On Tuesday, we sat down with Team Troy’s Listing Specialist, Susan Shorett to complete the second of our in-house interviews. Susan spoke about the current Seattle real estate market, what it takes to sell your Seattle home, Team Troy’s complimentary services, and what areas she concentrates on within Seattle. You can read Susan’s interview below, or watch her video. For more Team Troy videos, follow us on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/dwellseattle
What do you do at Team Troy?
I am the listing specialist for the team and that means that I deal with sellers only. I help them evaluate the price of their home, get it prepared to sell and put together the marketing program is going to get their house sold. I don’t usually work with buyers, although I have in the past. As a listing specialist, that is all that I do.
What makes you passionate about real estate?
I love real estate because it is ever changing. No two houses are the same, no two clients are the same, and there is so much change that goes on from season to season whether it be in pricing and how the conditions of the market are, or just dealing with the people. I love working with different clients, and helping them make decisions – whether they should stay, whether they should move, should they move up, should they move down. There is always something going on. There is the deal that is a part of that – that can be exciting. The houses are exciting to look at – I love looking at houses. All of it is really ever changing. It is not mundane. It’s never boring.
Why should people choose Team Troy to sell their Seattle home?
The main reason people should choose our team is that we have specialists and we really, really drill into our specialties. We have the listing side, and we have marketing staff – that is all they do full-time. We have buyer’s agents – that’s all they do full-time. Collectively, that puts together a really organized team. Because of the volume we produce in our specialties, we are able to turn around and offer services and amenities to our clients that most people can’t do because they just can’t afford it. We offer a moving truck, a free home warranty, free staging and landscaping, and professional photography and videos of home; all of these things, if you are with an individual agent, they just can’t do it. So, to work with specialists that really do know what they are doing, and then together collectively as a team, we offer a ton of amenities and experience back to our clients.
Is now a good time to sell your Seattle home, why?
Now is one of the best times to sell! It hasn’t been this hot in a long, long time. This goes back to years 2004, 2005, and 2006 when the inventory is so short right now, that even the junkiest listings are getting immediate results. To stay on the market for more or three or four days, there has got to be something very, very wrong with it. If it is priced right, and the condition is right, you’re probably going to get multiple offers, which escalates the price even higher than you ever expected to begin with. I have got some clients right now who, one year ago, were under water. They owed more than the house was worth, and now they turned around and sold it and made a $50,000 profit. There could be no better time to sell than right now.
How do you figure out what my Seattle home is worth?
We do a really comprehensive look back into the sales from the area. We take into account that there has been a recession, and things have been sitting on the market, but in the last 18 months things have really changed. We look at the square footage, we look at the comps, and we look at the condition of the property and really help people. If it just needs touch up paint, or some sprucing up on the exterior of the home, that can really add value and not cost a ton of money to do so. So, we really council people on how to get the maximum exposure to their home, and how to get maximum dollar.
What is the number one thing that sells a home? Or is there one thing?
There is one thing, and that’s the price. If it is priced right, it will sell. Even if the condition is not right, if it is priced right, it will sell. If the condition is wonderful, if it’s been completely remodeled, and it’s in perfect condition, the chances of it selling for a higher price go up, but the price still has to be right. Even in a fast, hot market with low inventory, you can overprice it. You run the risk of it sitting, and becoming stale, and not selling. Price is the number one determining factor.
What areas do you concentrate on within Seattle?
My specialty is West Seattle, where I was born and raised. I know it like the back of my hand. But I also know Greater Seattle pretty extensively having grown up here. I have lots of friends around, I lived in Green Lake for ten years. I know the areas outside of West Seattle, but you could probably ask me about just about any house in West Seattle and I know about it.
If someone wanted to get in contact with you, how would they do that?
Directly, by my cell phone: 206-478-2417 or you could email me at Susan@nwhomesearch.com