David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

Part of my to do list for my real estate business as we entered 2019 was to begin using Facebook Live. I've just completed my third live session on Facebook talking about expired listings in Sarasota, Lakewood Ranch, and Venice. You can view the video here: Expired real estate listings with David Barr BHHS in Sarasota FL Posted by David Barr, Broker on Wednesday, February 27, 2019 If your home is an expired listings, and is no longer showing in the MLS, please contact me about putting your property back on the market and getting it sold.

Today's experience working with out of town buyers makes an excellent case study in why you need an experienced buyer's agent. I have been working with a couple since late 2013 who want to move from Clearwater to either Sarasota or Venice.  The buyers had a smart initial strategy to visit Sarasota and tour homes one day, and visit the Venice area and tour homes a couple of days later. Luckily, this couple was very clear in terms of what they were looking for.  They did not like high-rise condo living, wanted something near beaches and amenities, and wanted to gain some privacy in the process.  After touring homes with them two times previously and asking for feedback every time we visited a property, I had a good idea of what they were looking for.  Key terms here: ask and listen to the client. Fast forward to this week.  I sent the buyers a list of properties to choose from for our property tour today, but they didn't make any selections.  This is a...

You have a lot of choice when it comes to selecting a Sarasota FL real estate agent. My job is to make your selection of a real estate agent as simple as possible.  I don't waste your time blogging about the upcoming antique car show or a rowing event.  I don't make you download a lot of postcard pictures of Sarasota on my website before you can get the real estate information you are looking for. davidbarrhomes.com is 100% real estate, 100% of the time.

On Saturday mornings I get an email from Inman real estate news. Many of the articles are written by SEO companies and marketing "gurus", telling agents how to advertise themselves to home buyers and sellers. Some of the terms used in the sales industry, not limited to real estate, really make me cringe.  And I've been "in sales" for over 25 years.  "Capture", "convert", "lead", and "capture" are regularly used terms.  Do you as a potential customer really want to feel like hunted prey? My philosophy about gaining new customers and their trust is simple.  I provide information to customers about properties and answers to their questions they are searching for online.  This content is written by me specifically about my service area, not by a 20-something in Silicon Valley who has sold me some content to use in my advertising. Here are some good examples: The buying process :  Learn about the steps in the buying ...

Is it a conflict of interest if you work with a buyer's agent, and you then make an offer on a home listed by another agent with the same real estate brokerage? According to FL law, the answer is no.  In practice, the answer is maybe, especially in the luxury sphere. Many real estate firms pride themselves on  getting "both sides" of the real estate sale, meaning different agents from the same brokerage represent the buyer and the seller in a transaction.  Some brokerages post their listings on their websites first.  Nothing illegal with this at all.  But does this serve the prime interests of a buyer, or the brokerage? My philosophy is that a buyer who hires me to be their buyer's agent deserves an equal opportunity to view all properties that meet their criteria, not just those of my brokerage first. Read more about buying real estate in the Sarasota area on my website: www.davidbarrhomes.com/buyers www.davidbarrhomes.com/buying_process www.davi...

Yesterday I drove by a real estate office that had a sign in front that really struck me as being out of the Stone Age.  The sign said "We're open and selling like crazy". For some reason that sign really rubbed me the wrong way.  Were they selling homes or used cars? I've been in the sales (I prefer to call it marketing) profession in general for over 25 years.  But I've never ever introduced myself as a "salesperson" or as being "in sales".  In my opinion , variations of the word sell are words to avoid in real estate.  No matter the age of a potential consumer, no one wants to be sold. Consumers want to be educated, presented with options and potential outcomes, and then want to come to their own conclusions without the presssure that selling connotes.  This applies to both home owners and home buyers, when working with real estate professionals. Any licensed Realtor can call themselves a "top producer" (aka salesperson or...

This question came up on Trulia forums today, and it was a timely coincidence.  I was thinking about this just yesterday. I was watching Bravo TV's Million Dollar Listing.  What can I say?  I love seeing other people's houses, part of why I love being in the real estate business.  This show also happens to be a great example of what does NOT make a great buyer's agent. I recently blogged about the Realtor Code of Ethics and Florida real estate law, which says a Realtor may not convey a minimum price to either party without the express consent of the buyer or seller they represent.  This did not happen on this program. Cut to one scene with the two cooperating brokers negotiating price on a golf course, without consulting the buyer or seller.  Cut to another scene with one agent saying "I'll take $X....".  He'll take?  He is not the seller.  Cut to another scene with the agent concerned about a cut in compensation over a price reduction....

I've provided some new content on my real estate website, www.davidbarrhomes.com, to further assist buyers looking for property in my service area of Manatee, Sarasota, and Charlotte Counties FL. First, I've added a "Best Deals" page, where I select 4 properties in 4 different categories that are important to home buyers in today's market:  best luxury, best new home community, best condo, and best income producing:  http://bit.ly/tf4SOz Secondly, I've added a separate page for Bradenton FL condos, based on Google analytics showing buyers were conducting searches for this:  http://bit.ly/tMACYM Third, again based on analytics, I've added a page for beachfront condos from Anna Maria Island south to Englewood: http://bit.ly/uaX4ZI You can also Make an Offer http://bit.ly/w4LR40 and Schedule a Showing http://bit.ly/uyMiJt