Spring is a great time to sell your home
By Jane Keller Gordon, Contributing Writer
Westborough – Right now, inventory is low and people are clamoring for houses. RE/MAX agents Gary Kelley and Sue Gordon want you to know that when it comes to selling your home, it’s relationships that count.
“Plenty of brokers can take a few photos and list your house in the MLS, but we go the distance, before and after the sale,” Gary said. “Sue and I are there every step of the way — helping you figure out what needs to be done, arranging for contractors, and getting the sale done.”
Sue added, “We don’t just walk in and sell a house and walk away. We establish relationships and we stay in touch. We know that for some people it takes time list their house. We go at their pace.”
Last year, Sue and Gary’s pace was great; they closed 36 transactions. For each one, they put a lot of effort into prep so the sale was easy. Here are a few examples:
Lots of books to be packed
Sue and Gary were contacted by an estate lawyer about a retired college professor who lived in Worcester. He had Parkinson’s disease; he and wife were no longer able to keep up their home. It was time to move to Florida. Sue and Gary, at their own expense, brought in two teenage boys to pack 50 boxes of books. Once that was done, it was easier to see what was left to do. Repairs were made. A stager, once again at the expense of Gary and Sue, came in and did her magic.
At one point, Sue realized that she was a student of the professor when he taught at Clark University. The sale happened this past October. In December, Sue sent her former teacher a yearlong supply of Twizzlers. She knew that was his thing.
Looming bankruptcy
A Marlborough couple reached out to Gary and Sue with a plea for help. With tears in her eyes, the seller explained their predicament. Gary said, “We never asked what happened, but we were there to help. We helped them clear out the house, arranged for a handyman, had the smoke detectors checked out, and we sold the house, before bankruptcy.”
94-year-old woman decides it’s time to move
Once again, Gary and Sue made something happen that might not have otherwise. They brought in their crew and moved things into the garage. Junk was taken away, repairs were made, a stager was brought in, and most importantly, the house was sold. The woman is now feeling much better, living in an assisted living facility.
In every case, it’s relationships that made the difference – Susan sending the gift of Twizzlers, a speedy sale before bankruptcy, or helping an elderly woman do what she could not orchestrate on her own.
As for the sell side, Sue and Gary get the job done. They focus on good photos and good descriptions. “We present a home in the best way we can so that the house sells quickly,” said Gary.
About a third of Gary and Sue’s recent sellers chose to have a pre-sale home inspection.
“We always attend inspections and guide sellers on the follow-up,” said Gary.
In terms of price, one approach does not fit all.
Sue said, “When a house isn’t selling, lowering the price is a simple formulaic approach.”
“For example, sometimes we hear a basement looks bad. We’ll recommend that the seller take the house off the market, paint and put it back on. That’s a better approach than lowering the price,” Gary explained.
Gary and Sue are happy to share their knowledge of real estate. They post a weekly video on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn. Gary hosts a monthly radio show on WCRN with mortgage broker Brad Avergon, a senior loan mortgage officer with Envision Bank.
For more information, visit movewithgary.com. You can reach Gary at 508-733-6005 or Sue at 508-333-4672. Isn’t it time to set up your complimentary home sale review?