Terez Harris's Blog

QuestionsYou can learn a great deal about people and their motives, likes and dislikes by asking a lot of questions.  Learn to stop the selling and ask more questions but more importantly, listen to the answers.NegotiationsTry to avoid discussing or negotiating price until the buyer has decided t...

If 90% of home buyers use the internet at some point in their search, the percentage who go to the Metairie listings has to be close to the same ballpark. It’s hard to imagine anyone NOT wanting to take at least a peek at the current listings. Even if they have already settled on a target propert...

DefectsDisclose, disclose and disclose!  You can sell a home with defects as long as you disclose them.  Knowing about a defect and not disclosing it could prove legally dangerous and may even revere a sale if serious enough. ApologiesNever apologize for the condition of your home.EmotionsDifficu...

“Metairie home loan game theory” sounded like an intriguing topic when the phrase first occurred to me. I thought it would mean figuring out whether a mortgage would constitute a financial move that made sense. But the more I studied “game theory,” the more complicated it got. And maybe not as th...

  There is an interesting theory about why some Metairie real estate agents complete so many more home purchases than do others. It isn’t that ‘success breeds successes (although the thing we call “momentum” is certainly real enough). It has to do with being able to harness two somewhat opposing ...

Lighting Everyone, at least almost everyone, enjoys a bright and airy feeling when they tour homes to purchase.  Open drapes, turn on the lights, and increase the wattage of the light bulbs if necessary. Religious ItemsYou can never be assured of the religious affiliation if any of the potential ...

 You know what the “wow factor” is for any Metairie home that’s for sale—it’s the extra something that’s highly desirable and unique to the property. It could be a three-story entry hall, or a game room that’s large enough for a pool table and a conversation pit. It might be a home theater with f...

Specific Advantages of working with a Real Estate Agent/Consultant First there is a difference between an agent and a consultant.  In any sales profession, only 20% of the people sell 80% of the property.  Most of these 20% people are consultants meaning that they engage the customer in an in dep...

SignsYard signs have and will continue to be the number one reason a buyer looks at a home.  Believe it or not the quality of a yard sign has a great subconscious affect on buyers as it speaks about the owners as well as the house for sale.  A great many buyers, being skeptical about sellers, wil...

The outlook for owners of Metairie rental properties has been buoyant for some time, but last month a widely-publicized report added to the long range outlook. The study presented multiple scenarios in which demand is likely to outpace the supply of rental properties in the U.S., creating a marke...