Wayne and Ben Join Janet McAfee Real Estate

Categories: General Success Begins Here

Saint Louis, November, 2017

The team of Wayne Norwood and Ben Patton have joined luxury leader, Janet McAfee Real Estate.  Known as Wayne and Ben within the real estate community, the team operates their own boutique entity, “Finest Homes of St. Louissm, a registered brand focused entirely on luxury homes within the Saint Louis central corridor.  Wayne is the Senior Partner and Broker.  Ben, a licensed Realtor, creates and manages all marketing for the team.

Wayne Norwood, Broker Associate
A former corporate Sales and Marketing Executive, Wayne has proven levels of highest achievement and success. His background ranked him in the Top 1% of two prior fields, wholesale apparel, and consumer packaged goods, and has nearly $1.0 Billion in lifetime sales. A native of New York, Wayne graduated from The University of Rochester, cum laude. Prior to making St. Louis home, Wayne lived in New York City, Chicago, Dallas and Los Angeles.

Ben Patton, Realtor & Business Analyst
A native of Columbia, Missouri, Ben graduated from the University of Missouri, where he majored in Finance, with an emphasis in Real Estate. He is a strong Mizzou fan and a staunch supporter of his Alma Mater.

Ben moved to St. Louis after graduation where he obtained his Real Estate License, and started his career at Gladys Manion Real Estate, in 2009. He teamed up with Wayne, and the two became the company’s most successful Team in its 80+ year history. In 2017 Wayne and Ben joined Janet McAfee Real Estate, the St. Louis region’s premier luxury broker, to springboard ‘Finest Homes’ into the next decade with the best resources and platform to surpass client expectations.

Ben sits on the Young Professional Board of Friends of Wings, through Barnes Jewish Christian Hospital, and is a volunteer Big Brother for over 8 years. Ben’s passions include international travel, his bulldog Gus, attending sporting events, and spending time with his family. Ben resides in the Central West End.

For additional details, go to www.janetmcaee.com/waynenorwood.

How Often Do You Want to Hear from your Realtor?

Categories: General Selling Your Home Success Begins Here

When a client is dissatisfied with their Realtor, the number one complaint is often lack of communication.   Complaints include lack of feedback on showings, lack of market updates and inability to reach the agent in a timely fashion.   

The frequency of communication should be decided up front when the agent first starts working with a buyer or seller.  There’s no right answer: some clients like to hear from their agent daily; some prefer an automatic alert for all new listings; others prefer a weekly recap of activity.  The important thing is to set up the expectation and then be consistent.

Another communication strategy to establish up front is how you would like to be contacted.  For me, there is no substitute for personal contact.  But I recognize that face to face meetings every day is not realistic.  Decide up front if you prefer phone calls, emails or texts.  Some successful agents schedule a detailed email and phone conversation at a specific time every week. 

How often and which method do you prefer to communicate?

Janet Horlacher, Principal

Janet McAfee Inc.

 

 

In Like A Lion!

Categories: General Selling Your Home Success Begins Here

 

“In Like a Lion”

 

The St. Louis Spring selling market is early and robust.   Consumer optimism, a record stock market, spring-like weather and favorable interest rates have all aligned to create this early surge.  Listings which expired in 2016 have re-activated and have already received offers.   We are seeing declining days on market, favorable pricing and competitive bidding.    The tail wind going into our Spring market is vigorous. 

Here is a snapshot of 2017 versus last year:

·         Closed sales up +2.6%

·         Average sold price up +3.6%

·         Number of sales up +3.6%

·         Average days on market down -20.5%

·         Number of Active listings DOWN -10.2%

What can we expect going forward?

All indicators suggest we are poised for a strong Spring market, provided we fill the listing pipeline.  The number of active listings is on a multi-year decline not only in St. Louis, but around the country.  We need to reverse this slide in order to satisfy buyer demand and prevent buyer fatigue.  The risk when there are not enough relevant properties to satisfy demand or buyers repeatedly lose out in competitive bidding, is that buyers get discouraged and opt out completely. 

