Don’t get me wrong, I love new agents, I was new once too and have spent a couple decades training them. I love all the fresh perspective and new things I can learn from them. I don’t have a TikTok account but probably should get one before I get even more “too old for that “ 😆
In a world full of apps and AI on every smart phone that can make anyone look good (even giving me back some hair), and give the appearance of skill, appearance isn’t actually a substitute for learned skill and actual experience.
Technology is amazing, but not every problem is a nail to hit with a hammer. We like to employ the right types of technology for the right types of situations when it helps, and leave it in the toolbox when it doesn’t. Example? Ya can’t only text. Sometimes you have actually talk on the phone with someone and will find having a 2 minute long phone conversation can save hours of text misunderstanding. It’s just reality.
Video is another example of a useful tool that is light years ahead of even last year and excellent for building a brand online instead of being critical to selling a home. Different markets require different tools. I was doing video tours with a handheld video camera and uploading them into YouTube to send links to people across the country for virtual tours in 2010. I was doing video walk throughs and putting them on stand alone domains for 24/7 Open Houses starting back then too. Video helped me sell a lot of homes over the years. Then I stopped doing it after the market accelerated to where it is in 2021 and it was not needed. Things moved fast, we moved fast with them and well, I didn’t put the effort into “content creating”.
Our team framework will allow us to put the time into creating video without our client services paying the price. We’ll build a content library full of useful context and accurate information, as video has evolved from being needed to sell a particular home to what people turn to for education. I mean, we’ll show you cool houses too, but we won’t only show you those. We’ll get a new microphone first probably, as that tech evolved quite a bit and the one we have isn’t the best anymore.
The Olympics have shown us again what we already knew. Calm, level headed, learned experience is the difference maker. It allows us to know exactly what to do and when.
We know there is no one size fits all approach because everybody’s needs are different. While we love video, and we love energy and enthusiasm, there is a LOT of video online put out by creators who are enthusiastically and energetically wrong. Especially the video created by “influencers” who are making money off social media, not actually selling houses. Maybe they aren’t wrong, but what they are saying is just not realistic or practical or attainable for you in this market or in your area. Reality is what it is, not what we wish it was.
So we’ll be using video to help you know how to separate fact (there isn’t going to be market crash) from fiction (the sky is falling!?!?) and ensure that you have the information you need to be comfortable making your decisions.
We’ll get back into video soon (stay tuned!), and we’ll keep focusing on doing what we do best, using our experience to calmly guide sellers and buyers through the flashy noise and into their next home. – Jason
Looking to sell or buy real estate in South Central Pa? We’re here when you’re ready! Call us at 717-371-0557
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
Ron Weaver
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717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
If you’re considering selling your house on your own as a “For Sale by Owner” (FSBO), you’ll want to consider a few factors. Going this route means shouldering a lot of responsibilities by yourself – and, if you’re not an expert, that opens the door for mistakes to happen and can quickly become overwhelming.
A report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) shows two key areas where people who sold their own house struggled the most: pricing and paperwork.
Here are just a few of the ways an agent makes those tasks a whole lot easier.
Setting the right price for your house is important. And, if you’re selling your house on your own, two common issues can happen. You might ask for too much money (overpricing). Or you might not ask for enough (underpricing). Either can make it hard to sell your house. According to NerdWallet:
“When selling a home, first impressions matter. Your house’s market debut is your first chance to attract a buyer and it’s important to get the pricing right. If your home is overpriced, you run the risk of buyers not seeing the listing.
. . . But price your house too low and you could end up leaving some serious money on the table. A bargain-basement price could also turn some buyers away, as they may wonder if there are any underlying problems with the house.”
To avoid these problems, team up with us. We know how to figure out the right price because for your property in today’s market (not yesterday’s) because have a deep understanding of the local housing market. We use that expertise to set a price that will get you to the best price that buyers are willing to pay, giving your house the best chance to impress from the start.
Selling a house involves a bunch of paperwork and legal documentation that has to be just right. There are a lot of rules and regulations to follow (plus it all varies by state !), and that makes it a bit tricky for homeowners to manage everything on their own. Without a pro by your side, you could end up facing liability risks and legal complications.
We aren’t lawyers and can’t give legal advice, but we are experts in all the contracts and paperwork needed for selling a house. We know the rules and can guide you through it all, reducing the chance of mistakes that might lead to legal problems or delays. As an article from First American explains:
“To buy or sell a home you need to accurately complete a lot of forms, disclosures, and legal documents. A real estate agent ensures you cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ to help you avoid having a transaction fall through and/or prevent a costly mistake.”
