restaurants & health violations

One of the commercial property brokers I help out brought a very interesting point to my attention. He told me about a group that was seriously looking at the purchase of an office building with storefront opportunities that included a restaurant.

After a round of serious negotiations, the investors backed out. Even their broker handling the negotiations wasn't sure what went wrong. It seems that one of the investors thought to check out the restaurant for any health violations, since they are a matter of public record in most cities.

Sure enough, one of the investors found an instance where that restaurant had been found to have had (cleaning this up a bit) a problem with animal droppings. Even though the problem was immediately resolved and the restaurant has remained open again for months without incident. But with this having been an older building, the potential buyers decided not to risk their reputation over the possible repeat of an issue.

Before I could bring it up, the broker knew what I was about to say and told me he had chalked this one up to experience and from now on knows to investigate for such incidents before hand.

The building in question is not in the Milwaukee area, but an example of the availability of this information appeared in Tuesday's Milwaukee Journal online:

http://www.jsonline.com/blogs/news/61516882.html

Since this is a health and safety matter, I wanted to share this with everyone.

There is a point to be made not only to commercial brokers, but to residential agents and brokers as well. If the corner restaurant or grocery store has health and safety issues, it probably should be brought to the attention of home owners within proximity. I am not enough of an expert to know if there would be any non-disclosure potential, but this is primarily about health and safety. If you are a home owner living within a 1/2 block of a restaurant or food establishment, it is a good idea to keep tabs on inspections in your area so that you can be prepared in the event of the want or need to sell.

It is more than knowing where not to eat.

Buy a home for $1, but the land is optional

The upscale Chicago area suburb of Barrington has an interesting marketing ploy. You can bid on 3 homes later this week starting at $1 each, but you buy the house itself and would have to move it to other land.


http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=324957


I can see it now. The agent asks a potential buyer "Will this be for here or to go?".

But seriously folks, it is good to see some marketing innovation on the real estate scene these days. Doing this attracts attention to the high value of property in that suburb and is good publicity for the brokers surrounding it.

The thing to do is to keep this in the news.

Listing of the Day - Shaker Heights OH

In an effort to improve the impact of the marketing of listings, I randomly choose current listings around the country in a variety of price ranges and comment on their effectiveness. No current clients of mine are used, nor do I know any sellers or buyers or have any additional information about the property.


21249 Colby Rd Shaker Heights, OH 44122 $297,000 3 + 2.5


http://realestate.cleveland.com/RealEstate?classification=real+estate&temp_type=detail&tp=RE_cleve&property=cleveland.com&finder=buy&ad_id=287746080


This home is not the most or least expensive property in this area, yet this ad makes all of the necessary selling points.

Excellent use of photos, with only 1 of 8 available being an exterior shot. The primary photo is the exterior one, and it draws a potential buyer's interest by showing off the nice landscaping and gardening, along with the well kept up look and feel. You can instantly tell this home is well kept up and looks lived in.

As the potential buyer reaches the point of decision, the ad moves in the right direction for either choice. Those who initially go to the photo spread can immediately tell they have a spread of interior photos, while the important description copy guides them properly through the best selling points.

Each of the interior photos is carefully chosen. There is enough furniture and items on display to give us a true indication of how nice the interior can look, rather than a cluttered appearance.

What I like even more is how the photos show windows and brightness in each room. It is an excellent example of showing it without saying it.

Just below, the all-important description portion presents non-stop selling points. The style, the street, the fireplace, the porch, the yard, the storage space, the library, and the "oversized" bedrooms.

Even the "convenient to shopping and restaurants" is well placed at the end of the description. Just as an interested potential buyer (which they are having looked and read this far) would feel good about the home and start to wonder about its location, they now learn that this property is not out in the middle of nowhere. Good timing.

One more plus to this listing ad. It is focused on the property and not the agent. At first impression, it is far more important to determine whether or not the property is a potential fit than to know who is representing it.

