How To Find The Perfect Home

How To Find The Perfect Home

It’s time to find that perfect home!

You’re pumped, you’re excited, and you want to know how to make this house a reality.

But what is a “perfect” home? How do you find it? How do you know it when you see it?

Let’s be honest.

When I say “dream home”, you might be thinking about a 8,000 sq ft mega-mansion with 2 pools, but you live alone.

You might be dreaming of a 300 sq ft minimalist tiny home, but you always have 15+ friends and family over for the holidays.

So, first, let’s redefine what the “perfect home” is:

Your “perfect” home is a home that is perfect for you.

But how do I know what is perfect for me (beyond just having a front door and 1 bedroom) and when I know what’s perfect for me,

How do I find my perfect home?

 Here’s how!

 1. Know what you’re wanting

The best way to get started in finding your home is to dream, and dream big!

If you’ve spent years of dreaming about your dream home and hours on Pinterest looking at inspiration, sit down and take the time to compile all your dreams. Put them to paper in a list form. Be as specific as possible!

“master bedroom with private master bathroom, double vanities, and walk-in shower”
“1400+ square feet with fenced back yard for outdoor fire pit”
”In ______ school district with safe sidewalks”

Then prioritize by how important each feature is to you. It’s rare you’ll find a home that includes every single one of these, so a prioritized Dream List will help you narrow your search.

 2. Know what you need

In the dreaming process, “Nice to have” and “Must have” can sometimes get confused.

That’s why it’s important to make a second list: a Non-Negotiable List.

To prepare your Non-Negotiable List: Consider your current lifestyle and make a list of home features that will work best for you.

 
-Do you have pets? (Must have: Fenced back yard)

-Do you work from home? (Must have: Quiet room for home office, solid WiFi)

-Do you commute to work? (Must have: Under 40 miles from downtown, easy freeway access)

-Do you need an accessible home? (Must have: Single-story home, with accessible interior features)

   3. Planning for the future

Life can be unpredictable. But if there is something in your near future you are wanting, don’t forget to factor that into your dream home!

If you are single or newlywed, you might love a smaller home to start with. But if you are planning on having a family soon or if you work from home, you need to factor in extra living space.

If you want a pet, or if you want to have many friends and family over for holidays, these are also things to consider in your search!

 3. Know your finances

Dreams sometimes come with a budget. Look at your current monthly budget, know what you can really afford, and look for a house within that range.

If you already know what you are willing to spend, you will only be looking at things that are within that price range; painting a reality of what that budget can afford.

This is where having a Dream List and Non-Negotiable List comes in handy! The next home you visit might not have granite countertops, but it has a fenced yard. Or perhaps it has a pool, but it doesn’t have enough garage space.

By knowing your budget, you can allow lower-priority Wants go so that you can have your Non-Negotiables without feeling like you’re settling.

 4. Research homes and neighborhoods

This will give you a good head start before visiting prospective homes! Look at current homes like the ones your looking for, so you know what to expect as far as square footage or cost.

But don’t get sucked in or turned off by just the photos online. Never let the appeal distract from the real! Always visit your prospective dream homes. Some houses are roomier in person, some are more cramped. Maybe the house needs some work, but it feels like your home the moment you see it. 

When visiting, don’t forget to check out the neighborhood! Are there coffee shops nearby to walk to, are there local parks to take your puppy, or are there safe sidewalks for your morning jog? Take into account your daily lifestyle.

If you find a house style or a neighborhood you like, let your realtor know! They’ll use that information to assist you in finding the best home in the best location for you!

And finally:

  5. Look and look again

It might take some time to find the perfect home for you. All the research and direction will help you get there faster, but be prepared to search around for your dream home. There will be times you just want to give up and settle. But don’t quit yet!

Remember to stay flexible. This is why I recommend prioritizing your Dream List. Sometimes, there’s something you’ll have to let go, if the property has everything else you’ve ever wanted. Refer to Granite Eyes if you’re letting your Wants dictate your Non-negotiables!

You deserve to find a home that works for you. And you can. Start by focusing on the features your dream home needs to be a perfect fit.

Just remember:
Your “perfect” home is a home that is perfect for you.

The next step is to not just dream it, but start the process! Why wait? 

Are you looking for your dream home?

Send me an email or give me a call, let's make a plan, and go after it!

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

Office: (615) 773-6099
Cell: (615) 243-0228
phillipbachelder@gmail.com

What Makes a GREAT Realtor?