Another trend we are watching is Millennial home purchasing (or lack of home purchasing).  This generation, now approaching their 20’s through mid-30’s has surpassed their parents as the largest demographic.  Unlike their Baby Boomer parents, who purchased their first home in their 20’s, this generation is delaying home ownership.  This generation graduated from college with the highest level of student debt in history and the most difficult job market.  Today, the “30 something” Millennials are gaining financial security and entering the market.  Going forward, I believe Millennial housing preferences and purchase cycle will be the most significant drivers in residential real estate.  

Janet

Principal, Janet McAfee Inc.

“To Stage or Not to Stage? That is the Question”

Categories: General Our Stories Selling Your Home St. Louis Luxury Homes Success Begins Here Staging Your Home

Sellers often ask me if there is a benefit to staging their home.  The answer is a resounding YES!  Research from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and our “real world” local experience is indisputable: staging adds value, reduces the time on market and produces a positive ROI.   Here are the 10 Reasons to Stage Your Home for selling:

1.       You will make more money.   A 2015 NAR survey found the majority of buyers were more likely to offer higher prices for a staged home compared to a similar home.

2.       Your home will sell faster.  Professionally staged homes spent 72% less time on the market, according to a survey from the Real Estate Staging Association.

3.       Buyers can visualize themselves in the home.  81% of buyers it was easier to visualize the staged property as their future home.   

4.       Your online photos will look better.  Over 95% of home buyers look online.  This is where you make your first impression and where potential buyers decide whether to make an appointment.  Professional staged homes stand out and generate more buyer interest. 

5.       Staging helps defuse other property flaws.  2015 NAR survey revealed 28% of buyers viewing a staged home overlook other property faults.  The eye is naturally drawn to clean, well-appointed furnishings and away from minor imperfections.

6.       Personal photos and memorability distract your buyer from viewing the home.  Remember, you are trying to help a buyer see themselves living in this property, not as a guest amidst your family’s personal life story.

7.       The cost of staging is less than your first price reduction.  Some sellers will say “I’ll give it a try without staging and then if it doesn’t sell, I’ll stage it.”  This is a huge mistake.  Days on market tick on.  By the time you have determined you need to stage, your best prospects have already seen your home and formed their opinion.   You are looking at a price reduction just to attract new interest.

8.       Sellers are not objective about their own homes.  The chinoiserie fabric you selected to match the floral chintz may be your pride and joy, but the buyer may not share your design style.  A professional stager will select a neutral pallet which appeals to a broad range of prospective buyers.

9.       You will save time and reduce your anxiety.  Selling your home can be stressful and time consuming.  A professional stager will manage the process for you so that you can devote your energy into your new home.

10.   Your Realtor will support you 100%.  Real estate professionals know that staged homes attract higher offers and faster sales.  We are delighted to help facilitate the process, make appointments for you, meet painters or handyman at your home and help you arrange an estate sale.

Janet Horlacher

Principal

Janet McAfee Inc.

(Property in photograph is 9044 Clayton Road, professionally staged by Property Enhancements LLC)

Perseverance and Passion

Categories: General Our Stories Selling Your Home St. Louis Luxury Homes Success Begins Here Top Agent Profiles

 

Have you ever heard a graduation speaker declare "follow your passion and you will be successful?"  What if you don't know your passion?  What if you are just starting out, trying to figure out your career path and you don't know your "passion?"  I think some things in life are not always "love at first sight."  And, I think selling real estate is not necessarily "love at first sight."  

If you speak with successful Realtors, many will tell you that it took time and perseverance to excel.  Moreover, they did not become passionate about selling real estate until they had stuck with it, worked really hard and begun to see the fruits of their labor.  The passion came after the hard work.  I believe the real estate profession is about perseverance.  Successful Realtors are committed every day; they keep abreast of market activity; they touch base with their clients regularly and they are passionate about helping their clients. These are the Realtors who succeed and love their job.  They become passionate about their job when they see the benefits of their hard work and the lives they have touched.

I believe real estate is one of the most rewarding careers you can choose.  It requires a great deal of perseverance.  Perseverance is the key ingredient to success and self fulfillment.