However, in this instance there is actually too little information about the listing agent. From my having created, looked at, and listened to thousands and thousands of property descriptions over the years, it is very very rare that I have to point out when there is not enough information about the agent.

All that is shown on this listing ad is the name of the firm. No phone number or contact information. (I actually had to take the time to seek out the realty firm's web site and track down the name of the listing agent on this property.)

Other listings shown on this search do have contact information, so this is the fault of the agent. A potential buyer should not have to take extra steps to make a contact after having looked at and read this well orchestrated advertisement for this home. Once I have to click elsewhere, I am immediately exposed to other homes and other agents.

If I were a potential buyer and called some other agent because it is easier, there is a darn good chance the agent listing this property would never know it. Another agent would most likely present additional options to that potential buyer. It hurts to see a property ad which is so well done, but suffers because of the lack of a call to action. One phone number placed above the primary photo would have made this a "A" grade listing.

Did you ever watch a "great" commercial or show, start telling someone about it, and then you can't remember the name or the network showing it? If you have, you know how the person or people you are telling will say, "Then it couldn't have been that great if you don't remember where it was". That applies here.

Grade: B-But in this instance, add the contact information, and I would change it to "A".

(There was no agent name, phone, or other contact information as of 8 PM September 27, 2009.)


Note: This commentary is uncompensated and for marketing purposes only and is no reflection on the featured property and is its accuracy is not guaranteed. Neither Dave Kohl nor First In Promotions shall be held responsible for any representations.

Listing of the Day - St. Paul MN

In an effort to improve the impact of the marketing of listings, I randomly choose current listings around the country in a variety of price ranges and comment on their effectiveness. No current clients of mine are used, nor do I know any sellers or buyers or have any additional information about the property.

1302 Hauge Ave, St. Paul MN 4 Bedrooms 1 Full Bath $234,500


http://homes.startribune.com/for-sale/listing/41022-3807255/Saint-Paul-MN-USA/2-sbeds/1-sbaths/SINGLE-FAMILY-HOME-type/200000-300000-price/40102-3822671--41366-3648559--41031-3691934--40259-121555--41022-3807255--41101-3834354-ls/6-t


It is not the fault of the agent that the primary exterior photo we see first adds lines to the exterior and makes it look as though the lower right corner is a few boards of wood that are falling apart. (Let alone that the primary exterior shot was taken on a rainy day, adding a dreary look to a $234,000 property.) Then I looked at the other photos and found that the interior photos are all excellent selling points. However, some potential buyers would see the primary photo and not even bother to take the time to look at the rest. So it is the fault of the agent that the interior photos are not the primary ones we see first.

Since I did take a look at the interior photos and find that those detail the strength of this house, I also find fault with the property description paragraph having the majority of the copy about the exterior.

Worse yet, the proof is there that the agent failed to revise the copy for this ad. In this instance, I found and chose this ad by going through the Star-Tribune web site, which is one of the two major newspapers serving the Twin Cities. This agent paid a pretty penny to advertise there.
That alone should be cause to seriously review the copy before being published.

Take another look at the last 2 sentence fragments in the "Property description" box. They say "QUICK POSS!" and "EASY TO SHOW".

The average potential buyer has no idea what "quick poss" means. Not only a waste of money for words that will not entice, but it leaves a potential buyer (who has stuck with it this long) with something that confuses them instead of enticing them to continue reading and looking. The "easy to show" reference is not relevant to a potential buyer.

Since I am not a potential buyer, I realize what happened. The agent, or assistant, and/or someone representing this agent, took the same copy that appears to other agents and ran it in the Star-Tribune. Those last 2 phrases are supposed to only tell other agents the home can be shown easily and is ready for quick possession. Other agents understand the terminology.

But this advertisement is not for other agents. It is supposed to be for potential buyers to get them excited and make them want to see it. Or at the very least contact the agent with more questions.