What Makes a GREAT Realtor?

Every day, all over the country, people are searching online for what to look for in a realtor.

Let’s start with the basics.

First of all, any realtor you hire should tick these boxes:

• Experience with the entire sales process

• Education and understanding of the current market

• A negotiator that is willing to be a buffer between all parties involved

But what takes a realtor from good to GREAT?

Great question.

Here are the Top 3 Qualities I value,
and what I look for from others in my industry!  

 1. Passion

Something more than just “being happy” or “liking what you do.” Passion is a calling, a dream or a goal, that is brought to life by action. It’s when you can’t help but put your whole self into everything you do.

Unlike most realtors, I have a passion that goes beyond just selling homes. My passion is for you and your dreams. It’s for customer service. It’s for making sure everyone gets the best treatment and guidance they can receive from a realtor.

My goal is to infuse my passion into the real estate market, bringing my energy, joy, and optimism to help people reach higher, dream bigger, and achieve their goals!

 2. Integrity

It’s too common to find realtors all about Image and not about Integrity. 

John Maxwell wrote: “Image promises much, but produces little. Integrity never disappoints.” Because, as he later says, “Integrity is not so much what we do as much as who we are.”

Integrity is taking everything you teach others to do, and living it out on the daily. It’s not just saying things; it’s doing them.

Integrity means not being flaky. It’s about sticking to your word and committing to what you say you’ll do by having an organized calendar and setting reminders.

It means following through and keeping yourself responsible to your word when no one else is there to make sure that you do.

  3. Diligence

Diligence is needed to have integrity.

Diligence is working to the best of your ability, investing in yourself, loving your family, sharing with your community and, in everything you do, being INTENTIONAL.

This also takes an amazing amount of patience. I have a next-level I’m working toward and I know it will take time, but you have to take action to get to where you want to go!

Make a plan and go after it, every single day!

 4. Community

This isn’t exactly a personal trait, but it’s a value that is very important to me.

There’s an old proverb: “If you wanna go quickly, go alone. If you wanna go far, go together.”

It’s true. You have gifts and skills and dreams, and they were meant for the world. When you serve others, you’ll find purpose and joy!

Find a realtor who values working together to get things done, sharing skills, being part of a team where everyone is involved and everyone wins.

Being in a community is also about being in a family. I don’t want to be just another used-house salesman trying to sell you a product. I want to be your family that will work with you to sell your home, and to be someone you can rely on for answers and guidance.

Just how family goes above and beyond to help you, that is what you will get from me, no matter if you’re selling a $200,000 home or a $2,000,000 home. 

The wonderful thing, is that all 4 of those qualities can be applied to everyday life, to take you from Good to Great!

So I want to ask you,

What are you going to do
to get to where YOU want to be?

Here’s a good place to start:

• Get out there! You have to start by stepping out of your comfort zone. Be part of new circles, meet new people, get involved! You can’t get where you’re wanting to go if you’re still on your couch!

• Educate yourself! Invest in yourself by doing research and continuing to learn and grow. The humility it takes to say “I don’t know” is the motivation to keep exploring, taking in information, and getting better at what you do.

• Have patience. They say it takes 10,000 hours to learn a new skill. Do something small today, and then do it tomorrow, and after time, you’ll do it without even thinking about it! That’s how you get to where you want to be.

• Be the best YOU you can be. No matter what you do, put your whole self into it. Be passionate and commit to your dreams!

Whatever your dreams are, a realtor can help, but you have to initiate. Set a plan and get after it!

Don’t just cross your fingers and hope to get a good realtor that is only passionate about what they do. Get a GREAT realtor that cares about YOU, your needs, your dreams, and your goals!

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

Top Tips for Selling in the Winter

Top Tips for Selling in the Winter

Today we tackle a common homeowner question that has not been fully answered yet.

“Should I sell a home in Winter?”

There’s a reason why no one has given a definitive answer. As always, in real estate, the situation is always unique to you, your house, and your local market.

There are a lot of pros and cons that should be taking into consideration with your realtor.

I believe the Winter season can be a great time to sell! Yes, you may have missed the warm Summer weather and the popular month of May. But if it is winter, and you have a house to sell, don’t dilly-dally! Let’s get on it!

