SNOW – we’ve had plenty of it here at our headquarters in NJ. In fact, I get to look at the huge dirty mounds outside my office window every day. Since I work in Real Estate, I thought I’d share the effects snow has on it – for those of you in cities such as San Diego, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta; so you can at least read about the effects of snow; because more than likely, you will never experience it yourself. Many states experience snow, Michigan included, can get especially snowy in the winter. Luckily, many there have access to a roofer in Clinton twp which is very good and can ensure the roofs on these houses stay strong and stable in these weather conditions. It’s not just roofs that snow affects though. Here are a few other ways snow affects Real Estate:
- Showings – snow makes it difficult for property showings. If your client can’t get to the property, how will they know if they are interested? On a side note, this is a chance for property managers to shine – nothing states that you are a top of the line PM like a cleared out building during a storm. It’s also a chance to demonstrate your video of the property. Oh wait; because you are in commercial real estate, you didn’t create one (that’s a topic for another blog).
- Damage – I don’t own any commercial real estate buildings but I do see the damage snow causes to my house. The sidewalk is starting to get ripped up, the grass has seen better days, the roof is taking on heavy loads of snow and is getting warped and damaged, and the drain system from the roof is strained. It is therefore crucial that you have a roofing expert like this Roofer in Durham on speed dial if you live in an area where snow is a common occurrence. Snow can actually cause a variety of problems for roofs. These issues can include adding extra weight, expanding as it freezes to form ice (which can cause damage in existing cracks) and then when it melts, your roof might even be covered with a pool of water. This can often be more of an issue for older flat roofs where the snow can’t be removed easily. You may notice damage to your roofing once the snow has cleared or even start experiencing problems such as leaks within your home. Above all, identifying any issues with your roof sooner rather than later can help to avoid any larger issues further down the line. Accordingly, you might want to consider consulting with the professionals at Beemer Kangaroof for some advice about your roof.
- Construction – if you build it, they will come; if you can’t build it, you’re out of luck! Snow halts just about all construction.
- Pictures – so you just won a new listing and you are excited to take some great photos of the property; pictures do not look good when you have 2 feet of snow on the ground. Looks like you will have to wait on your snapshots.
- Signage – I don’t hang signs for a living, but I can imagine those things are virtually impossible to put into a frozen ground (that’s even if you can find the ground through the snow). Now, no one will know the property is for sale/lease.
- Removal – you can’t just leave snow on the ground, it freezes over and gets even more difficult to remove. Someone has to pay for that; or do it yourself and break your back. Either way, you don’t win.
- Keeping your interiors clean – when it snows, you have to put salt down so people don’t fall down on their bottoms. Salt leaves a nice residue on carpets, cars and business shoes. Again, this is a chance for PMs to shine!
- Meetings – the Real Estate business is all about networking, meeting with people and building relationships; you have to be a wizard at scheduling during times of snow; because the 5 meetings you lined up all have to be moved when the white powder starts to fall from the sky.
- Support – Just like any other business, in Real Estate, you are only as successful as your support. They help you build your schedule, create flyers, market you, your company and your listings. If they can’t get to work, those tasks won’t get completed or will be delayed.
- Your Own Productivity – So your support staff can’t get to work, your meetings have been cancelled, and you are stuck shoveling (or if your smart – snowblowing) your own driveway and sidewalk. Guess what’s not happening when you are fighting with old man winter – your Real Estate business. This delay means that potential clients may decide to instead sell their house to House Buyers of America or somewhere similar, especially if they are looking for a quick sale. The longer it goes on, the more you risk losing clients.
There you have it. Snow, it’s fun to ski in or go sleigh riding; but for Real Estate business; if you live in an area where it snows; you just have to deal with it. For cities like San Diego, Phoenix, Houston, Atlanta; if it ever does snow, don’t worry, your city will just shut down, so just stay inside and wait it out.
By: John Boyer, Director of Marketing, Coldwell Banker Commercial Affiliates
