Selling Real Estate in 2012

Should you sell in 2012? Barring any Mayan insight, let’s trust that the catastrophe of the real estate market has passed, although we may have to navigate through the remaining rubble.

An overstock of households with loans higher than their current market value will continue to restrain prices and create obstacles for sellers in a year that is starting out to continue as a homebuyer’s market. With that said, even the most conservative forecasts are calling for growth in home sales this year. Locally we are experiencing multiple offers more frequently on newly listed properties. Over one-third of the home sales made last year were to first-time homebuyer’s. Both are good signs.

While we are in a state of recovery, here are seven tips you may consider before selling.

#1 Price it right from the start.

Now is not the time to go old school and “fish” for offers. Most homebuyer’s will look right past you. Consider that of the homes that took more than 4 months to sale last year, almost half of homeowner’s accepted less than 90 percent of their asking price, according to the National Association of Realtors. Be sure your agent produces the latest comparables (no more than 90 days) and that they include short sales, foreclosures and bank owned properties. As a seller, I know it is difficult to compare your home to distressed property sales, but it is necessary. Also, ask for a summary of sales price as it compares to original asking price. The last thing you want is to be tied up in escrow only to have the appraisal come in low and be faced with either losing this buyer or making a concession on price.

#2 Don’t do comps on the internet for your home.

Checking seemingly reputable websites to find a value to place on your home is a huge mistake. Are you perplexed by the value being 25% lower than you expect, but going to trust the value if it is 25% higher? An appraisal is the truest form of value. Online values don’t have access to all of the facts in order to evaluate the property properly. Nor have they been in your home or any of the competition. They don’t know if a recent sale allowed $10,000 of buyers closing costs being paid by the seller. They don’t know if your home is custom built or mass production built. An appraiser will know, as well as, any highly regarded, educated real estate agent.

#3 Put your best foot forward.

Paint, stage, clean, de-clutter, make small improvements and repeat. If it squeaks or sticks, oil it. If it is chipped or leaks, repair it. If it has spots on it, clean it. If it is overgrown, trim it. Make your home say “buy me” from the sidewalk and hug potential buyers upon entering.

#4 Be flexible.

You no longer have the luxury of showing disinterest in “low ball” offers. Every offer should be reviewed and considered. If a buyer has a misgiving about your home, which is likely the driving force behind the offer price, then find a way to start a conversation with them. Listen to what they have said and find a way to meet in the middle with repairs, credits, etc. That’s not to say you have to give away the farm, but be accommodating to your needs (not wants) and those of the buyer.

#5 Finance 101

Even though rates are low, understand that it's harder to qualify for loans. Credit records are under greater scrutiny and lenders are sometimes requiring a 20 percent down payment. Have your agent provide loan information at your home, just in case the potential buyer isn’t aware of special financing for the state, county, city or specifically the property.

Consider cash offers, even if they're not the highest. Reject too-low offers gently (preferably with a counter-offer to keep the conversation alive). These days, meeting halfway usually means meeting buyers on their half.

#6 Don’t fall prey to fraudulent investors.

Unfortunately when the chips are down, some will find a way to use that fear to serve themselves. Con artist investors may offer you “help” by offering to let you stay in your home, while they take over payments. They encourage homeowners to sign over their home with a quitclaim deed. Do not sign without consulting an attorney. You may be surprised to find out that some attorneys review documents for minimal fees and do accept payments. Additionally, your own mortgage company can review the documents and cannot charge you for the service. Others will approach homeowners with “deals” that sound legit. They offer their assistance and knowledge for an up front fee. Remember that a law barring firms from charging upfront fees for mortgage relief or mortgage modification took effect last year (The Mortgage Assistance Relief Services Rule).

#7 Embrace technology.

Hire a listing agent that uses social media, Youtube, Craigslist and dozens of other online sites to get the most exposure for your home. Sellers and buyers are routinely using these types of sites to sell and search properties. Ask (if not, insist) your agent saturate the online market with the details of your home.

Crista Martin, Associate Broker, ABR, GRI, e-PRO
208.577.7157
CMartin@Atova.com

Have the house you love, at a price you can afford! That should be the mantra of the 203K

In a nutshell, the 203K program is a lending program that provides for rehabilitation/remodeling of an existing home. You can remedy all those things that are wrong with the house, making it more energy efficient, more functional, and even prettier, and include it into your home loan.