As it is, a 4 bedroom house with only 1 bathroom is enough of a challenge in this day and age. There is every need to showcase the nice interior, which would give the potential buyers the image that a large family would enjoy being inside.

We are told this is in a "super location" with "access to everything". But we are not given any details. Mall? Schools? Transportation? Airport? Expressway?This is written that way because local realty agents would already know the address and what is in the area. However, since this advertisement is not written for whom it is intended, the majority of potential buyers are not given the opportunity for a crucial selling point.

A potential buyer that has a family with 3 or more children won't know if the property is near the school. A potential buyer with a grown family or in-laws won't know if the home is near a bus line or shopping.

However, a potential buyer is not given any incentive to pursue more information.
Advertising is supposed to be constructed in order to reach the target audience. In this instance, it is not other realty agents, who could find this out by looking at the MLS.

Grade: D


Note: This commentary is uncompensated and for marketing purposes only and is no reflection on the featured property and is its accuracy is not guaranteed. Neither Dave Kohl nor First In Promotions shall be held responsible for any representations.

At this time, I have openings for more realty agent/office clients to critique current and brand new listings on an hourly basis. No current or past client listings are featured on this blog.Random listings are chosen around the country.

Your comments are most welcome!

Listing of the Day - Murrells Inlet SC

In an effort to improve the impact of the marketing of listings, I randomly choose current listings around the country in a variety of price ranges and comment on their effectiveness. No current clients of mine are used, nor do I know any sellers or buyers or have any additional information about the property.


1020 Vestry Drive, Murrells Inlet, SC $195,000


http://www.postlets.com/res/2728954


This listing ad needs a massive overhaul. The positive selling points that are featured are quickly negated by the presentation, while some other important positive sales points are nowhere to be found.

A buyer of this home will most likely come from out of the area. Yet, there is not one mention anywhere in this ad to let potential buyers know that the home is located near Myrtle Beach.

Affluent people from states further north would consider this price range and a newer home to be a plus in such a resort community.

How do I know the buyer will most likely be from out of area? Because the first impression we get tell us this is a "model home". In many instances a successful development will have investors on a list to be notified when the model becomes available. Obviously, there either weren't any or if there were something scared them off.

We can also tell it is a model home because the primary picture has nothing to make the home appear lived in. No window decorations, no plants in front, and nothing to show what it would look like if a family lived there. 0 for 2.

Model homes are perceived differently by a lot of potential buyers vs. those which are not. Some see the positive such as usually a lower price than the other units and often a prime location within a development. Others see possible negatives, such as concerns about wear and tear from countless numbers of people walking through, along with security concerns since many people know exactly where bedrooms, closets, appliances, and electrical outlets are.

Worse yet, EVERY photo bears out that it is a model home. As much as I preach for interior shots in listing advertisements, it defeats the purpose when they portray empty rooms. Potential buyers have no idea how a set of furniture would look in proportion, and thoughts turn to having to measure, select a color scheme, and take additional steps in order to make the property an individual expression. As nice as the swimming pool looks in the photo, the impact is reduced since there are no chairs or furniture to distinguish it and make it appear comfortable for family use.

The top description begins with "former model home". While the "heated and cooled garage" and "lush landscaping" are great selling points and the photo bears those out, the "window treatments and blinds" part of the description lacks credibility because of the photo. (The exterior shot makes this place look totally empty.) A serious potential buyer would probably notice that the photo and description do not jive.

Then, the lower "description" portion merely rewords the same thing as above. This not only blows a crucial opportunity to further entice a potential buyer, but again mentions "model home" before recapping the couple of positive selling points that are actually shown.