Let’s start with…

2 reasons WHY you should sell in the Winter:

• Less competition.
  The seller’s-market may be low, but the competition is too. Foot traffic and showings won’t be as busy as it is in the spring, of course, but people need to buy homes all year.
  If you are one of only a few houses up for sale in the Winter, you will definitely have prospective buyers!

• More serious buyers.
  Market your home towards empty-nesters and millennials who will be looking for a home after the holiday season arrives.
  With fewer homes on the market to choose from, prospective buyers will be more interested and motivated for a quick close!

Now, that said, selling a house in the cold months isn’t an easy task. But with persistence and the right steps, it can be done!

To help you get started, here’s my

Top 5 Tips for Selling Your Home
in the Winter:

1. Make the Price Right

Even though it is later in the year, you don’t have to set the price way below what your home is worth. You should always price your home to compete in the current market.

There’s no need to settle for less than what your home is worth. Most lower offers might not be worth taking, so always discuss these offers with your realtor!

2. Keep the Decor Neutral

When following the holiday season, You want to keep your home cozy. This will be a first-impression of the buyer’s dream home.

Some of us may LOVE pumpkins, Santa dolls, or lawn decorations. But, when selling your home, too much of a good thing can be a turnoff to prospective buyers.

Tastefully appeal to the senses by adding a wreath, a vase of seasonal flowers, unlit candles, and other festive (but clean) pieces around the house.

Pro-tip: Instead of burning heavily-scented candles, add chopped apples, cinnamon sticks, bay leaves, orange rinds, and ground clove to a pot of water. Boil a few hours before your showing for a fresh holiday scent.

3. Keep Up Curb Appeal

It doesn’t matter the season, curb appeal is important! Keep the grass mowed, leaves raked, and brighten up the front porch with some fresh yellow and orange flowers!

Of course, don’t forget to water those flowers so that your home's exterior always looks bright and welcoming.

4. Get a Realtor!

This seems like an obvious step, but it can be crucial to find the right realtor to sell your home in the Winter.

Only confident and experienced realtors will be up to the challenge of selling a home in the Winter. These realtors will research your particular housing market and help you decide whether it’s a good time for you to sell.

A good realtor will put your house in front of the right buyers, efficiently finding your buyers. For instance, businesses commonly relocate employees in the Winter. As they relocate to your state, they will be on the lookout for homes in both rural and urban locations!

And for my last tip:

5. Know When to Wait

If you want to sell your house before the holidays, by all means, discuss it with your realtor!

But once it’s Thanksgiving, both you and the buyers get busy with holidays. It might be easier to wait until at least late-January before putting your house on the market.

If you want to sell your house this Winter, don't feel like you have to wait until the busier spring/summer months. Take advantage of the lower competition and the motivated buyers that Winter brings.

Send me an email or give me a call, let's set a plan, and go for it!

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

more resources:

Can You Sell a Home in the Winter? Here’s an example! via Youtube.com/phillipbachelder

3 Tips To Sell Your House In The Fall via Realtor.com

How to Move Into Your Home -- For the 1st time or the 10th time!

How to Move Into Your Home --
For the 1st time or the 10th time

Moving into a new home is exciting!

It’s a wonderful to have a fresh start, and the chance to change your habits to match your new space. (“I am DEFINITELY going to cook healthier in this new kitchen!”) And who doesn’t love going shopping for decor after spending hours on Pinterest?

However, for most people, it can be a stressful time between packing and planning the move.

Moving in takes a little work, but it doesn’t have to be stressful.

So, today, I have for you 5 Steps on How to Move into Your Home.

But, before we jump into it, how about those of us that aren’t moving?

Maybe you haven’t moved in a few years, or a few decades. Either way, this list is for YOU too!

 After a few months of moving in, the honeymoon-phase fades away and you start to itch for a new home and a change of scenery.

But, before you go buy a new house, it might be a good time to think about moving into your home— again!

This will refresh, reorganize, and redesign your space in a way that will have you loving it like it was brand new.

“How do I do that? Where do I start?”

I’m glad you asked.

Here are 5 Steps to Move into Your Home,
for the 1st time or the 10th time!

1. Deep Clean

It’s always a good idea to do an intense deep-clean of the new home before moving all of your stuff in. Hire a professional to give your home a good once-over!

Same with moving into a house for a second time! Keep it inexpensive by doing the easiest, but most valuable, tasks: Clean the ovening, wash the sofa, do a simple white-out pen over the shower grout lines, deep clean the carpet, take a magic eraser to the baseboards, etc. 

