Janice's Blog

TEAMS WORK!!!  TWO agents for the price of one. Clients like the idea that there will always be one of the team they can reach. I am a strong advocate of TEAMS working together to accomplish  a goal.The advantages: Each member of the team brings their strong points with them to the listing presen...

The first time I was introduced to a formal listing Presentation Book, I thought: This is just too weird-I am JANICE LIPKA and I do not need this book. I am the listing queen!!(I do tend to reject change and exaggerate a little)I refused to even try--I was  quite good at getting listings and real...

It's been a long time since I was a "new agent"This is how I began:  Fresh from the Real Estate class. I thought I was ready. I got a broker to sponsor me And I showed up at office.I will always remember the sales manager. She told me not to expect to be in this business for very long and she ass...

No one knows your home as well as you do. But Real Estate professionals know buyers:what they want and what they need. Agents will have an easier time selling your home if you stay in the background. It is best if you can leave during the showing. If you must be home, be friendly, but do not try ...

Wednesday is the day for BROKER LUNCHES in my area. You can travel throughout Dutchess County from 11:00 AM to 2:00PM and enjoy all types of foods.Who Benefits from this??? The Seller BENEFITS the most on this day. This is the day the agents Preview a new listing. It just might be the  perfect ho...

This is a strange but true question asked of a customer last week.(He is a state trooper).The approach to this house was like a scene from The Blair Witch: Front yard was overgrown. There was a dismembered doll(no legs or arms) with head of hair detached from body. A cleaver was tossed in the yar...

 WHO BENEFITS????? Sellers??  Agents???Open Houses are the necessary evil to marketing a listing!! Rarely does a house sell during the 3 to 4 hours it is held open. The seller is convinced that exposing their home to public is the best thing to do. So we run the ads, etc.. I've found that most pe...

WE all know that dogs & cats are great companions, but when you are showing your home they may get underfoot.Last week when I was showing a very lovely cape to a young couple, we encountered DEVIL DOGS.(two pomeranians). They barked at us. They followed us into every room. They jumped up on us. T...

Seniors Real Estate Specialists help seniors make wise decisions about selling,reverse mortgages,moving to senior community, and other issues.Seniors who need advise about their homes and rental properties should look for an agent that has attained the SRES designation. The agent with this design...

 Impossible access????How accessible is your home for showings????If your home is on the market, make it easy to show.Have it ready and available 24/7. (Just kidding) .But 12/7 is the way to to go.It drives me crazy when a listing is only available 12:00 to 3:00PM only on Wednesdays. Or no showin...