Sales Fade in July Heat

When you start out in the real estate business one of the first things that you learn is that when a customer wants to go out and look at property in the snow, freezing cold, pouring rain or extreme heat it means that they are a "real buyer". Well, even many of the real buyers were done in by the constant record setting heat that much of the North East had to endure in July.

The Spring buying season was brisk, March and April were incredible months, May and June were not far behind. Then, someone turned on the oven and we all ran for cover. Well, July is over and hopefully so is the heat...at least the extreme heat. We brokers fully expect business to pick right up where we left off at the end of June.

Some tricks of the trade when it comes to selling property in the dog days of summer...conduct your open houses in the evening during the week. Most buyers (and their brokers) are away at the beach on the weekends. Have the AC cranked up high so that when people visit your home they feel a sense of relief the minute they step inside. Offer potential buyers a glass of cold water. If you are a nice person you must live in a nice apartment. Lastly, if you have outdoor space, make it look special, adding plants and flowers always helps. Outdoor space in the summer can add a lot to the purchase price.