When your home is deep-cleaned, it will be MUCH easier to take on the rest of the house without stress.

2. Sort Everything

Moving is much more stressful when you have to unpack who-knows-what into who-knows-what-room.

To easily pack, start by putting a different color Post-It note on each item in the house, one room at a time. Have each Post-It color represent:

• Throw Away
  This is for anything that’s not worth it to you, or to anyone else in the world. Yes, you might wear those run-down sneakers again someday. But it might be best to let them go with a “thank you for supporting me for so long” and throw them away. Open up that space in your closet for newer, brighter, and better.
  

• Give Away
  Things that might be of use to someone, so you don’t want to throw it away, but you never use or that you don’t like owning. Anything that doesn’t give you joy, let it be a joy to someone else. Now, if it’s expensive…
  

• Sell
  It’s not a bad thing to want to sell your more expensive items. But only do so if it’s worth it to you, in the long run, to find a buyer, negotiate, and finish the transaction. I would generally not bother with anything worth less than $50. Note that some things you’ve owned for a long time might be worth something to you emotionally, but might not be worth as much to a stranger.
  

• Keep Anything memorable, a must-have, or a need. You want to want this item. Don't keep it because it’s always been there.

Start with the easiest step and do a Trash run/Goodwill run. This clears out a lot of space for you to start renovating your home.

Now that everything is sorted, it’s time to

3. Organize and Put Away

This involves creating unique storage space. Give priority to the things you access every day over things you only need occasionally.

Make sure everything has a purposeful place, so that certain areas of the house don’t turn into a clutter-zone.

4. Re-design

This doesn’t necessarily mean buying a bunch of new furniture. It can be done by repurposing things you already own. Whether that’s changing the room each piece belongs in, or how a shelf is used, or using it in a way that you are not used to.

Here are a few more things to try: Hang new art in the room. Paint a single wall with an accent color. Add some comfy or colorful pillows to the couch. Or simply switch out those old light bulbs for some new brighter lights.

Do the little things to maximize your daily comfort and style!

And my last tip for Moving into Your Home:

5. Ask for Help

When you move houses, you need the help of a realtor, a photographer, an interior-decorating stager, a moving crew, and more. Gather a support crew of people who want to see you win!

And yes, never feel bad for asking for help when you’re redesigning your home! Offer pizza those who help clean, move furniture, or haul trash to the curb.

Pro-tip: Get your friends together for a house-renovating day, and then suggest doing it for their homes as well! Share the joy of a clean home!

Moving in takes a little work, but it doesn’t have to be stressful. Even if it’s a new house, or a house you’ve lived in for 10 years.

Do you have any tips and tricks for moving? Comment down below!

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

How to Sell a Million

How to Sell a Million

August 17, 2017

          How does/can someone go from being the average person at a basic production level to someone that sells a million? Please don’t think of a million as just money. Think of it as an amazing relationship with your kids and spouse. Think of it as your health is the best it has ever been. The term million seems like an elusive term to the masses, and most of us will never earn a million dollars, but if we live until we are 80 years old we will have earned 2,524,556,160 seconds. The question is what will you have earned with all those seconds? Can I suggest a life…? Not a career or just kids, but a life that was lived to the full! There are three things that we can do practically to sell/earn a “million” in life. Those things are; connect with people, influence others, and NEVER GIVE UP! These are a just a few things, and as we all know life consists of so much more. But, if we can do these three things consistently then we can Sell a million in all areas of life!

              First, connect with people! People are so valuable! Connect with your spouse, kids, grandkids, cousins, aunts/uncles, neighbors, groceries baggers! Listen to them! The great Zig Ziglar once said, “You can have everything in this life you want if you help enough people obtain what they want.” So, that all starts with a connection that turns into a relationship which then turns into a community, Your community! Your community can be as big or as small as you choose. I encourage you! Go ahead and have a large community! Connect with as many people that you can because you will find the more connections you make the more LIFE becomes purpose driven.

              After we connect with people, let's influence them. Influence them towards something bigger and great! Help them see the oak tree that they can become! Once they can see potential in themselves and gain some self-confidence they will build some moment. Once this happens hopefully they are off to the races. That is an extreme scenario where you are involved with someone on a more in-depth level. But you would be amazed at what a smile can me to someone. An enthusiastic hello, can really jump start someone’s day. All the while you are selling a million and may not even realize it! This also helps keep you in your mind! Selfishness is a huge part as to why so many people get stuck and never make connections with people that are worthwhile. You have gifts, talents, and abilities. If you are not connecting with people then they may never get what they needed that you had to offer the whole time.

