of the situation.

Let's take a look at the facts, comparing real estate statistics in April 2007 with April 2006:

MRIS publishes market statistics monthly, and these are just the highlights.  For information, contact me at mwoda@remax.net

ARNOLD MD 21012 

45 new listings, and only 20 new contracts in Arnold (21012) during April 2007.  Now THAT is a scary figure for home sellers!  Yet, as a buyer's agent, I encountered an Arnold home seller (and agent) in April who acted like it was a seller's market - holding out for top dollar, demanding a seller's contingency, and generally ignoring the facts of the marketplace.  So keep in mind that statistics are just numbers, and they don't reflect each and every home or situation.

Okay, back to the basics...  Here are sales statistics published by MRIS for April 2007 in Arnold (21012):

Here is another interesting fact: There were 7 contingent contracts in addition to the 20 new sales.  This is a situation that we haven't seen for a few years, and it reflects the "desperation" of home sellers in today's market.

Home buyers - THIS IS GOOD NEWS FOR YOU!  You have not had opportunities like this for years, so don't miss the bandwagon!

MRIS publishes sales statistics monthly, and these are just the highlights.  If you would like more information about Arnold or any other zipcode, please contact me at mwoda@remax.net

CROFTON MD 21114 

Yikes!  93 new listings and 31 listings sold!  Three times as many new listings as sales in the month of April in the Crofton (21114) zipcode.  Now THAT is something to be concerned about.  During my 33 years in Crofton real estate, it has never been more important for home sellers to choose an experienced real estate agent who knows how to get results in a "buyer's market".

Okay, let's be more objective now and look at the facts (comparing April 2007 with April 2006):

• Total sold dollar volume:  DOWN 16.29%
• Average sold price:  UP .12%
• Median sold price:  DOWN 5.05%
• Total units sold:  DOWN 16.39%
• Average days on market:  UP 50%

Something we didn't see much during the past few years:  Contingent contracts.  In April, we saw 21 contingent contracts, in addition to the 31 sales. 

So what is the average "sold price" in Crofton?  According to the Metropolitan Regional Information System (MRIS), it is $318,000.  This includes Crofton condos, townhomes and detached homes.

How do sale prices compare with list prices, you might ask.  Well, this is a more encouraging figure, at least according to the averages:  97.07%.  But that's not everyone - a beautiful and well-priced home in Crofton Meadows just sold at 90% of listing price.  'Guess that will impact the May statistics...

Buyers, this is a market for you to enjoy.  Get out there and take advantage of these very favorable market conditions for you.  It's the first time that real estate statistics have been in your favor in over 5 years!

MRIS releases information monthly, so please contact me directly if you would like more information about Crofton, or if you would like statistics on any other zipcode in the area.  mwoda@remax.net

Neither Gale Kent of Coldwell Banker First United nor Linda Chabucos-Galow of Shorewest Realtors in Janesville, Wisconsin, are members of ActiveRain.  Too bad!  It would have been interesting to read their first-hand account of the events surrounding Linda's showing of Gale's listing last week - when prospective buyers Justin and Colleen McKeen found a dead body in the bedroom. 

As a real estate professional, the widely-reported story motivates some questions:

How often do you communicate with your clients?   According to the coroner, the property owner had been dead in the bedroom for about two weeks.  I wonder...  if I tried to reach my client and he/she did not reply, would I go to the property to check and make sure everything is okay?   Hmmm... not sure...

Do you accompany your buyers when showing property?  According to newspaper reports, the showing agent was waiting in the dining room while her buyers looked at the house.  It was they who found the body and alerted their agent with a scream.   Since I despise hovering salespeople myself, I try not to be one when I show property, but perhaps I should reconsider and be at my client's side throughout the home tour...

It's not necessary for us to find "a dead body in the bedroom" to learn something from Gale and Linda's experience.

Crofton, Maryland - It's a Wonderful Place to Live!

Crofton residents enjoy the cherry tree-lined streets in Spring, a crafts fair and Boy Scout-sponsored chicken barbeque at the Village Green in Fall, the annual Christmas tree lighting in front of Crofton Country Club, plus lots of organizations and year-round activities for every age group from kids to seniors. It's a wonderful place to live, and conveniently located about a half hour from Annapolis, Baltimore, and the Nation's Capital.

You will find homes ranging from condos in the $200,000's to large detached homes topping $1,000,000 - but most are priced in between.  While some Crofton homes and condos were built in the 60's and 70's, many were built in the last decade and new construction is ongoing nearby.  Crofton schools rank among the best in Anne Arundel County and Maryland.