Belt Auction

For real estate experts and creative folks - ways to market two condos?

We are selling our two condos in the Upper Haight part of San Francisco and moving to be burbs. Are there any unique ideas that we could do to help promote our units? We are working with a solid agent and have been busy cleaning, painting, et al. We intend to send a note to family and friends, but other than that, we don't know what we can do to help our cause. Also, I am interested in the consensus if the building would fetch the highest price from a single buyer or from two. Any thoughts on Zillow or Trulia? Thanks in advance

Public Comments

1. First "this is what works for me" get some digital photos and go to postlets.com open an account it's free, it will ask you a little bit about your home, then it will give you a space were you can describe your home in more detail, then it will take that info and load in a html format, which I would advertise on Craigslist or a myspace page
2. Ok. So let me get this straight. Currently, you are in a contract with a real estate agent that is working on trying to sell your property. You've been cleaning, painting and everything else to get it in order to show. So even though you are going to have to pay a commission to the real estate agent, you want some ideas on selling the home? What this tells me is that you are not too sure about the agent that you've hired. Or you have concern that in this declining market, you're home won't sell for what you want. Be sure that you are working with a seasoned professional, especially in this market. Reason? They already have relationships established with previous clients, attorneys, title people, etc. They can mass mail, or communicate to these people very efficiently. Because, THAT IS WHAT YOU ARE PAYING THEM TO DO..... Here's how to tell if your agent isn't retarded: 1. The real estate agent provides you with advice prior to showing the property. They will make suggestions, and be quite up front on what his/her concerns are with your condos. 2. The agent is compiling a list of information, regarding when plumbing, electrical and everything was updated. They asking very specific questions about your complex, neighbors and what not. 3. They will educate you by showing "comps" within the area. These are condos that have recently been sold, or are up for sale. It should tell you the avg. time on market, as well as sq. footage, etc. 4. They are constantly scheduling showings. Whether it's for real estate agent's to walk through or customers. With each showing they are providing the guests with beverages, finger food, etc. You are asked not to be present, because they are handling everything. ** If they have already told "you" what they would list it for, and the strategy on pricing, then you know you have a keeper. If they are asking you about what you want for the property, without providing you there opinion then they are retarded. What this agent will do is just get you to sign the contract. Then they will hit you every two weeks for lowering the price. Until, the contract is about to expire, then they will ask for an extension, and blame this whole experience on the market being bad. If you are paying someone to do a job, then shouldn't they WORK for there $$$$$???? As long as you are being realistic about your expectations, then these condos should sell. NO MATTER WHAT KIND OF MARKET. Just my two cents though
3. I have to agree with jpocia03 about your Realtor. The first thing you need to know is if the contract you have with your Realtor has a clause that if you bring in the Buyer they do not get an commission or at least only partial. Why would you want to go through all the trouble of finding a Buyer on your own to pay them. Now for ideas. Craigslist, Ebay and your local food stores are great places to place ads. Also SF has a great website that has real estate for sale on it. Look into the HR dept for large employers in your area. A lot of them have a relocation dept that you could see if the will allow you to place it in their relocation pkg. Zillow is good but in this market it's hard to tell how up to date they are. Sorry I am unfamiliar with them.