by Beth Hermes

Created on: August 25, 2008

It was just a few short months ago that the real estate industry was like the carousel on the playground it was spinning so fast that everyone was trying to jump on and enjoy the ride!

With a sluggish economy, real estate professionals are having a hard time selling homes, making ends meet and simply staying positive about their career choice. The reality is, it's just not "fun" to be selling real estate in the current climate, and folks are jumping off the carousel in droves.

Those who are staying on are those who understand that their livelihoods depend upon creativity, research and good old-fashioned hard work.

Creativity
Used to be you'd stick a sign in the yard with a few fliers in an information box and put a lock box on the door and wait for the buyers to come which they did! These days, agents who are making money are the ones whose listings make the right first impression on potential buyers, and that means getting the seller on-board with a creative marketing plan.

Encourage sellers to spend some money to maximize their profit. They should have the furnace, air conditioner, hot water heater, fireplace and any other mechanicals inspected and serviced by a professional, and include the documentation as part of your listing package. Your seller should hire an inspector to go over the home with a fine-tooth comb, and any problems he or she finds should be taken care of or disclosed in the listing. Sellers should be prepared to hire a landscape company to spruce up the home's "curb appeal." Finally, they should consult a professional home stager to assist with decorating their home to display it for potential buyers, and rent a storage unit for clutter and personal items that make the home look less-than-perfect.

Present your seller with a pot of yellow flowers to place outside their front door yellow is a welcoming color. Also, provide your seller with a package of refrigerated cookie dough and encourage them to bake a few cookies when an appointment is made to show the home. An inviting entryway and the comforting scent of fresh-baked cookies stimulate two senses, helping to create a positive, lasting impression on potential buyers.

Research
Gone are the days of getting three "comps" to place a sales price on a home. First of all, it is likely that comparable homes that were sold more than 30 days ago may not offer a realistic picture of the sales environment today. And promising a high sales price to get a listing is just downright dirty business practice not

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