Bill Hamburg - Crazy Sh*t In Real Estate with Leigh Brown - Episode #169

If it's not icicles inside a flooded house it's a tricky sale with a prejudiced client! Bill Hamburg, a REALTOR® in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, is back on the show and ready to share another story and some more crazy shit. This time around, he'll share how he talked someone with a "For Sale By Owner" sign to let him list their property – not without some hiccups, of course! Tune in to hear how Bill marketed a house on a highway, handled a prejudiced client, and overcame a failed septic inspection. Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting leighbrown.com. Time Stamped Show Notes: 00:30 –Bill's last CSIRE story: "The Icicle House" 01:30 – He went to a property and heard a "waterfall" 01:50 – Water was gushing from the second floor onto the first from a broken pipe; it was February, the owner had left the water on and there were icicles everywhere 02:20 – Introducing Bill; a REALTOR® out of Horsham, PA who is associated with both RE/MAX and Keller Williams 03:15 – They started with Keller Williams but a few years ago it made sense to switch over to RE/MAX; in New Jersey they're new, so they're still with Keller Williams 04:50 – Bill's CSIRE story 05:00 – In 2007 when he was in the business for a little over a year, he saw a "For Sale By Owner" sign 05:55 – Realtors know contracts and keep their clients out of court; FSBO sales are tricky and can be difficult 07:00 – Bill called the number on the sign and the man said he didn't need a realtor; Bill convinced him to let him see the house to diagnose why it wouldn't sell 07:35 – He was trying to sell during the downturn; the house was in a good address and was a rehabbed home 08:12 – The guy was asking $300,000 but it was too high and on a highway; Bill offered some marketing ideas to improve his chances of finding a buyer 09:10 – He talked the guy into letting him list the property and he listed it for $315,000; he got showings and an offer 10:40 – The man said he couldn't sell the property to that person; the septic system failed inspection and the buyer was coming back for repairs 12:00 – The agents were the ones who should manage expectations and get the transaction to close 13:05 – In the end it worked out; he didn't really care who moved in 13:35 – If the house had been sold FSBO, it would've been sold with a failing septic system; this raises concerns of the law 13:45 – The lesson 14:00 – It shouldn't matter who buys your house; all that matters is if the money's green 15:00 – A REALTOR® is there to mediate the transaction and ensure everything is done properly and fairly 15:20 – How to contact Bill: by phone (215)206-1980 and email [email protected] 3 Key Points For Sale By Owner is not a good idea! It shouldn't matter who's buying the house. The job of a REALTOR® is to facilitate a smooth transaction and keep the clients out of court. Credits Audio Production by Chris Mottram Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder