Ray Carman – Auctioneer

Have you ever noticed the difference in these two categories? I know it may seem strange, but there is a HUGE difference in an AUCTIONEER and just an auctioneer! And knowing the difference can be vital to the success of your sale.

I have been raised around this business literally all my life. I have mostly been attuned to my Grand Father and Father as AUCTIONEERS. So I became used to how they handled sales. As I grew older and found an occasional Saturday to visit another auction sale hosted by another firm, I started noticing why people always said “If your Grand Dad or Dad weren’t an AUCTIONEER, they should be preachers!” (which my father is!) For the longest that made little sense, until I started this visiting of other firms.

You see, a Great Auctioneer has a charisma about them and just a “way” of convincing you of your “need” to have what they are offering. Anyone can learn to rattle off numbers and phrases to perform the “auctioneer’s chant”, but only a real AUCTIONEER has the ability to lead a buyer where he wants them to go! It is a skill! An art form! And it requires character!

Too often I have seen someone hire and auctioneer simply because they were a percent cheaper on the commission, but the auctioneer did not have the ability to do much more than “chant” and call out numbers. They weren’t real salesmen! They were simply role players! What you need is a “Lead Character” who could have brought down the house. Instead, they saved their 1 percent in commission and lost 20% in the potential sales value of the property because they chose an “auctioneer” instead of an “AUCTIONEER!

So, they question you must ask yourself is this, “Who am I hiring? An AUCTIONEER or an auctioneer?” And now that the options are out there for 0% commissions with just about any Auction Firm, why would you settle for anything less than an AUCTIONEER?

All the great news about Real Estate in the news lately. February showed nationally that new home sales were up 4.7% from January! They tempered it well by saying January was a 40% drop off from January 2008, but improvement is Movement!

And that is what the market has shown over the course of the last 60 days, Movement! People have been scurrying about trying to take advantage of great low interest rates and the $8,000 tax credit for first time home buyers (those who have not owned a home in 3 years!)

This has come at a great time for our local market. The question is, are YOU taking advantage?

1. As Agents: are you marketing to your best advantage these great times for people to buy? Have you let everyone know that you are prepared to help them find a great home at a great price (this still is a buyers market) and have you let sellers know you have what it takes to get their house moved!

2. As Sellers: are you taking advantage of this surge in buyers by being aggressive in your pricing on your home in order to bring the buyers to your doors? In a market that has too many foreclosures to mention, it is imperative you make your house as attractive to buyers as possible, and bottom line, that means $$$’s!

3. As Buyers: with interest rates available in the mid 4-5%, a tax credit of $8,000, and houses at their lowest prices in years, what could you possibly be waiting for? Now is the perfect time to flex your buying power and find a home at a great price while taking advantage of all the market has to offer!

If you haven’t noticed these amazing opportunities and taken advantage, NOW IS THE TIME!

If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at RayCarman@gmail.com!

Until next time,
Ray Carman

Today I had a great phone conversation with someone regarding Auctions. They were in the situation of overseeing an Estate of a loved one and had a few questions regarding the process. The estate was in another state, and they were a little unsure as to what to expect in the process, expenses, and responsibilities of an auctioneer.

To say the least, the auction process, for someone who has never gone through it, can seem quite daunting. You are never really sure what to expect and whether or not that fast talker is slick talking you! Auctioneers can at times have a reputation for working “slight of hand,” so, at times we have to earn our clients trust. If you are having to deal with an Auctioneer, here are a quick few tips for questions to ask:

1. What do you charge and are there any “hidden fees?”

2. Can you give me a detailed list of any and all expected expenses? Advertising, crew, clean up, auction prep, etc?

3. Do you have any references I can touch base with?

4. What all comes with your service?

5. How are you planning on advertising my sale and getting the most “bang for my buck?”

6. What all am I expected to do prior to, during, and after the auction sale? What should I expect of you and your firm before, during, and after the sale?

From these basic starters, you should have a decent feel for what your Auctioneer has to offer. If you are needing an Auctioneer or Auction Firm in Tennessee or Southern Kentucky, we would be honored to answer the above questions and any others you have here at Gene Carman Auctioneers. If you want to reach me directly, you can do so at 615-428-4920 or RayCarman@gmail.com.

