Ask an agent; Set price based on real sales

By C.W. Cameron

For the Journal-Constitution

Sunday, September 07, 2008

This week we talked with Michele Feeley, broker with Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center. She’s been selling real estate for nine years.

Q I want to start out by listing my house at a higher price so I have room to negotiate. Is that a good idea?

A This is one of the main mistakes that sellers make. When your house goes on the market, it’s a new listing, and that’s when you’ll get the most interest. If you price it higher, then you’re competing in a different price category. As your home stays on the market, you’ll start dropping the price. All you’ve done is lose market time and you end up dropping the house price to where it should have been in the first place.

Then how do I know it’s at the right price?

In today’s market, sellers really have to look at comparables. This is where an agent is invaluable. You need to be looking at the prices of houses that have sold and that are under contract. It doesn’t matter that your neighbor has their house priced at a certain point. If it hasn’t sold, then that price isn’t a valid comparison. Your agent will review comparable properties —- houses with similar structure, number of bedrooms and baths, upgrades and location.

But I paid a lot to renovate my house.

Unfortunately, foreclosures and other factors are affecting the price of houses substantially. How much money you put into your home for upgrades is not necessarily reflected in what you will get back out of it. How much money you have to get out of this home to buy another has no effect on its value. The value is only determined by what a buyer is willing to spend, and that’s why comparables are so important in pricing your home properly.




Michele Feeley, Broker/Owner



THE SEARCH: Family goes from one dream home to another



By Marcia Killingsworth
For the Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 06/01/08

Our house hunters:

Married for 30 years, Chicago natives Dan and Aimee Scanlan moved to Atlanta last year with their two daughters, Jessica, 19, and Molly, 14. Dan is regional manager for Tuff Shed, a provider of installed storage buildings and garages, while Aimee manages the family. Back in Chicago, Dan designed and built their dream home, so they were very particular about what they wanted in this house: an open floor plan, golf course view and a large garage, just for starters.

The process:
A mutual friend recommended Michele Feeley of Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center in Newnan. Feeley introduced the Scanlans to Newnan's SummerGrove development and they loved it. Both Scanlans agree that Feeley was "just fantastic" and found them exactly what they wanted . . . no compromises required. Living in the area with a daughter Molly's age, Feeley was also able to help Aimee become familiar with the community and feel more connected. "She was a godsend," Aimee says.

Choice No. 1: With four bedrooms, three baths and two half-baths, this 2006 custom-built house was listed at $524,500. It was "to die for," Aimee says. "Beautiful craftsmanship." Dan was also impressed by the special touches that included a fully equipped media room and three laundry rooms, including one in the master bedroom closet. And it was right on a golf course, another plus.

Choice No. 2: Listed at $399,500, this four-bedroom, 3 1/2-bath ranch was just a year old, and all of its upgrades —- including granite in both the kitchen and kids' bathrooms, coffered and tray ceilings —- appealed to the Scanlans. They also loved the design that had all of the living space on one floor. The large corner lot across the street from a golf course and a three-car garage made this one hard to beat.

Choice No. 3: A view of a golf course was an advantage with this five-bedroom, four-bath house, making the already large lot seem even bigger. Built in 1996 and listed at $364,500, this house was "immaculate," Aimee says. Dan liked the layout that emphasized the view, as well as the gourmet kitchen and the office with its built-ins. This, too, had a fully equipped media room just right for teenagers . . . and dads.

Which home did they choose? The Scanlans chose No. 2. The open floor plan —- great room, kitchen and dining areas all connected, and all the bedrooms on one floor —- is "the type of living that we love," Aimee says. All the upgrades made it move-in ready. "It's exactly what we wanted," Dan agrees. In fact, it's very similar to the dream home they left in Chicago. "It's so comfortable," Dan says. "Every day when I get home from work, I walk in the door and it just feels like home."


Local Assist-2-Sell Recognized as Top Producing Real Estate Office For Second Time in 6 Months

NEWNAN, GA – May 20, 2008 – MICHELE FEELEY, owner of Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center placed in the top 10 percent of all Assist-2-Sell® offices for the month of March. This is the second time in 6 months that Feeley’s offices have placed in the top 10 percent. Assist-2-Sell’s Newnan office competed against more than 600 other franchise offices throughout North America to win this award. Offices are ranked by the total number of homes sold.
“We’re really excited about Assist-2-Sell’s consistent growth in Newnan and Peachtree City” says, Feeley. “Our ‘Full-Service with $avings!’® program gives home sellers great service for a low, flat fee, and being named in the top 10 percent means people are catching on.”
Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center is located at 1 Bledsoe Road in Newnan, and serves Coweta and Fayette County. Call 770-253-8784 or 770-487-9195 or e-mail mfeeley@assist2sell.com or visit www.SoldinGeorgia.
Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center was opened in 2000, and is owned and operated by Mark and Michele Feeley. Assist-2-Sell, North America’s Leading Discount Real Estate CompanySM, provides home sellers with full brokerage services for a low, flat fee, saving consumers more than $800 million in commission. Homebuyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell’s exclusive listings databases. All brokers and agents are fully licensed and REALTORS®.