There are two types of 203K loans: Streamline and Consultant. The streamline is just exactly what it says…faster and easier. It can provide financing in renovations up to $35,000, including, but not limited to, the following: roofing, HVAC, flooring, electrical, plumbing, painting, replacement of appliances, door and window replacements, well repair, weatherization, and improvements for accessibility for persons with disabilities. You should use a lender who is 203K certified and he/she will roll you into the loan.

Example: The house in question needs a roof, furnace, and the kitchen is a mess. The construction estimate is $10,000 to provide for a new roof, a new furnace, and upgrade the kitchen. The price of the house is $110,000; the renovation costs are $10,000. The loan amount would be $120,000, less 3.5% down. The house would be financed at the current applicable FHA interest rate and could close in 45 days.

The consultant 203K provides for more improvements, and can go to the loan limit. It provides for structural changes. It needs a higher level of approval and can take several months of complete. All work must be supervised by a 203K HUD approved consultant. It can also provide up to 6 months of living costs if it is not habitable.

The 203K will help you get into a house you want, at a price you can afford.

Gail Cushman, Realtor ®
203K Specialist SRES (Senior Real Estate Specialist)
208.794.3949
gcushman@atova.com

Boise Real Estate Trends – Right Now!

Boise homebuyers may be shocked to discover that there are fewer homes available for sale in the Boise area now than there have been for many years. In fact, I will make a case that the Valley will soon be experiencing a shortage! When that happens prices will have no other way to go but UP!

Here are the facts for Ada County: October 2011 closed with 2292 single family, condo and townhomes on the market “for sale”. That is the lowest number for any year this month since 2005 when the market went wild!

However, here is another thing that many people are not aware. 441 of the 2292 already have contracts on them and are waiting for third party lien holder’s approval as “Short Sales.” Therefore, if you remove those from the available inventory, since most people don’t want to see a home with a pending contract on it, this is the lowest inventory in 10 years except for 2005 when there 1533 available homes for sale! You have to go back to May of 2000 for a lower number of homes for sale (Jere Webb, 2011).

Housing indices remained generally steady or improved in October. Most notably, non-distressed inventory is generally up since January, pending contracts are up 12% since last year, and the affordability index remains at 12% (the lowest level since 2005). The number of distressed properties in October continues to gradually decrease, down by 1o.3% of total inventory since December, with the numbers in June through October all well below what we have seen in the two years leading up to this fall. Home sales, although still below their highs in May and June, were still up nearly 12% over the same month last year. The only notable weakness was in building permits, which fell almost 30% in August (Alicia Reinhard, 2011).

Since October 2009, I have been tracking 16 stabilization indicators affected by the housing collapse in 2008; things like median price, number of sales, inventory levels, affordability rates. In the first half of 2011, the Boise real estate market improved a number of these indicators. First, the average and median price of sold homes has steadily improved since March 2011. At the same time, the number of homes sold outpaced previous years back to 2007, prior to when the market crashed. With this, selling odds improved for the first time since the ‘first-time homebuyer’ tax credit program of 2009. Overlay all of this with the fact that the affordability rate continues to improve to 12%, and we end with 15 of the 16 indicators in positive territory. All I am waiting for now is for new construction affordability to improve.

According to Inman News, we know that the economy has grown 69% since 6/10, when the Feds declared the end of the recession. History shows that once growth is 105% higher than when the recession turns, stabilization begins. If the above indicators are the correct reflection of stabilization, Boise is well on its way, and perhaps, leading the way.

Jan Higginbotham, Associate Broker
208.850.8555
jhigginbotham@atova.com

Investigating your future new home

Buying a home is an exciting endeavor and sometimes nerve-racking experience. Keeping the process on track and keeping buyer’s remorse at bay are both very important. A qualified agent will keep you informed, guide you through the process and advocate/negotiate on your behalf. The best way for you, the future homeowner, to set your worries aside is to be comfortable with your agent, the process and the property you are buying.

When you view the property in person, it is the perfect time for you to wear your detective hat. The majority of agents will recommend a home inspection and you should heed their advice, but what I mean is a pre-inspection before the offer is written. While most seller’s will disclose the whole truth about a property, sometimes there are items that the homeowner has gotten used to or they don’t see as an issue. This is where you should put your focus.

There are 10 Red Flags you should be looking for before writing the offer.