              Lastly, never give up! When everything in the world is screaming you can’t do it. When your bank account looks like a piggy bank when your feelings are telling you that you are a loser and can’t overcome. DO IT ANYWAY! You suck it up and push forward with your knees knocking, stomach turning, and head spinning! YOU DO IT ANYWAY! If you will never give up and continue to make progress and doors are opening push on! Don’t forget, take your community with you! Set an example of perseverance that you can then use to connect with people and influence them toward a life that they deserve and that is worth living. And that, is how you sell a million!

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

Maximized Money

Maximized Money

August 9th, 2017

     Do you like losing money or just not getting all the money, you deserve for everything you have invested into something? Well, in this case, we are talking about Real Estate of course. In my experience, I have seen tens of thousands of dollars left on the table because of some, or all, of the following things, have or have not occurred. The first thing is the lack of market knowledge on a realtor’s behalf. Secondly, A homeowner’s inability to listen to the market and honestly assess the feedback they are getting. (what is someone willing to pay for your house?) Lastly, lack of strategy and tact on behalf of the Realtors.

     Although these are some ways I have seen money left on the table, if we examine them in more depth we will find out not only how to avoid these pitfalls, but how to maximize the money we are getting for the Real Estate we own or hope to own. There are several things a Realtor should be looking at when investigating the correct price to list a home for or the correct price to advise clients to pay for a home. When listing a home, the realtor should be looking at comps within the immediate subdivision, if the house is located within a subdivision. They should also be looking at the homes that are as like the home they have been hired to list. If there is nothing in the immediate area. Then I suggest doing searches based on certain customizations in that home such as a pool, acreage, square footage, garage space etc. When these customizations are searched you can truly get a very good idea of the value of that home, and what people are willing to pay for the product that you will be providing. The same goes for when you are representing a buyer. Ask your agent, to provide the comps that were used by the other agent to justify the price they are asking for the home they are listing.

     When it comes to clients and the home they are listing. It is my job as a Realtor to provide the honest feedback that they are getting on their home. In extremely hot markets like Nashville is right now; the market will let you know very quickly whether you need to make a move in pricing. However, there are exceptions to this when it comes to homes that are very customized. If your clients have invested thousands upon thousands of dollars into their home then you need to move a little slower in changing the price point of the home. Clients do need to be ready to change the price point of a home if the market is telling them that people are not willing to pay what they are asking.

     Changing the price is not always the correct solution. So many times, I see a house get slapped on the market and then that is all the Realtor ever does. Realtors need to be ready to work. What I mean when I say this is, Realtors need to be creative in their approach to listing a home. Realtors should try new tactics on behalf of their clients. Here’s an idea, don’t just “do an open house” “DO AN OPEN HOUSE!” Realtors should do things in such a way that separates them from their competition, and their client’s competition. Realtors should be going above and beyond for their clients even in a good economy because if they don’t why in the world would a client come back to Realtor that barely sold their home in a good economy; in a bad economy.

     All in all, selling a home is a team effort, but the brunt of the work should truly be on the shoulders of the Realtor over the operation. If you hired a caterer for your wedding day then you would not want them to show up with a half-cooked bucket of fish. NO, you would want them to show up with an elegant presentation of the food you discussed and ordered for your very special wedding day. It is the same thing with listing a home or helping clients buy a home. Once the expectations are set then there should be follow through. If you are not getting follow through from your realtor then money is not being maximized.

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

How to Guarantee a Sub-Par Life

How to Guarantee a Sub Par Life

July 19, 2017

              How do you like your life? Do I like my friends? How do I allow people to treat me? What are my expectations in this life? Do I believe that I can rise to the level in which I desire my life to be at with God, family, and business? These are all questions that I ask myself on a regular basis. Maybe not consciously but sub consciously for sure. Granted these are all very important questions, but if I am realistic it is very apparent that to realize these will not all be answered at one time. So, I started searching for a common thread, so I can keep moving towards getting the answers to these questions.