Usually, I like the "closer in" use of Google Maps in terms of setting the location. This map does show proximity to a golf course and a mall. (It took my looking at the map to pull out a couple more selling points not shown in the repeated description.) But in this instance, it might benefit to set this home location back one notch to show proximity to the beach itself. For an out of area potential buyer, distance from the actual beach would be a consideration. Since the map doesn't show it (without a potential buyer taking extra steps - and I'm betting that he or she isn't sticking around on this page long enough to realize that opportunity), I have no way of knowing if this home is miles away or, for example, "7 minutes from the beach".

This home looks to be well priced and have its selling points. If only this were a "model" listing advertisement.............

Grade: D+

Note: This commentary is uncompensated and for marketing purposes only and is no reflection on the featured property and is its accuracy is not guaranteed. Neither Dave Kohl nor First In Promotions shall be held responsible for any representations.
At this time, I have openings for more realty agent/office clients to critique current and brand new listings on an hourly basis. No current or past client listings are featured on this blog.Random listings are chosen around the country.
Your comments are most welcome!

Listing of the Day - Montgomery AL

In an effort to improve the impact of the marketing of listings, I randomly choose current listings around the country in a variety of price ranges and comment on their effectiveness. No current clients of mine are used, nor do I know any sellers or buyers or have any additional information about the property.



6619 Meadow Lark Drive, Montgomery, AL $161,900

http://www.postlets.com/res/2760035

A potential buyer gets a very good first impression of this listing. The photos enhance the property, while the lists and description copy each contain a nice variety of selling points.

This photo spread is one of the better ones. I like the balance of 3 exterior and 3 interior shots, especially since both have good selling points. (Some properties are much better inside than outside and vice versa.) The only one I question is the one of the patio. Not the photo itself, but not having chairs and/or plants, a grill, a hanging light, or anything to show a potential buyer what the patio looks like in use takes away the functionality. For example, if the patio is shown with a grill on it, a potential buyer that does not grill could create their own vision of how they might change it if it becomes their home. One that does grill would be pleased to know they will have the ability to do so. Whereas having nothing on the patio makes me wonder if there really is enough space to appeal to a new owner.

I have a slight concern about the condition of the lawn in the primary photo of the front of the exterior since it looks worn in several spots, given that this listing is up at the end of summer when the lawn should be at its peak appearance.

The list description at the top is very good, highlighting the relative newness of the home and it having a 2 car attached garage (easily noted based on the description and the primary photo). I also like how the upper description segment profiles the exterior, while the lower description provides a good mix of information.

Features such as the "double vanity in both baths" and the "garden tub" in the master bedroom are unique and excellent selling points for the interior. These add a touch of luxury not often found in a home priced under $200,000 on a big lot. A definite plus. Adding that the area is "adjacent to Somerhill" is (probably) a good idea. Although I know nothing about Somerhill, I would think that a potential buyer looking in that area probably knows.

However, saying "separate dining & laundry rooms" takes some of the air out of the balloon. I would hope that people don't eat next to the washing machine. Mistakes happen, but someone should have caught it by the time I saw this ad. It could cause a potential buyer taking a serious initial look at this ad and another home in the same area to be hesitant to contact this agent first.

The "Property Features" bullet points below are quite strong, hitting on the fireplace, central air, and breakfast nook among other solid selling points. There is also one of the better uses of Google Maps, giving the potential buyer a reasonable view of the major roads that lead in. Many of the maps on property descriptions are not accurate, too far out, or require clicks and steps to navigate.

Overall, this listing ad is thought out and well put together. The photos enhance, the positive points are well distributed and reinforced, and this ad will help sell the home. Something to show a patio and taking out the laundry reference are all that is needed to make this an "A" listing.

Grade: B+


Note: This commentary is uncompensated and for marketing purposes only and is no reflection on the featured property and is its accuracy is not guaranteed. Neither Dave Kohl nor First In Promotions shall be held responsible for any representations.

At this time, I have openings for more realty agent/office clients to critique current and brand new listings on an hourly basis. No current or past client listings are featured on this blog.Random listings are chosen around the country.

Your comments are most welcome!