Ray Carman

I received an email recently from a friend who wanted to know if there were some good deals on just land for investment purposes around Sumner County. As a Realtor, it is easy to find a piece of investment land for a buyer, but, the question in this present market is, “When to invest?”

I am not a person who knows much about the Wall Street Market, but simply listening in anyone can learn the key rule. Know when to buy and know when to sell. It is eerily similar to that old song by Kenny Rogers , “The Gambler.”  You got to know when to hold them, and know when to fold them.

The key right now is to know your investment strategy and plan. Know exactly what your intentions are. Knowing this will be the key element in knowing when to strike gold in your Real Estate investment strategy.

NOW is definitely a time to buy. With foreclosures and over building, prices on homes are reducing, and will continue to do so for awhile. Land has been slower to follow suit, however, in weeks to come, there will be good opportunities to buy on the down side of pricing in the market. BUT, you need to keep a very sharp eye on the situation. Have someone you trust guide you into the perfect timing for your particular situation. Because, as in any investment, it will be extremely important to “make hay while there is hay to be made!”

If you are looking to move money into the security of Real Estate Investing, align yourself with a professional who can help you make your move at the right time.

Ray Carman

of every situation, even when it looks bad!

This past week I had the privilege of sitting down with one of the greatest real estate minds in Sumner County. This individual has rightly predicted many of the current events, even mentioning the possibilities of downturns up to two years ago. While sitting with him last week, I heard some more news that one might consider a negative on the market. Unfortunately it was not speculation, this news was of things that WILL happen. And when they do, the consequences could be highly negative on the local real estate market.

So, what do you do with this kind of news? Especially when you have to balance it with the news of what the market has been doing recently! We have seen tremendous upswings in showings, contracts, and closings! More houses are seeing activity! Agents phones are ringing with new clients! It’s spring again, and it sure feels like it, in the weather and in the business. So, how do these two bits of information combine and what do we do with them?

Simple! Stay focused on the positive and prepare for the possibilities!

While things are going good, do all you can to make the most of the season, and hope it continues without another bump in the road! And, while things are going good, be like the wise old farmer and put some veggies (savings) in the old jar in case we do face a rainy day!

As they would say, that’s just being smart!

Today, the Wall Street markets stumbled again, landing down at around 6700 points on the Dow Jones. It has left people asking the question, “Where do I put my money?” The news of downward spirals in the market have some panic running wild. Others who are not in panic are buying!

I have watched the experts like Kramer give us advice as to where we can put our money in hopes for a better tomorrow. We have “experts” willing to tell us which stock we can place our bets on for a quick return. Others are bets on long term turnarounds.

Well, I am not going to put myself up their with these top advisers, however, I would like to point out a few things regarding investments. When considering where to put your money, what are some of the top things you consider when buying an investment?

1. What is the long term track record?

2. Is the commodity fairly common and easy to get, or is it rare and hard to find? Are they making more of it and how s that going to affect its value?

3. How long before I see my return?

Want to take a guess at a commodity I think has GREAT potential? You got it, Real Estate! Lets run through the list and see where Real Estate stand up under the scrutiny?

1. Real estate has been consistent in its rise in value through the sands of time. My Grandfather, Gene Carman, tells a story that I think speaks for itself. In 2004, he sold a farm in Sumner County at auction. The farm had been purchased by the family back in the 50’s for $8,500. It was a gorgeous farm on the lake. At that time, it was divided and sold for $1.5 million. A year and a half later, a portion of this farm was resold for over 2 million at auction.  As he likes to say, when you invest properly in Real Estate, it is like you are standing in piles of cash.

2. Real Estate is a commodity of which they are making no more. They can’t split it. They can’t reproduce it. And if you make a well informed purchase, your investment is sure to pay dividends.

3. Now here is the kicker. Over the past few years, people have fallen prey to the belief they can make HUGE returns in a short period on Real Estate. Therefore, they have come to expect too big of a return too fast. I have consistently watched people make really good money through investing in real estate. But, these investors also understood the need for patience . And consistently, through using good investment strategies and patience, these people were able to make a great return each year.

Now, I have full confidence you can find some great deals in the market, and with proper guidance, you can make great returns. If you do enter the waters, I would highly advise you seek proper, and expert counsel.  But I am not an expert in that arena. What I do know, is NOW is a great time to consider how you can put your money into Real Estate. With proper guidance, you can start making some great yearly returns in the worlds oldest investment commodity!

Ray Carman