Never has a market been more competitive for real estate agents. Houses are selling in Auckland like hot cakes at record prices but it would seem to win the right to sell, commissions are being dropped, incentives are being offered and you need a convincing package for your vendor to sign an exclusive.
Presentation, how can you present your offices at their best?
The whole deal is what it is all about, well kept presentation files, slick signage and access to home stagers or re-usable home decor to makeover a house at short notice for showings and open homes. All of this can take up large amounts of space which unfortunately the majority of Auckland real estate offices don't have the space for.
Keeping your files safe and secure
Most real estate offices have boxes and boxes of files requiring safe, secure storage. So with a lack of space where do real estate agents store? Usually in a reputable self storage facility. The costs are minimal, files are safe and you can still achieve a well organised space with easily accessible filing cabinets and alphabetised document boxes giving you the ability to keep your office clean and professional.
Protect your investment, get rid of the clutter
Clutter is often the number one first impression guaranteed to turn potential clients off. Keep all your signs, banners, brochures and promotional goodies in another part of your storage unit. Signage takes up a huge amount of space and is easily damaged. When you think of the cost involved in every open home with around 20-30 directional signs, lock boxes, brochures, banners and associated hardware it pays to keep as much as you can re-usable, clean and tidy.
The extra edge
Often clients are looking for options to give them that extra edge. Real Estate agents who can offer extra support to their clients by providing a safe secure storage unit to hold extra clutter while open homes are on can often mean the difference between a standard agent and one who is known for going the extra mile. The additional commission when an uncluttered house sells for an inflated price more than pays for the space!
A real estate agent using self storage can also offer support to their clients looking to purchase a new home as well. For many clients, during the transition period they will need to store their stuff and in this situation a real estate agent can refer a storage unit to the seller during that period, taking your estate service to the next level. Having a great relationship with a self storage facility who offer cash back to realtors who bring business to them, can take the hassle out of real-estate work.
Practicalities and emotions don't always go happily hand in hand. You know you have to downsize and move to a smaller space and take less possessions with you, but where do you start with what to keep, what to sell and what to throw or give away?
Often it is not your possessions your are downsizing but those of a loved one - an ageing parent or dealing with a deceased estate.
Two women in the US, Janet Hulstrand and Linda Hetzer have gone so far as to write one of the most comprehensive and practical guides,on this after helping their fathers move out of the houses they had lived in for several decades to apartments. The blog has been so successful and the task was so overwhelming they have gone on to write a book, Moving On: A Practical Guide to Downsizing the Family Home.
Questions to ask when considering a move
- Do we need this space anymore?
- Are we really using all of these things?
- Has the joy gone from having such a large space?
- Are we ready to let go?
Lessons learned by Janet and Linda
- Throwing things away (other than obvious trash, such as spoiled food in the refrigerator and burned-out light bulbs) should not be your first step. The first step is to sort, and as you’re sorting, consult with each other about what to do with it all.
- If you will be holding an estate sale or auction at your house, ask a couple of professionals to come in and evaluate the estate before you start throwing items out or hauling them away. Part of their professional expertise is in knowing what kinds of “worthless” items can actually be worth a little, or a lot. It is surprising, to say the least, to learn what kinds of items can actually be big sellers at estate sales.
- Money, important papers, and other treasures are often found hidden within stacks of papers, inside seemingly “empty” envelopes, in the pages of books, in the pockets of clothing, and in other unlikely spots.
- Many things tossed willy-nilly into the Dumpster—from old Christmas cards and maps to sewing machine manuals and sales receipts—could be of interest to your local historical society.
If you are really not sure if you are ready to let go, a good option can be to rent a storage unit while you make decisions, remove yourself emotionally and don't have regrets.