Listing of the Day - Henrico VA

In an effort to improve the impact of the marketing of listings, I randomly choose current listings around the country in a variety of price ranges and comment on their effectiveness. No current clients of mine are used, nor do I know any sellers or buyers or have any additional information about the property.

2633 Laclede Ave Henrico, VA 23233 $421,000 Sally Slate, Napier Realtors ERA

http://www.homesforsalerichmond.net/Homes_For_Sale/VA/Henrico/13773878.html

This ad (for suburban Richmond VA) only has one photo available which is an exterior shot. While it is often effective to have the description cover the interior rather than reinforce the photo, this photo opens up questions which are not addressed during the all-important first impression.

The photo is taken from an angle which shows a side which is not brick and therefore makes a large portion of house appear to be added on. While I was wondering if the open area at the front is a driveway or sidewalk, the description makes no mention of a garage whatsoever.

Keeping in mind this ad is from the web site of a print publication, there is no excuse for the fact that I cannot find the number of bedrooms and bathrooms for this home. (If it is there somewhere, I couldn't find it after spending about 2 minutes looking specifically for that information.) The publication probably expects the agent to include it within the print description, while the agent probably expects the publication to include it within its regular format.

Sorry, but I blame the agent for this glaring omission. It shows me that she did not check her ad. (The random search I did to find this listing group was "2 or more bedrooms" so I have no way of knowing for sure.) I would also question the motivation of the seller he/she/they isn't monitoring the advertising from the agent they chose to represent them.

To make matters worse, the description goes on to mention a "3rd floor bonus room". There is nothing wrong at all with offering a bonus room. But take a look at that picture. Where is there a 3rd floor???? If there is a basement, it is not mentioned, but that would make it 3 level and still not a "3rd floor".

By this point, a potential buyer is confused about how many stories, does not know how many beds and baths there are, and has no information about a garage or any sort of parking.

There is no information about the neighborhood or the block in the description. We would need to make another click for "area schools".

What is a "new 50-year roof"? Does it mean the house is 50 years old already? Is it a 50-year warranty?

Everything of what is described within is "new", including the roof. Yet, the property is also described as "meticulously maintained". It could only mean this is an older property, or cause suspicion if so many things needed to be replaced or upgraded recently.

Frankly, this is a perfect example of why I am doing this column.

Grade: D


Note: This commentary is uncompensated and for marketing purposes only and is no reflection on the featured property and is its accuracy is not guaranteed. Neither Dave Kohl nor First In Promotions shall be held responsible for any representations.

At this time, I have openings for more realty agent/office clients to critique current and brand new listings on an hourly basis. No current or past client listings are featured on this blog.

Random listings are chosen around the country. Your comments are welcome!

Listing of the Day - Indianapolis IN

In an effort to improve the impact of the marketing of listings, I randomly choose current listings around the country in a variety of price ranges and comment on their effectiveness. No current clients of mine are used, nor do I know any sellers or buyers or have any additional information about the property.


4930 N. Kessler Blvd. Indianapolis $296,000


http://www.homefinder.com/IN/Indianapolis/51827952d_4930_N_Kessler_Blvd


The photo tour at the top of the listing ad does not enhance the ad. The primary photo shows a wall, leaving it unclear whether or not this is a gated property or where the main entrance to the home is. The home seems off in the distance and thus doesn't seem as large as the description indicates. The photo of the swimming pool is too bright and left me confused as to the size of the swimming portion. The driveway photo shows cracked and two-tone pavement and does not even show a garage entrance. The interior photo is a cluttered room showing wires hanging. If the seller can't keep a neat office, it raises concern about maintenance of the home. Since the photo tour is atop this ad, none of these photos helps toward a positive first impression.

Even as I come to learn of the 3 acres and 5,000+ square feet, after having seen the photos it doesn't seem as impressive. The in-ground pool and full fenced yard are indeed positives to be pointed out early on.