              Although these questions are different, they all have one major cohesive component. That component is PEOPLE! People are at the root of every success or failure. Every good or bad expectation. The people that I align myself with in life are going to either help me flourish or fail, sore or suffer. People are the very essences of this life we live. At the end of my life, I don’t want to be happy with how many virtual likes I received. I don’t want to hope that people enjoyed my presence. I want to KNOW they did.

              If people are the common thread to success. Then I must set my mind that I am going to genuinely care about them. I should approach every person not with a “typical” I care about you attitude, but am I CARE ABOUT YOU attitude. I need to create a burning desire inside myself to make sure that PEOPLE feel special. If I can focus on other people more than I do myself then I am making the progress that I want in life. If I am solving other people’s problems more than my own then my “problems” seem so small and they always tend to work themselves out. My desire in this blog post is too light a fire in you so that you want to run out and do something so extraordinary for people that they cannot believe you did that. If you have money spend some on someone. If you have a talent, use it for someone. If you have a passion that helps others pursue it!

              In conclusion, be an exceptional you. Be a you that nobody recognizes! Be the you that doesn’t have time to worry. Think of others in a way, and on a level, that shocks them. Make them feel as though they are truly the center of your world when you interact with them.  Look them in the eyes. Encourage them. Do the small things that you don’t feel like doing, but will regret at the end of your life if you don’t. Break free from the chains of living a mediocre life that is all about you. Focus on, love, and cherish the people you encounter in this life, so that you can guarantee that you won’t live a sub-par life. 

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

Where the Heck am I?

Where the Heck am I?

July 10th, 2017

      Paths paths paths! Have you ever looked at a map? Yes, a real map? You know, a piece of paper commonly found in the rectangular or square form with lines that lead to places. If not, that is OK, that just means I have more life experience than you. On a serious note, whether you use an ancient map or a GPS on your phone; you are using coordinates to get to a place. Hopefully, it is a vacation. What about our life GPS? If you grew up like me, then you might not have had a good one installed when you were built, like some other people may have. However, most people didn’t. On average Americans are spending 136% of their income. Can you say, “yikes”? That is a painful number for me to see because I care about people. I know that under that amount of pressure there is no way people can be living with a peaceful mindset.

     Although you may be living in a horrific financial situation and may feel there is no way out. There is! There absolutely is a way out, and even better there is an abundant life out there for you IF you are willing to make the tough choices in life. So many of us settle for an “ok” life. A life that is status quo. A life that we get through, but don’t truly live! Living life is not simply looking around to see if you are in a better place than your neighbors. If this is how you are living, I hope that you are reading this with an open mind. I hope that you can break free of the mindset of “average”. I do think you need to be content with where you are, but strive to be the best you that you can be! Strive to go to your next level.

     By now, you have either stopped reading or you are fired up like me. If you are fired up, then this could be the first step for you. What next? you may ask. Well, for some it will be simply getting a basic financial plan together to get you out of debt. For others, it is time to take some risk. Sometimes we live so safely. We take our money and huddle in the corner with it. We grip it like 14-month-old grips their security blanket. The average millionaire invests 20% of their income. (Many choose Real Estate as an investment option. For the tax breaks, etc.) They are completely debt free. No debt at all! They have left themselves with margin. They can take risks because they are not bound by “golden handcuffs” or controlled by fear. Instead, they are standing on a mountain and not quicksand.

     So, where are you? What is your next step? Please start to ask these questions because life will not just lead you to a place of peace and tranquility. You must fight for it! That is quite the oxymoron, but it is true! You must fight for your peace, financial freedom, family, relationship with God. This world wants nothing more than to distract you from all the things that are important using all the things that are very unimportant. So, write down your goals. Recite your goals. Then declare your goals! Do this often, so that your focus is not broken from the important, but rather you will then be distracted from the very unimportant. Start today by inputting the coordinates you want in your "life's" GPS, and compare your location five years from now, to today; you won't even recognize it.  Or, change nothing and nothing will change.

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

Service is Service is Service

Service is Service is Service

June 17, 2017

     Service… What is that? What forms can it come in? Is one form of providing service better than another? Is there a way to determine if I am going to get amazing service before I choose a company or in this case a Real Estate agent? What does good service even look like anymore; With technology creeping into every area of our lives. Is it possible to provide a service through technology, social media, text, email etc.? These are all valid thoughts, so let’s delve into them a little further.

