I searched, I looked, I asked, and I applied my mind to this question, "How will I choose an estate agent to sell MY home?"
Friends recommended, neighbours recommended, but no-one had concrete evidence who was better for me. A nice person, a big brand, national presence etc wasn't going to convince me. Of course, everybody's got an opinion (to volunteer). Opinions are cheap like that. This wasn't a cheap thing to me. This was my biggest asset actually. My house! No, I felt I needed more.
Actually, It turns out there is hardly any way to acquire this information. So I got dirty and got introduced to all the agents in my area , in the usual ways, phone, email, website, showhouses etc. But actually, testimonials are the best method and that's why I took the time to write this one.
I actually got a testimonial from a friend that I trusted in the business arena about Lew Norgarb and that got us in touch.
Norgarb was a big brand in my area. Hmm, but I like personal service, and not big brands so much. What I realised very quickly is I would get both. Passionate about his brand and his clients expectations is how I would describe Lew.
Sure, the others can also sell property, but here is my experience with Norgarb Properties, not my opinion. You will make your own opinion.
Getting the right buyer to see your house how you want it seen, is how you will sell your house. That's how it's done.
They're buying on an emotion and you are selling on emotion. The property must be presented in the right way to the right buyer. The buyer will then be committed, a good price will be reached, and you will feel less sad about saying goodbye.
Distribution, wording(copy) and photos are super important. Lew does all 3 very well and that puts your baited hook in the right waters!
• His mailing list is current fast acting. A large number of serious buyers & sent on the right day. • His copy is sincere, and is designed to get the correct buyers attention. His copy was sent to me for approval before it went out. It was spot on, and was not schmaltzy. I wasn't selling a cozy cottage in middle England, and so it wasn't described as one. • Lew spent more than 2 hours taking photos himself. Not arbitrary shots. "Move the towel out of the shot", "open the blinds", "half-closed blinds please", "no flash", "more flash"! fun actually! These days everyone has seen good photos on the internet and can tell a decent photo from a half-assed quick snap in bad light. They click elsewhere. • Clear photos, in good lighting on the other hand, will let a prospect see if this is what they like/ don't like. They stick. The person starting to look deeper develop's an image of the house before they get there. They get more committed. They get more emotional.
Norgarb Properties got 28 prospects into our home on showday one.
Norgarb Properties got 2 written offers on my desk the next day, solidly above our asking price. And both unconditional!!
An awesome problem to have, is which offer to accept, thanks to the effort made in distribution, wording and photos! Getting the right buyer to see your house how you want it seen, is how you will sell your house.
So, a signed sale agreement that's way more than halfway, but its not the end. The end involves a real sale on the agreed date and a lot of massaging in between, with no "he said/she said". Its inspections, paperwork and dates and packing. And electricians! A professional agent sees it through to transfer and moving in/out date. And Norgarb does that. in spades. In my case - to the point of helping me clear out the last straggling items and allow me to actually catch my flight on moving out day!!! More committed than that I cannot describe.
I cant do much more to convince you to use Norgarb as your selling agent than to do this letter for you , and to tell you that you wont go wrong here. I could introduce you, like was done for me, but if you are reading this then you.ve already met Norgarb Properties. Take a small leap and sell your house how you want it done, with Norgarb!
Kind Regards, Marc GoIdring
Some other notes to the prospective seller:
Did I do a long testimonial here, almost a long as a blog post? Yes, but it indicates the amount of effort that I felt Norgarb Properties put in, that I would take my half hour to write this. Lew earned it and his commission. Btw, don't ask to cut his commission. You will get his full attention and then hopefully, full asking price like I did.
For the record, showday wasn't invasive. We went out for the afternoon and came back at 6pm, and it was untouched. (Sure, we vacuumed and neatened and straightened beforehand, but that's how we wanted people to see our house. All hands work together.)
Oh yes, that reminds me of the funnier conversations with other agents. "Let us sell your house for you" , "Why you?" I asked. "we can sell it!" "um...that's a reason? Ok, yes, that may be true, but maybe not how I want it sold!" first find out about me.