We are then told the "interior is unique" and that we "will be amazed". However, we are not told WHY it is unique. Unique is not always good or functional for a potential buyer. "Unique" could mean hard to find parts or fixtures and be a negative without a reasonable explanation or illustration.

The description paragraph ends with the note that "Dick the Bruiser" once owned the home. I understand the possible appeal of a celebrity having purchased this home. However, in this instance, those old enough to remember him also come to realize this is an older property. Since this is an advertised property, the buyer now faces the possibility of wrestling fans coming by to see the house Dick the Bruiser used to live in, and that is most likely unwanted attention for the buyer and the neighborhood. A description stating "once owned by a nationally known celebrity" might entice a potential buyer to call the listing agent out of curiousity.

It isn't until reading the "Additional Details" that the selling points start to come out. The agent seems convinced that potential buyers will read all the way through. But they need solid reasons to do that, given the assortment of other homes available within the same area and price range.

If I were looking in that area, I probably would have clicked back to the menu after looking at the photos. Even if I had stayed through the description, my interest would have ended there, and I wouldn't have taken the time to learn the positives.

For the sake of this review, I continued to read the ad and THEN learned about the 2 car attached garage, 2 fireplaces, central air, and that this is all on a corner lot.
While it is 4 bedrooms and obviously large, there is nothing specific about proximity to schools or transportation. These are obvious considerations for a large family looking in this area.

What might have been...............

GRADE: C-


Note: This commentary is uncompensated and for marketing purposes only and is no reflection on the featured property and is its accuracy is not guaranteed. Neither Dave Kohl nor First In Promotions shall be held responsible for any representations.

Your comments are welcome!

Listing of the Day - Sept. 6th

NOTE: In an effort to improve the impact of the marketing of listings, I randomly choose current listings around the country in a variety of price ranges and comment on their effectiveness. No current clients of mine are used, nor do I know any sellers or buyers or have any additional information about the property.


http://www.slcity.com/manager/listings/l10772.shtml


1349 Zenith Ave., Salt Lake City UT $358,900

The property is not the most nor the least expensive home listed in the area.

This listing ad starts with a solid exterior photo that brings a positive first impression of the curb appeal of this home. Other than the photo that concentrates on the garage (which is helpful to get a feel for the home), any of the interior photos could also be used as the most prominent. The nice furniture that helps to scale the room sizes for the viewer, and these interior photos add to the appeal.

I like how the description paragraph goes right into the selling points of the interior. Maple cabinets along with granite and steel have appeal to many buyers, and this is enticing information which is not available or certain to those who look at the pictures before reading the description.

In other words, this is what a property ad is supposed to do. The exterior photo shows the look of the home and the nice garden and landscaping. Enough to entice a potential buyer to read the description. Wisely, rather than recapping about the landscaping right away, the first sentence targets selling points about the interior.

At this point, the potential buyer has a good impression of the exterior, and within seconds learns a plus about the interior, and wants to know more.

Frankly, one sentence in and I already know that this agent understands how a property advertisement should flow. Everywhere a potential buyer or client can start shows a different positive, and gives one or more reasons to continue to look at this property. He is helping to let this home sell itself, instead of him selling his services.

We go on to learn that the home has central air, a laundry room, dishwasher, and disposal and is well maintained. The photos reinforce the "well maintained" aspect.

The less appealing points, such as the age of the home, that it is not 2 "full" baths, and does not have a fireplace, are all included in the description. It is significant to note that these facts are further down, coming AFTER the positives. As obvious as this would seem, I have re-written hundreds of listings for clients which buried the positives, compared with how they are first here. In addition, this ad emphasizes how this property has been well maintained and refurbished over the years.

Also, factors such as "new and refurbished baths" and "converted patio" when combined with the good photos, help the potential buyer to accept the 'less appealing' points because it appears those have been addressed by the seller.

