The Neighborhood

The holidays were spectacular

The holidays were spectacular in Tour 18 Dallas! This is one neighbors magnificent light display!

the soul of a House

Reading a book by Derek Prince about our soul, recently, made me think about the soul of a house. Derek wrote that there are three elements of a human soul. Your will, intellect, and emotion. He said that a man’s spirit moves upon a man’s soul, and a man’s soul directs his body (actions, habits, daily character.) As long as man remains in submission to God, his soul remains in submission to his spirit and man functions in harmony to God. When we rebel, that inner harmony is broken. There is constant tension between spirit and soul. Wow, deep thoughts.

I love to read things that make me think, on a higher level. Everything is relatable to our lives, and the work that we do. In life, it’s about having as blameless a walk as possible, and being congruent. Congruency is when thoughts line up with actions, and when our inner and outer worlds match.

When I think of this as it applies to my own work with homes and technology, I think about how we can be congruent, and simplify things. Transparency is always important in a house sale, and making sure everything is congruent is important. In a home, the inside must match the outside. Everything should be at a congruent level, because if the outside has curb appeal but the inside is crumbling, it won’t sell. The soul of a house is more than just what we see with the eye. Is there an energy and life about it? Can we feel the joy? If not, why? Sometimes a small adjustment is all that’s needed to get everything aligned, and on the right track. It’s the same way in our own lives.

Home Sales Tip: Leverage the Power of Words

Selling a home is about using the right words to convey the best and most accurate impression about the house - and guess what? Great Realtors know how to do that in ten minutes or less.

My buyers sweep in, and sweep out, and the first ten minutes in a home is critical.  If they've got 15 homes to see in Southlake and 5 to see in Flower Mound, you can bet it's a full and tiring day and they're looking to eliminate. Yard too small? The buyer doesn't even want to get out of the car. I have to convince them to go inside. Small rooms or funky floorplan? Too many golf balls in the yard? Delete, delete, delete.

Buyers are only too happy to move on to the next house or the next neighborhood.  It's my job to point out the beauty and positive benefits of where they are right now, when they are standing in one of my listings.

Os Hillman wrote a great inspirational email recently about The Power of the tongue. Basically it's about how words have the power to change the way we think, feel, and relate in this world.  He wrote:

"Words have the power to motivate or destroy, energize or deflate, inspire or create despair.  Many successful executives can remember the time their father failed to give them affirmation as a child.  The result was either over achievement to prove their worth or underachievement to prove he was right. Many a wife has lost her ability to love because of a critical husband.  Many a husband has left a marriage because of words of disrespect and ungratefulness.  Stories abound regarding the power of words."

His words always inspire me.

Words have the power to build businesses, nations, and relationships. Business deals hinge on the words exchanged between parties.  They have the power to uncover the blind spots and overcome them. If only we were willing to listen.

Mark Nolan

Visit my blog for the 3 tips to sell your home.

www.theneighborhood.typepad.com

Selling Homes: Tips of the week - Search for Blind Spots

Everyone knows at least one person who doesn't see things clearly. Maybe it's your uncle, or perhaps it's a friend. Maybe it's someone under your own roof.

Sometimes someone you love or work with has an area of improvement they don't see. We all have limiting beliefs we picked up from childhood or from certain experiences in our lives.

In business, blind spots are something we simply have to work to overcome or it could mean lost sales. In the business of selling houses it is imperative to uncover blind spots. It might involve helping a buyer overcome a limiting belief such as "Tour 18 is just too far from any grocery store" (when the store is just six minutes away) or, "There are too many golf balls in the backyard."

Overcoming limiting beliefs are an important part of selling a luxury estate. You simply must be willing to step out onto the ledge and talk about the things your buyer might be feeling. It's about choosing the right words and uncovering what is not being said.

Is there something about the house that alters a first impression? Something like clutter, an overgrown garden, or simple paint repairs that can cause a busy buyer who is looking at tons of houses to check yours off the list. If I see something one of my potential buyers might not like, and it is easily rectified, it's my job to be honest about what that is and help the seller create a first impression that's as good as possible.

Email me today, for more information about the value of your home. MarkNolan@email.com