I was recently negotiating an offer on a property I had listed.  When I called the owner of the property who was elderly man, he said that he was glad I was in his corner.  He went on to say that it meant a lot to him that he had a true professional who knew the business looking out for his best interest.   

Real Estate is usually one of  people’s most valuable asset. 

When someone goes in to have heart surgery, they interview many doctors to get the best of the best.  People should have the same attitude when they are trying to get their Hilton Head property sold – they should be looking out for their best interest when trying to get their property sold.

I was talking to a Realtor friend of mine in Chicago the other day.  On Friday she had listed a great property that she was so excited about – it represented a great value and was priced correctly in the market. 

Monday morning, two comparable properties had been reduced in price and the pricing that had been determined on Friday that was correct, was now in fact incorrect.  It was hard to believe that she was right on Friday and wrong on Monday. 

We had to step back and realize that all markets, especially the real estate market, changes from day to day. 

I once had a client who owned a lot in Sea Pines Plantation.  He called to get an updated market analysis on his property and I told him that the lot was worth $600,000. 

Six months later I heard from my client; he was so excited because he had someone offer him $600,000 for his lot and he had signed a contract.  I then told him that his lot at this point was actually worth somewhere around $700,000.  My client was distraught because I had previously told him that his lot was worth $600,000. 

Again, the market changes from day to day.  This is why I think it is important to consult your Realtor regularly as to the value of your property.  Remember, you can be right on Friday and wrong on Monday.

I was eating breakfast at a diner in Estill, South Carolina last weekend.  A young woman walked in and she was wearing a tshirt that said “will trade boyfriend for tractor”.  I did not really understand her shirt or why she would wear something like this.  Then I thought – everyone has things that are important to them. 

I recently went to list a 2nd row ocean home in Sea Pines Plantation.  When the homeowner told me what they thought their home was worth I was shocked.  I went on to tell them that oceanfront homes similar to theirs had not sold for that price. 

They came back and said that being 2nd row was better because you did not have people in your backyard all the time. 

I understand that this might be what they prefer, but it does not change the market. 

It is kind of like if you wanted to sell your Mercedes for more than a Bentley.  Just because you might like your Mercedes more, this does not mean that it is worth more than a Bentley. 

In my 29 years of selling real estate on Hilton Head I have learned that everyone has their opinion – but again, these opinions don’t always alter the market.