The copy and the photos tie together and it makes a big difference. As a potential buyer, if you only read about refurbished rooms and no fireplace in an older house and did not see any interior photos, chances are you would move on to the next property.

Another positive is that the names of the elementary, middle, and high school on the page, with a link to school information just below. Especially helpful for a 4-bedroom home.

For this listing ad, there is little that I would change. A potential buyer cannot tell from the photos that there is a downstairs level. The description says bedrooms are "2 main, 2 down" rather than "4 bedrooms". It is hard to tell from the exterior photo if this is a 2-level home or if there is a true basement. Whether or not there are a lot of stairs and the distance between a master bedroom and a possible child's room could be important.

One other matter is the neighborhood. We are not told if this home is close to schools and maybe a fact or two about the area. A "near elementary school", "close to expressway", or nearby point of interest could all help, especially for a buyer comparing this home to others in the same general area.

GRADE: B+


Note: This commentary is uncompensated and for marketing purposes only and is no reflection on the featured property and is its accuracy is not guaranteed. Neither Dave Kohl nor First In Promotions shall be held responsible for any representations.

At this time, I have openings for more realty agent/office clients to critique current and brand new listings on an hourly basis. No current or past client listings are featured on this blog.Random listings are chosen around the country.

Your comments are most welcome!

Listing of the Day - Columbia SC

For more than 20 years, I have worked with realty agents and mortgage lenders regarding a variety of marketing and advertising matters, including writing literally thousands of individual property descriptions. In an effort to improve the impact of the marketing of listings, I randomly choose current listings around the country in a variety of price ranges and comment on their effectiveness. No current clients of mine are used, nor do I know any sellers or buyers or have any additional information about the property.

http://www.cbcarolinascolumbia.com/property/property.asp?PRM_MLSNumber=248101&PRM_MlsName=ColumbiaSC&VAR_AgentCode=FELICIJ&VAR_OfficeCode=cbjg03


226 Philmont Dr, Columbia SC 2 bed 2 bath $106,000


This one is not the least or most expensive listing the agent currently has.

As much as I preach making interior photos a part of advertisements and online profiles, this listing shows why it depends on the property. The exterior shot is an excellent one. It showcases an attractive well painted home with nice landscaping, the driveway, and the attached garage.

However, the interior photos which are used feature noticeably little or no furniture, making it impossible to tell if the house is really empty or if someone lives there that can't afford furniture. A couple of the photos could use an explanation and don't have them. My impression started out quite high based on the exterior photo but dropped significantly while viewing the interior ones. Since I knew this was not even the listing agent's lowest priced current listing, it is not as though this is a "fixer" or the lowest priced property in town.

The all-too-brief description tells us about the "open floor plan", but frankly that seems a stretch after seeing photos of an entire room with no furniture. Does this mean you should only have one or two pieces per room?

All we are told about the surrounding area is that this home is "convenient to interstate", but there is nothing about proximity to schools, shopping, services, or other forms of civilization. Otherwise, there really is not any appealing description. I don't see where this home is a bargain or has a desirable location.

I'm pretty sure that the listing agent (and other agents) would counter my last point by reminding me that there are places on the page to click for "Local Services", "school" and map information. Had I only been shown the primary exterior photo and an enticing description, I might have looked longer. This is a big part of the reason for doing this "Listing of the Day" feature. This agent spent time and effort to secure this listing. This property has some good selling points including curb appeal, especially for a home in this price range. It is not up to a potential buyer to look hard enough to find them.

Grade: D


Note: This commentary is uncompensated and for marketing purposes only and is no reflection on the featured property and is its accuracy is not guaranteed. Neither Dave Kohl nor First In Promotions shall be held responsible for any representations.


At this time, I have openings for more realty agent/office clients to critique current and brand new listings on an hourly basis. No current or past client listings are featured on this blog.Random listings are chosen around the country.


Your comments are most welcome!

Please check back often for more "Listing of the Day" critiques.