Why Use the Services of a Real Estate Agent?

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This question is often asked, especially by homeowners who consider selling their homes by themselves.

The fundamental first answer to this question is that an experienced realtor is an expert at what he or she does. Through hard work and education, they’ve acquired a set of skills that make the process of home buying and selling a lot easier than it would be by doing it yourself.

So, what are the skills in the set I’m talking about?

Well, for one thing, we have the skill of being the go-between. We’re the people who handle people and calls and separate the “wheat” (real buyers) from the “chaff” (non-buyers) without you ever having to deal with such situations. In Internet terms, we make sure you’re not “spammed” with worthless offers and target real deals for you.We’re also the ones who save you a lot of time by making sure you’re looking at appropriate properties and neighborhoods right from the get-go.

And, speaking of neighborhoods, an experienced realtor will know them inside-out or will know how to find the latest information on them. That means he or she can get you into neighborhoods where the crime rate is low or non-existent, find you ones with great school systems, rising property values, etc.

By the same token, an experienced agent will steer you away from neighborhoods where the trends are downward; that is, rising crime, falling property values, and so forth.

And what about the prices of homes? Well, some people believe that we select them for our clients. Not true! We have no way of setting prices. They’re set by the market! However, we can guide you toward properties that fit your individual needs and are comfortably within your price range. Frankly, it’s not in our best interests to put you into a home beyond your means or that’s not right for you. When that happens, we lose clients and money!

So, we’ll do our best to work within your price range and, based on current information (market supply, demand, etc.), we’ll come up with the best negotiation strategy possible. Current information can include cost-per-square-foot of homes, ratios of list-to-sold prices, knowledge of the buyer/seller, etc. All this information is gathered by the agent and used to formulate solid offers.

Another important skill experienced Realtors possess is objectivity. We have the ability to stay out of the emotional process that often occurs with the buying and selling of a home. Instead, we present your case in the best light possible, all the while holding your information confidential from any competing interests.

One realtor skill that’s often not apparent is our ability to network with other service providers (housing inspectors, title companies, etc.) Professionally, we can’t recommend one specific vendor over another. However, we do keep lists of vendors with excellent reputations as well provide references for the vendors. This service allows you to choose the best provides for your particular situation.

Now, here’s one realtor skill that everyone truly appreciates – the ability to handle tons of paperwork! Today, purchase agreements can run 10+ pages, and that doesn’t even include all the state and federal disclosure statements that are required in the current market! Heck, a real estate file can end up being 2-3 inches thick with paperwork these days!

And it’s not only the heavy paperwork handled by realtors; it’s also the attention to detail within that paperwork. It’s their job (or a lawyer’s, depending on the state) to make sure all the information is correct because if it isn’t, it can end up costing the client hundreds of dollars. 

So, as you can see, there are many reasons why it’s wise to use an experienced Realtor for the purchase or sale of a home! To find out about the services I haven’t mentioned in this article, contact me today.

Four Big Reasons To Sell Your Home During the Winter

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One of the most common things a real estate agent hears from home sellers during the winter is that they want to wait until spring when the buyer's market begins.  Unfortunately, this is a terrible way of thinking and may cost you thousands of dollars on the sale of your home.

There are four main reasons why it's a great idea to sell during the winter months.  In fact, I'm selling my own home right now because of these four important points.

No Tire Kickers in the Cold

First of all, you have to understand that the buyers who are looking during the cold, winter months are much more serious than buyers that are out during springtime.  Believe me when I say that there are no “tire kickers” wandering around in 20° temperatures.  Buyers who are out looking at properties during the winter months are very serious.  They are not looking at dozens of different houses like spring buyers do.  Instead, they are zeroing in on properties that fit their needs, and they are making offers quickly.

Less Competition = More Money

Secondly, there's a lot less competition during the winter months.  This is mainly because home sellers are under the mistaken assumption that it's better to sell their house in the spring.  Less competition means more money for you as a home seller.  Because there are less houses to choose from, buyers are much more serious when making their offers.

Interest Rates are Great

Third, interest rates are fantastic right now.  In fact, they are still well less than 4%.  That means that buyers are getting more house for the money.

A Perk For Springtime Buying

Finally, selling your house in the winter will allow you to turn around and purchase a home in the spring.  Why is this important?  You will get to sell your current house at a higher price and buy another home at a lower price in the spring.  Because there will be more houses available, as well as more buyers, home sellers are much more negotiable on their price during the spring months.  This will also allow you to be a non-contingent buyer so you won't have to wait on the sale of your home and potentially miss out on the perfect property in the spring.

As always, we are here to help you with any real estate need that you have.  Give us a call today to discuss your next real estate transaction.