- Janet

Principal, Janet McAfee Real Estate

The Largest Independent Luxury Firm in St. Louis

Categories: General Success Begins Here

On Friday, May 20, 2016, the St. Louis Business Journal published their annual listing of top brokerages in the St. Louis area.  We are pleased to report we were ranked 10th among all firms and remain the largest independent luxury real estate firm in the market with one of the highest average prices.  A copy of the St. Louis Business Journal list is provided.

Janet McAfee Real Estate: A Ladue News Feature

Categories: General Success Begins Here

In an April 22, 2016 cover story, the Ladue News talked to Janet Horlacher, Principal of Janet McAfee Real Estate, on the fundamental reasons behind her firm's record setting 2015 and why the firm remains a recognized local leader.

Rooted In Family

By Robyn Dexter
Photos by Sarah Conard

St. Louisans pride themselves on being born and raised here, and that couldn’t be truer for a company like Janet McAfee Real Estate. Principal Janet Horlacher has been with the company since 1995, and her mother was the founder of the luxury real estate brand.
 
“What defines us is that we’re a local St. Louis company, and we’re independent, "Horlacher says. “Our clients are multi-generational. The relationships we build aren’t just a fast house sale.”

At Janet McAfee, showcasing St. Louis and what the staff loves about the city is very important. Their website is rich in local content, including videos about various St. Louis communities.  “If you’re from out of town and find out you’ve been transferred to St. Louis, before you find a house, you’re going to need to decide where you want to live,” Horlacher says. “A picture doesn’t tell a whole story.”

Though the company is independent and local, Janet McAfee is affiliated with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. Because of that, the company is able to have a global reach.  “We are so grateful for that,” Horlacher says. “We were invited to be a member of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World, which takes the largest independent companies in each market. That has been a tremendous asset for us because it gives us global connections and has grown our relocation business exponentially.”

Horlacher notes that since the company is so St. Louis-oriented, it’s important for Janet McAfee’s agents to give back to the community they live in, work in and love. “The definition of ‘Realtor’ is synonymous with service to the community,” she says. “We do a company United Way campaign, and all of our agents have different charities they work on.”

Because Janet McAfee is local and independent, the office has a real team environment, Horlacher says.  “It’s corny, but we are like an extended family, and some of us actually are family,” she says. “Our jobs can be very difficult. It’s very important to have a good environment where you have a support network and the camaraderie.”

Last year was Janet McAfee’s best ever, but Horlacher notes that “you can’t rest on yesterday.”  “We’re charging ahead in 2016,” she say

Pictured left are members of the Janet McAfee Real estate Marketing team:
Christine Marino,Laura  Goltermann, Janet Horlacher, and Charles (Chuck) Roper.

Mac Scott, Linda Robben, and Julie Novak Join Janet McAfee Real Estate

Categories: General Success Begins Here

ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI (November 4, 2015) – Mac Scott, Linda Robben, and Julie Novak have joined Janet McAfee Real Estate as Sales Associates.

Mac Scott
Clayton resident Mac Scott is excited to make the transition from local government to a career with Janet McAfee Real Estate.  A longtime resident of St. Louis County, Mac will apply his extensive knowledge of the region to his new career in real estate.  His impressive professional resume includes 21 years as Director of Communications for St. Louis County.

For more information, visit his website at www.janetmcafee.com/macscott.

Linda Robben
Wildwood resident Linda Robben brings her growing real estate practice to Janet McAfee Real Estate.  We have confidence she will leverage our collective resources to offer the finest professional representation to her distinguished clients.   Linda has demonstrated great insight and empathy to her client’s needs.  Whether buyer or seller, she understands the emotional roller coaster clients experience in looking for a new home or selling their existing home.  She was formerly affiliated with Gladys Manion Real Estate.

For more information, visit her website at www.janetmcafee.com/lindarobben.

Julie Novak
Licensed since 2011, Chesterfield resident Julie Novak is an accomplished real estate agent who brings her impressive skills to luxury leader Janet McAfee Real Estate.  Julie’s passion for real estate is based on an inherent understanding of what motivates her clients.  Her residential sales experience includes single family homes and condominiums.  She works with both buyers and sellers.  Julie was formerly affiliated with Keller-Williams Real Estate.

For more information, visit her website at www.janetmcafee.com/julienovak.