David Barr's Sarasota and Venice Real Estate Blog

It seems you can't watch HGTV or cable news without being bombarded with commericials for different ways to buy and sell your home.  Real estate is a huge part of our economy, and "disruptors" are desperately trying to enter the market.  Zillow has been trying it for years, and is now offering these "instant offers" to buy your home in some markets. The prospect of having a sign in the yard, dealing with showings, negotiating a price, and making repairs, can be stressful for some home owners.  The reality is that you'll be giving up a good chunk of any equity you've earned in your home if you decide to go the "instant offer" route.   If you see a commercial offering to buy your house with an instant offer, and even help you move, it's too good to be true, based on a recent study from MarketWatch. For those of you who are retiring, downsizing, or moving into assisted living, you'll need as much equity from your current home...

Sometimes a map isn't enough.  Here's some pictures of my real estate office in Sarasota with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Realty. Our Palmer Ranch office, located next to Outback Steak House, on the south Trail. Our office is close to the well known West of Trail neighborhoods. Looking north toward Stickney Point Road, with downtown Sarasota on the horizon. Buccaneer Bay, Coral Cove, and Southpointe Shores are just across Tamiami Trail from our Palmer Ranch office. Buccaneer Bay looking west over the ICW toward Siesta Key and Point Crisp Stop in and see me if you're interested in selling your Sarasota home in these areas.

Here's an update on my YouTube channel: Over 400 HD video tours; 80,000+ views; Playlists for homes in Sarasota, Venice, and Lakewood Ranch; Videos cover 2 of the top 4 selling master planned communities in the country. My YouTube channel dashboard Wh y is this important? I'm able to showcase our local real estate markets to the vast majority of potential home buyers who come from long distance to live here. Question: What good is listing with a "luxury broker", when one of them, over the past 90 days, had 7 out of 26 (27%) expired listings on Siesta Key and Longboat Key in our MLS? If you like how I market myself as a Realtor and our market area to attract buyers, you'll love how I market your home or condo for sale. And I don't do any of it with assistants, "buyer's agents", or an unlicensed spouse. A high tech Realtor like myself will attract the right buyer for your home using the latest tools and technology. ...

I read a rather frivolous article in the Manatee Herald about how adding the word "love" in real estate advertising copy helps to sell homes by creating an emotional response in the potential buyer.  The article actually ended up making another point about the difference in marketing philosophy between real estate brokers. You can read the article here:  http://www.bradenton.com/2014/02/14/4992360/bradenton-real-estate-feels-a.html For example, a description in a listing in the MLS remarks, such as "you'll love the gourmet kitchen" always makes me think from the buyer's perspective that kitchens are such a personal statement about the home owner, many buyers may not actually love all that mosaic tile or particular coloring of the granite countertops.  I try to avoid using the term all together. The NAR survey of home buyers and sellers shows that buyers first and foremost want pictures of the property online.  They are comparing features and prices an...