Mike Browning

Tag: Selling Land Advice

  • Who Do You Know That Owns Land?

    Who Do You Know That Owns Land?

    You probably know someone. You just don’t think about it.

    Most people don’t see themselves as someone who knows landowners. But if you stop and run through it for a minute, a few names usually come to mind.

    Someone who bought a lot years ago and never built. Someone who inherited property. A colleague who picked something up as an investment. A neighbor with acreage outside the city.

    It doesn’t come up often, so it’s easy to forget. But it’s more common than people think.

    And when it does come up, it usually sounds the same.

    They’ve had it for a while. They’re not sure what it’s worth today. And they don’t really know what they should do with it.

    That’s where most of my conversations start.

    Not with a big decision. Just a simple question.

    “Do you think it makes sense to sell this?”

    Sometimes the answer is yes. Sometimes it’s no. A lot of the time it’s just a matter of laying out what the options actually are.

    Most people aren’t looking for a sales pitch. They’re trying to get their bearings.

    If you happen to know someone in that spot, don’t forget that you already know someone who can point them in the right direction without taking advantage of the situation.

    I’ll take a look at it and give them a straightforward opinion on what it’s worth and what their options look like. No pressure, no obligation, just a conversation.

    That’s how most of the people I end up working with find me anyway.

    PS- Most landowners aren’t planning to sell today.

    But when the question does come up, it helps to have someone they can talk to without feeling pushed into a decision.

    If someone came to mind while you were reading this, feel free to send it to them.

    And if you want to get a sense of where things stand on your own property, you can do that here:

    Get the MBR Land Reality Check

    It’s free, and never any pressure to list.

    PPS- If you’re not ready for a Reality Check but like reading these, you can sign up here.

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  • I Will Show You the Way, But Won’t Make You Go

    I Will Show You the Way, But Won’t Make You Go

    Everyone claims to be no-pressure. Most aren’t.

    You’ve probably noticed I offer the MBR Land Reality Check most days. Pretty much every day except Sunday. Every now and then I skip it, but not often.

    What you don’t see is me pushing people to list. Or even really asking.

    I’ll give you a clear-eyed look at the facts and a straightforward opinion of what I’d do if I were you. A surprising amount of the time, that answer is to wait.

    Most people don’t believe it’s truly no pressure. They’ve heard that before and found out later it wasn’t true.

    But a no-pressure process is what I offer, and what I deliver.

    There are a few reasons for it. Part of it is selfish. It keeps me sane. But it also works better for the people I deal with, even if it doesn’t look like it at first.

    If you’ve ever been on a car lot or sat through a timeshare presentation, you know the feeling. It doesn’t take long before you realize you’re being pulled along. You can technically leave, but now it’s awkward. People are watching. You’re going against what they’re trying to make happen.

    There’s a reason those places operate that way. They know if you leave, you’re probably not coming back. No second chances. So they try to get everything done right there, whether you’re comfortable with it or not.

    I don’t do that.

    I’m not interested in taking control from you. You’re in charge the whole time. I’ll give you the information, walk through the numbers, answer whatever questions you have, and if I think something makes sense, I’ll tell you.

    Once.

    After that, it’s your call. If you don’t want to do it, then we’re not doing it. I’m not trying to talk people into things they don’t want to do.

    What I’ve found is that when someone decides on their own that something makes sense, the whole process is different. They’re not second guessing every step. They don’t get pulled off course by every outside opinion. When something tough comes up, they can deal with it without feeling like they were pushed into the situation.

    Same deal. Different mindset.

    And it shows up in how things actually close.

    Does that mean I’ll list anything at any number you want, whether it’s realistic or not?

    No.

    I have autonomy too. And I have limited time like everyone else. There’s no charge to you on the front end, but it’s not free for me when I list something. By the time a property hits the market, I’m usually $2,000 or more into it between signage, flyers, photos, and drone work.

    So while I’m aggressive, I only take on properties that can realistically sell. And with owners who understand that.

    PS- Most landowners are not planning to sell today.

    But things can change quickly. When the time comes, the people who already understand the market tend to make better decisions.

    That’s what the MBR Land Reality Check is for. It looks at nearby sales, current listings, development pressure, and the details affecting value that aren’t obvious from the road.

    Is it a bad idea to know where things stand?

    Get yours here.

    PPS- If you’re not ready for a Reality Check but like thinking through land, markets, and negotiation this way, you can sign up below and get these in your inbox.

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