So, instead of dealing with the growing pile of documents on your own, team up with us so we can be your advisor, helping you avoid any legal bumps in the road.
One of the biggest perks of using us as your listing agent isthe fact that we know how to leverage the tools available for the best result. We have access to the MLS, as do others. This is part of how we can instantly post your home to over 14,000 websites, including the big names you know. But really, “put it in the MLS” is one piece. Not all of it. How you use it, when, what info is there and when, all of it matters. Other agents also use the local MLS when searching for their buyer clients and will often set up saved searches. This means that once a home is listed that fits a buyer’s criteria, the buyer is immediately notified. So it has to be right from the start, or you miss out on them.
We use the latest metrics of buyer activity, open house attendance (yes, we do them, and they work), professional marketing materials and the right presentation to make your home attractive not just to all buyers, but to the ones looking for a place like yours.
Long story short, using us gives you massive exposure that isn’t possible as a FSBO. The more exposure your home gets, the more offers you receive. The more offers you receive…the more options you have. Those options will vary on price, closing timeline, requested repairs, and more. We’ll will help you pick the best offer for you! We’ll also walk you through every step- from listing to settlement.
Selling a house on your own can cost you a lot of time and stress. Let’s connect so you have help with all the finer details, including setting the right price, handling all the paperwork, and so much more. Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557 !
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
Ron Weaver
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
Get ready for 10 days of ice sculptures, special menu items, family friendly fun, and a whole lot more in Downtown Lititz, PA ! Below is the full schedule! For the full event info, including food trucks, FAQs, a giveaway, and the sponsors who support the event, visit the Lititz site here!
We’re proud to sponsor the annual Hometown Fire Crawl, where Downtown Lititz shops create special dishes, drinks & samples for the Fire & Ice Festival ! Some examples include a creme brulee latte, hot cocoa cookies with some heat, hot sauce samples, handcrafted cocktails & more!
We hope to see you there !
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
Have you been thinking about selling your house? If so, here’s some good news. While the housing market isn’t as frenzied as it was during the ‘unicorn’ years when houses were selling quicker than ever, they’re still selling faster than historically normal.
The graph below uses data from Realtor.com to tell the story of median days on the market for every January from 2017 all the way through the latest numbers available. For Realtor.com, days on the market means from the time a house is listed for sale until its closing date or the date it’s taken off the market. This metric can help give you an idea of just how quickly homes are selling compared to more normal years:
When you look at the most recent data (shown in green), it’s clear homes are selling faster than they usually would (shown in blue). In fact, the only years when houses sold even faster than they are right now were the abnormal ‘unicorn’ years (shown in pink). According to Realtor.com:
“Homes spent 69 days on the market, which is three days shorter than last year and more than two weeks shorter than before the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Homes are selling faster than the norm for this time of year – and your house may sell quickly too. That’s because more people are looking to buy now that mortgage rates have come down, but there still aren’t enough homes to go around. Mike Simonsen, Founder of Altos Research, says:
“. . . 2024 is starting stronger than last year. And demand is increasing each week.”
If you’re wondering if it’s a good time to sell your home, the most recent data suggests it is. The housing market appears to be stronger than it usually is at this time of year. To get the latest updates on what’s happening in our local market, let’s connect.
Ready to be in a new home for next holiday season? We can help! Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557!
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
You’ve seen how gray has become the norm for new construction and renovated homes in the last decade. We’ve seen it in the form of paint, furniture, and decorations. Rip out the carpet, replace it with hardwood flooring, paint the walls gray, cabinets white, add a gray couch, and you’re done. They call this look “millennial gray”.
Why do they call it “millennial gray” when plenty of Gen X’rs and Boomers bathed their homes in gray? We don’t know, probably because they blame millennials for everything, but we can’t solve that problem here. Back to the gray. Or is it grey?
However you spell it, it has been everywhere. The perk of gray is it’s neutral. There’s a lot of versatility. Now, it’s coming to an end as tastes change (thank you everyone, gray is so played out it’s just now grayed out – Jason). People are ready for something different. It’s time to bring back some color to the world, are you ready for color and unique interior design? We are (well, Jason is)!
Why should you use colors?
How can you implement color ?
Of course, no amount of new paint will fix everything, so if you’re looking for a new space altogether, you know we can help! Give us a call or text at (717) 371-0557, let’s talk about where you want to go next!
Your Friends in Real Estate,
Jason Burkholder Team
——————
Jason Burkholder
Kelly Burkholder
Jaci Hoosier
717-371-0557 direct or text
Hometown Property Sales Group, LLC
717-207-8093 office
57 E Main St
Lititz, PA 17543
Info & ideas pulled from this article written by Evelyn Long for NAR.