     First, I think it is a valid place to start with addressing the transition of Social Media becoming a major hub for any business. If used correctly and effectively Social media can make great contacts, and get you in front of people that would otherwise never even know that you existed. Side note; girls put a shirt on, and have some self-respect. Portrait yourself in a classy, elegant, beautiful way. Guys; clean yourself up. Stop making half way videos or posts. Make sure you look good! It is something we call knowing your audience. I am not talking about the posts for family and friends. In those instances, just be who you are. But, when posting with intention be intentional.

      This brings me to my next transition point. Be intentional when you are providing a service! Make sure you think through the details on how people will see you? So that, they can better understand where you are coming from and the service that you will provide. Are you trying to make your image to be one of the Duck Dynasty Family or in the Trump family? Neither of these is bad, rather they are different and very successful. You just need to make sure you know where you want to go in your business. Either of the fore mentioned families are successful in presenting an image, persona, look, behavior that is consistent. Do the same when it comes to service and there is no way you can lose. You will immediately set yourself apart from your competition.

        How, does all of this apply to service? Well, when you put yourself out there it creates a certain expectation that people are going to expect from you. For example, I always try to come across with energy and personality that is backed with deep levels of information. I do this because I believe that people that work with me are going to get a high energy, fun, creative, focused, and strategy oriented experience. Once that expectation is set, it must be maintained! I promise you! PROMISE YOU! That if you call me, you are going to get energy, excitement, hope, and encouragement. You will also receive a high level of availability (I answer my phone! Which seems to be a lost art as well).

     Sometimes, I communicate so much, I wonder if I am annoying my clients with over communication. Because I believe in communicating everything all the way through. I hate it when I feel like my clients have question marks concerning the home buying or selling experience. One good example of great service that I can give is Chick Fila’. I know every time I go there I will see and hear two things. First, I will see a smile within 30 seconds. Secondly, I will hear the famous saying, “it’s my pleasure.”

      In closing, it is irrelevant as to what method you use to provide service to your clients. Whether it is through technology, in person, or snail mail. What matters is quality and consistency. Make sure your clients feel like the service you give them creates trust and alleviates doubt. Make sure you provide a relational experience coupled with an educational one. Make sure you set yourself apart. Find a niche that makes you stick out. AND please please please do not be an overbearing aggressive sales person because nobody responds to that approach.

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty

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Your House is UGLY

Your House is UGLY

April 18, 2017

     "Your house is ugly!" This is what many people are thinking as they look at your listings photos that just hit the market. "Whatttt? No they aren't!" is what you are probably thinking, but yes they are. Even though you put countless hours painting, cleaning and crying from fighting with your spouse. People are thinking that very thought, and it is not because of you; it is because of your Realtor and the photos that they took.

     Most Realtors walk around haphazardly snapping photos with their iPhone or some other device, but they, we, I am not a professional photographer and cannot do what a professional photographer does with all of their Photoshop knowledge etc. You hired your Realtor to best portray your home to the public and potential buyers. You did not hire them to snap an awkward photo of themselves in the bathroom mirror. Which is why I hire a professional photographer for all of my clients at no expense to them. 

     By now, you are probably buying into the thought that you should have professional photos done or you are asking yourself "why didn't my Realtor have a professional come out to take the photos of our house?" If not let me give you a few statistics according to an article written by Brad Storck titled, "15 Surprising Real Estate Photography Facts You Need To Know".

     In this article, Brad sites some interesting statics such as, "Buyers spend 60% of their time looking at listing photos, and only 20% each on the listing description and agent description. (The Wall Street Journal.)" He also sites, "Homes with high-quality photos receive 47% higher asking price per square foot. (cbsnews.com)", For the rest of the statics he gathered visit https://www.agentimpress.me/blog/15-suprising-real-estate-photography-facts-you-need-know

     Just these few statistics are mind-boggling to think that people still don't do it just to save $100-$200 bucks on the front end and loose thousands of dollars on the back end. 

     In closing, some markets may be so hot (Nashville) that Realtors might say, "professional" pics are irrelevant because the home is going to sell the day after it hits the market. I would challenge that thinking by saying, "Regardless of what you think the market is, why not give your client the best and represent them as professionally as possible?"

     So, if you would like for your home to sell faster and get more money for your home; I highly suggest requesting professional photos be taken for your homes listing. Even if you pay for them the statistics show that you will be far better off in the long run. Or, you could just higher me as your listing agent and you will be represented to the highest professional degree.

-Phillip Bachelder, Realtor #PBRealty