If you or your agent have seen mass exodus from a neighborhood, be cautious. Find out why and if the reasons are of particular concern to you, move on. Sometimes it is a simple matter of timing. Meaning a lot of people moved in at the same time and have out grown their home or now are looking to downsize. Other times it may be logistics. The traffic has gotten significant enough that the county or city is going to widen the roads or change traffic patterns to something other than what is desirable to the current homeowners. Or there may be other circumstances. If the home is of interest to you, drive by at different times of the day, check the crime statistics, check out the local attractions and homeowners association information. Use your senses, not your emotions.

Foundation failure is another concern. While walking around the property, observe any cracks, bulges or repairs. If any of them are larger than 1/3”, make note of it. Be sure the grading is correct. If the yard slopes towards the home, it can cause water to run down the foundation walls into the basement or crawl space. If it appears this is the case, have your agent ask the listing agent about the drainage system for the house.

“Interesting” smells may be a sign of other issues. Outside, do you smell sewage, gas, factory pollutants? Homes older than 20 years sometimes have sewage systems damaged or clogged by tree roots. Be aware of interior smells, as well. An overabundance of potpourri, candles or plug-ins can mask troublesome odors. Pet or smoke smells can be reduced with proper cleaning, if minimal, but stronger odors my need more attention, such as carpet replacement, paint and refinishing of cabinets. Mildew or mold smells tend to indicate a larger problem. Depending on the amount, remediation can be as little as a couple hundred dollars or cost thousands. If you choose to go forward with an offer, be sure your agent brings the concerns to the table in the initial offer. Then, have your home inspector and professional mold remediation company on site to evaluate the issue.

Mediocre Maintenance is easy to identify. Plants growing in the rain gutters, overgrown trees over the roofline or roots crowding the foundation are all of concern. Pealing paint surfaces, leaking fixtures and overgrown lawn/weeds are all telltale signs of neglect. If you can see poor maintenance, imagine what you cannot see.

While you may not be an electrician, you can check for symptoms of faulty or old wiring. Make sure all of the switches function properly without hesitation or causing lights to flicker. Warm or hot outlets or faceplates are also symptoms of wiring problems.

New paint can spruce up a home and be more inviting to home buyers. However, if only one wall has fresh paint and it doesn’t appear to be an accent wall, it may be hiding other issues. Such as water damage or mildew.

Check for foggy windows or water in between double-paned windows. Both are signs that the seals around the window’s edge aren’t working properly. Check all windows for proper function. Most home inspectors don’t open every window, which is why you absolutely should.

Ask about rooms that were “off limits” by way of locked/blocked doors during your showing. Sometimes seller’s will place pets or items of safety concern in a room and lock it during showings. If you are interested in the home, you need to make arrangements to view the entire home. Be cautious about boxes pushed up against walls, especially if you smell mildew. The boxes may be hiding other issues.

You love the open floor plan, but was the house renovated properly? Were structural walls or floors removed? If load-bearing walls were removed without adjusting the framing, weight can shift to other parts of the house causing a myriad of issues down the road. Check to see if permits were pulled, if the renovation passed building inspection and consider hiring a structural engineer for review.

No one wants a house with a pest problem. Be sure to look for unwanted guests in the home and yard such as ants, spiders, mice or roaches. All of which can be eradicated, just be sure to budget or negotiate appropriately.

When buying a home you should have three plans of attack. One, is to buy the home at the terms of the original contract. Two, is to buy the home negotiating the terms to what is acceptable for you and the seller. Three, is to have a contingency or the right to bail out, if necessary. The results of your investigation, the home inspection and the seller’s response will help you decide which plan is the best for you. Don’t rush your decision, but don’t over-process it either. Return to the basics. If you are comfortable with your agent, the process and the property, you will be moving in to your new home soon!

Crista Martin, Associate Broker, ABR, GRI, e-PRO
208.577.7157
Crista@IdahoRealEstate.com

The Art of Negotiating

Whether you are buying or selling it is important to have an agent who is savvy with negotiating. In my experience the person selling his/her home that hates to negotiate will have a buyer who will negotiate over every penny and point!

Many buyers and sellers don’t realize that putting their home on the MLS is an “offer to sell” not a guarantee. So if the seller does not like the price or conditions offered by the buyer he or she is not obligated to sell it. With this in mind both parties should negotiate smartly.