Assist-2-Sell Broker Honored as One of Newnan’s Highest Achieving REALTORS®

Michele Feeley Receives “Professional Achievement Award” from
Newnan-Coweta Board of REALTORS®

NEWNAN, Ga. – April 18, 2008 – The Newnan-Coweta Board of REALTORS® has honored Michele Feeley, owner and principle broker of the Newnan and Peachtree Assist-2-Sell® offices, with its “Professional Achievement Award.” Feeley was among 99 winners of the award, each of whom had real estate sales in the amount of, or in excess of, $1 million for 2007.

“I’m really excited to have won this award for the second year in a row,” says Feeley. “After purchasing the Assist-2-Sell® offices in Newnan and Peachtree City within in the last two years, my team and I have worked really hard to not only build a strong reputation with local home sellers and home buyers, but also with other brokers and agents. Winning this award proves we’ve been successful.”

With its “Full Service with $avings!”® program, Assist-2-Sell saves homeowners a significant amount of money on the sale of their home. The Newnan and Peachtree offices charge a low, flat fee of only $2,995. Home buyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell’s exclusive listings databases.

“This may sound strange, but our success wouldn’t be possible without the help of our competitors,” continues Feeley. “We market our listings directly to buyers but we also cooperate with real estate agents at other brokerages. They show and sell our listings all of the time.”

To learn more about Assist-2-Sell, call (770) 253-8784 or e-mail mfeeley@assist2sell.com. Additional information is available online at www.SoldinGeorgia.com. Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty is located at 1 Bledsoe Road in Suite D in Newnan and 111 Petrol Pointe Suite F, Peachtree City.


Assist-2-Sell Receives Real Estate Broker License

NEWNAN, Ga. – Feb. 1, 2008 – Michele Feeley, owner of the Newnan and Peachtree, Ga., Assist-2-Sell franchise offices, recently passed the state brokers exam to become a licensed real estate broker for the state of Georgia. She is now serving as the managing broker for both Assist-2-Sell offices. Feeley passed the exam after completing an extensive pre-license course through the Georgia Real Estate Commission and Appraisers Board.

*Savings based on statistics since January 1, 2000, for all Assist-2-Sell offices in North America compared to paying six percent commission. Six percent used for comparison purposes only. Commissions may be negotiable and are not fixed by law.

“I’ve been a licensed real estate agent for 6 years and realized it was time to take my real estate career to the next level,” said Feeley. “As managing broker, I can better serve our customers while continuing to play an active role in the day-to-day operations of both offices.”

Michele Feeley and Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center can be reached by calling (770) 253-8784 or (770)-487-9195 or by e-mailing mfeeley@assist2sell.com.

Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center is owned and operated by Michele Feeley. The Newnan office opened in June 1999 and was purchased by Feeley in May 2007. Feeley also owns the Peachtree office, which opened in September 2000. Assist-2-Sell, North America’s Leading Discount Real Estate CompanySM, provides home sellers with full brokerage services for a low, flat fee, saving consumers more than $800 million in commission. Homebuyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell’s exclusive listings databases. All brokers and agents are fully licensed and REALTORS®. On the Net: www.SoldinGeorgia.com


Local Assist-2-Sell Recognized as Top Producing Real Estate Office

NEWNAN, GA – November 15, 2007 – MICHELE FEELEY, owner of Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center placed in the top 10 percent of all Assist-2-Sell® offices for the month of October. Assist-2-Sell’s Newnan office competed against more than 600 other franchise offices throughout North America to win this award. Offices are ranked by the total number of homes sold.
“We’re really excited about Assist-2-Sell’s consistent growth in Newnan and Peachtree City” says, Feeley. “Our ‘Full-Service with $avings!’® program gives home sellers great service for a low, flat fee, and being named in the top 10 percent means people are catching on.”
Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center is located at 1 Bledsoe Road in Newnan, and serves Coweta and Fayette County. Call 770-253-8784 or 770-487-9195 or e-mail mfeeley@assist2sell.com or visit www.SoldinGeorgia.com.
Assist-2-Sell Buyer & Seller Realty Center was opened in 2000, and is owned and operated by Mark and Michele Feeley. Assist-2-Sell, North America’s Leading Discount Real Estate CompanySM, provides home sellers with full brokerage services for a low, flat fee, saving consumers more than $800 million in commission. Homebuyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell’s exclusive listings databases. All brokers and agents are fully licensed and REALTORS®.

*Savings based on statistics since January 1, 2000, for all Assist-2-Sell offices in North America compared to paying six percent commission. Six percent used for comparison purposes only. Commissions may be negotiable and are not fixed by law.


Michele Feeley Receives “Professional Achievement Award”