Research

When you are making an offer to buy or sell see what other houses that a similar are selling for. Have your agent perform a market analysis. If the house you are most interested in seems priced high, ask your agent to submit the market analysis with your offer. On the converse side if you are a seller and a buyer brings in a lower offer, ask your agent to send a market analysis to the buyer with your counter offer. No one likes to feel like they got the fuzzy end of the lollypop in a transaction and having information to make an educated decision will make everyone feel like they are getting the best deal.

Offer

So you found the perfect home the only problem is it is priced too high. Your agent has run the numbers and you both feel not only is it over priced, but it will not appraise. Make an educated offer. The listing agent has to present the offer to the seller and no one except the seller can tell you what “too low” is.

Counter

Unless you received an offer that is substantially lower than your asking price you should counter. Sellers often feel that if the buyer really wants it they will come back with a more realistic offer. While that may happen, it probably won’t. Counter back, you can counter with full price although it is not always recommended! Listen to your agent, have her do the research.

Add Value

Price isn’t the only way to get to a happy ending. Often throwing in an appliance or transaction related service could sweeten the deal. If one party seems to be stuck on a price ask for some closing costs paid, a home inspection or the washer and dryer can add value to the buyer and not cost the seller as much out of pocket. Even a longer or shorter close date can be a deal breaker.

Be Realistic

There are many buyers that feel they can offer anything and the seller should just be happy to have their offer…low balling a seller is perfectly acceptable but do it in an educated and thoughtful manner. Your agent is obliged to do as you bade, but remember that this is his or her profession and they can offer valuable advise to assist you make a good offer.

Give a little Get a little

Be Fair. Prioritize what is important to you. If having a home in a certain area of town is important, realize you may have to pay more for that house. As a seller realize that everyone thinks their home is remarkable. Buyers are intelligent and often have done a lot of research before they even contact an agent; the most valuable feedback a seller can get is from a buyer who has looked at 25 similar homes that day!

Understand it is a Process

Buying and selling real estate is a process. There are many steps, obstacles and emotions that you will have a long the way. Take a deep breath, hire a good (Atova) agent and let them be your guide.

Elizabeth Hume, Associate Broker
EPro® Realtor®
208.860.5451
ehume@atova.com

Staging for Success

One of the biggest trends in real estate over the past few years has been Home Staging or Real Estate Staging.

Television networks such as HGTV, TLC, and A&E have jumped on the bandwagon to bring this practice to the mainstream. Real estate professionals and home sellers nationally and even internationally, have implemented this strategy with outstanding and very profitable results. Now that the market has shifted, it is even more important than ever that staging be put to use in the marketing of a property. Unfortunately, in recessions, many real estate professionals and homeowners struggle to sell their properties quickly and many think the best way to survive is to cut their staging budgets. The opposite is actually true, if you want to sell a property quickly.

Studies show that pulling back on staging homes during a recession actually hurts, rather than helps with home sales. Listings that are staged and priced competitively sell at minimum, 50% faster than non-staged properties do.

All real estate professionals and homeowners who have taken a hasty approach to putting a house on the market and choosing to forgo staging has experienced the penalties of that decision as their houses languish on the market, month after month, price reduction after price reduction, with no sale.

In case you’re still hesitant about incorporating home staging into your marketing plan, read on to learn about the Top 3 Benefits of Home Staging.

The reality is that the real estate market has shifted, so if you’re tired of dealing with lack luster sales, then you should grab any advantage you can get your hands on.

Benefit #1 - $FINANCIAL$

Bottom line is that statistically, staged homes tend to sell faster and for more money. Listings that are staged and priced competitively sell at minimum, 50% faster than non-staged properties do. A 2009 survey found that 94% of staged homes sold on average in one month or less. Homes that were staged spent 80% less time on the market than those that were not staged. A side benefit of this is savings on holding costs (mortgage payments, homeowners insurance, utility bills, etc.) associated with the maintenance of a property while it is on the market.

Staging, when done right, increases perceived value.

By showcasing the property in its best possible light, it is automatically assumed that the property has been well taken care of and Staged homes often appraise at a higher value. A 2009 Home Gain survey of 2,000 practitioners found that the return on investment from home staging was as much as 343%.

Lastly, the cost associated with staging (which does not have to be expensive depending on individual needs) is a drop in the bucket compared to a price reduction.

When you consider that price reductions usually start at $10,000 before anyone notices a price change, most home sellers invest only a small fraction of that in preparing their homes for sale.

Benefit #2 – Emotional

95% of buyers buy on emotion so you’ve got to make it “love at first sight”. Home buyers begin their shopping process with a list of criteria (i.e. 4 bedrooms, 2+ baths, 2 car garage, 2000+ square feet, in a particular neighborhood, within a particular price range), but what pulls them toward one house over another is the emotional experience they have upon entering that specific house.

It’s how they feel when they first see the house, their experience as they walk through the house, and if they can envision living there, that’s it, that is the house! When they start to see where their furniture can be placed, whose room is whose, and how they can create a home in that property, you’ve got a sale!

That is why it is so important to create the most desirable environment possible so that you attract and pull at your prospective buyers heartstrings. In fact, if you’re able to do that with several prospects at the same time, you will benefit from multiple offers which usually results in a higher selling price. Who doesn’t want that? The goal is to appeal to the greatest number of prospective buyers within a certain target market.

Benefit #3 – Visual

According to the 2007 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 84% of buyers use the internet as the information source used in their home search.

As buyers are searching the internet for a property, if your photos don’t capture their attention, or worse, you don’t have any photos at all (a common mistake made by real estate professionals); you’re losing a significant amount of prospective buyer traffic. Hands down, photos of Staged properties are more appealing than photos of non-staged properties, for obvious reasons.

If buyers are searching for properties online, they want to get as much information as they can to narrow down their choices. A major part of that decision is what the property looks like, not just an exterior photo of the house, but what the interior has to offer. If what they see meets or exceeds their expectations, they will take the next step and visit the property in person. If you’re not capturing their online attention, you’ve likely lost that prospect for good because they’re not even considering your property as an option.

Remember, you only have one chance to make a first impression. Whether that first impression is online or in person, you only have a few seconds to make them STOP and take notice. This is why Staging is so important.

Jan Higginbotham, Associate Broker
208.850.8555
jhigginbotham@atova.com

Are we in a buyer’s market, seller’s market or balanced market? How can you tell?

Recently I have encountered a few buyers that still think we are in a buyer’s market…but buyer beware…your dream home may have entered a seller’s market. Evaluating whether it is a seller’s market vs. a buyer’s market is done simply by checking inventory levels and doing some simple math against what has sold in the past 3 months, 6 months and past year. If the inventory levels are at a 3-month supply or less we are in a seller’s market. If the inventory level is between 4-6 months, we are in a balanced market. If they inventory levels indicate 6 month or more, we are in a buyer’s market.

When pricing your home, it is important to take into consideration this report. This report will tell you if you can be more or less aggressive in your pricing. If you are purchasing a home, it is a good indicator on whether or not you can “low ball” your offer.

A year ago inventory levels suggested that it would take well over 6 months to sell your home, regardless of the price of the home. As our inventory level has dropped, we have moved into a seller’s market.

So how does the math work? If you take the number of homes sold (in the time frame and include other criteria such as area of town, size, beds, baths etc.) and divide by the number of listings currently on the market you can see how many months of inventory you have.

Click on August Market Stats for a representation of our current market. If you have any questions or wonder where your home fits into the market, give us a call. Giving you good information to make an informed decision is what we do! Here are a few examples of current statistics for the Boise Area: August Market Stats

Elizabeth Hume, Real Estate Professional, e-Pro
208.860.5451
ehume@atova.com

Why use an Atova agent to sell your home?

90% of home buyers shop online
Most buyers first locate homes of interest online, then request showings with an agent. When it comes to real estate, the internet is the largest and most important originating point of sale.

Market dominant websites
Only Atova can feature your home on IdahoRealEstate.com, BoiseRealEstate.com and BoiseIdaho.com. We have the most powerful real estate web presence in our market, bar none.

Massive website traffic
Our websites generate more than 90,000 highly targeted unique visits per month. Extensive online exposure for your home will generate more showing activity and will help your home sell faster.

Complete traditional services
Our online marketing is exceptionally effective, but real estate is still about people. From open houses to direct mail, we use a full spectrum of traditional tools to get the job done right.

Real estate expertise
Keller Williams: 317 agents Coldwell Banker: 290 agents Atova: 70 agents.
We don’t want the most agents. We want the best agents. Atova has adopted a maximum count of eighty agents. Limited supply of available agent positions combined with strong demand for our resources has and continues to enable us to attract some of the most qualified real estate agents in our market.

National recognition
Our successful, internet focused business strategy has been featured in the New York Times in an unpaid "above the fold" half-page write-up. We are innovative, online marketing leaders.

Locally owned and operated
Atova is Boise grown and 100% locally owned. While the franchise brokerages send portions of their revenue out of state, Atova’s revenue stays in Idaho and helps to strengthen the local economy.

Doing good and giving back
Atova is a recipient of the Better Business Bureau’s "Integrity Counts" award and a proud annual supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital having helped raise over $1.5 million.

Technology resources
From QR codes and smartphone MLS search to our proprietary lead development system, Atova employs a wide array of technology solutions that enable us to capture prospective buyer leads and properly follow-up on every opportunity.

When you’re ready...
Chances are you already know an Atova agent. If not, please call Steve Barbey (Broker / Owner) at 208-724-8169 or Sally Howard (Designated Broker) at 208-860-9104 and we will refer you to the best agent for your needs. We enjoy providing good old fashioned service and we look forward to speaking with you! Thank you in advance for providing us with an opportunity to earn your business.

Steve Barbey
Broker / Owner
208-724-8169

RENTS ARE UP!

Supply and demand, as in any industry, dictates the value of a product. Rental property inventory is down in many areas of the treasure valley. We are getting multiple applicants for any nice rentals on the north and east side of Boise these days. The closer to downtown the better! So naturally any savvy owner or manager will seize the opportunity to increase the rent. We are getting as much as $100 more per month over last year’s leases. The Boise area has always had relatively low rents compared to most cities and is still very affordable.

The supply of listed properties is also down, and demand is rapidly increasing! We are seeing multiple offers on most nice, well priced listings these days as well. With rents up, prices and interest rates still low, it is a FANTASTIC time to stop buying your landlords property and buy your OWN! For investors it is once again possible to find properties that will pencil out well, perhaps even cash flow!

The tax benefits of buying your own home are so significant that you can actually afford a higher house payment than what you currently pay for rent. Likewise legitimate write offs make owning a rental property a wise investment for many. A knowledgeable Realtor can explain these benefits, but for your specific situation it is always prudent to seek advice from your financial advisor, tax accountant or lawyer.

Please feel free to contact me or any ATOVA agent to discuss the possibilities!

Jan Allen, Atova Real Estate
208.841.4711
jallen@atova.com

"Is your real estate agent tuned in to you?"

One of the top complaints from clients is that their agent didn’t listen to them. This made me think. Am I a good listener? I used to think so. But, I couldn’t have been because I didn’t realize the difference between hearing and listening. Hearing is the act of sound perception, listening is something you consciously choose to do. Listening requires concentration so your brain can process meaning from words and sentences, which leads to awareness, learning, understanding and eventually knowledge.

The difference became clear to me in a recent situation. I was at a store waiting to ask a clerk a question. She was talking with an elderly gentleman who needed assistance. He was visibly irritated and not getting the results he needed. Eventually he gave up. As he turned to walk away he said “I may be hard of hearing, but she is hard of listening. Good luck.” At that moment I knew I needed to learn to become a better listener.

I sought out advice from top communicators and have been practicing the following tips. Doing so has made me more effective in my career and has strengthened the relationships that I have with my clients, friends and family. I’ve noticed my clients mention frequently on surveys that I listened and understood what they needed. That simply cannot be a coincidence.

1) Pay attention to both the conversation and the non-verbal communication. Occasionally I struggle with this being caught up in the whole “rat race” thing. I have to either excuse myself from the conversation or step away to regain focus then come back.

2) Show you are listening either by taking notes or changing your body posture or facial expressions.

3) Provide feedback either by summarizing some of the key points, asking questions or offering suggestions.

4) Defer judgment and try not to interrupt. Sometimes I get emotionally invested in conversations and that excitement blurts out. I am aware of it and I am working on it. :o)

5) Respond appropriately. Be candid and honest while being respectful. Sometimes the delivery can get you into more trouble than what you were actually saying.

It takes a lot of concentration and determination to be an active listener. Old habits are hard to break and let’s face it we’ve spent a lifetime creating those habits. The benefits, however, far outweigh any effort. You will become a better communicator, improve your workplace productivity and develop better relationships.

If you have any questions or comments about this blog or would like to share a similar story, please contact me. I am certainly not an expert on the topic, but I will gladly lend you an ear.

Crista Martin, Associate Broker, ABR, GRI, e-PRO
208.577.7157
Crista@IdahoRealEstate.com