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| Professional Home Staging in Virginia and Maryland |
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Choosing a Realtor
by
Elaine Carmack, Realtor
Buying or selling a home is a bit like completing a college education. There are many rewards along the way, but also many challenges. The key to a successful university education is the kind and types of professors the student may have. Some are distant and detached, while others are warm and welcoming.
So, too, it is with real estate. Because a successful real estate transaction is all about RELATIONSHIPS, the primary question on a consumer’s mind should be
‘Is this a person with whom I feel a natural affinity?’
Because a real estate transaction is an intensely personal thing, not every agent will be a match for every client. If a consumer does not ‘connect’ with his/her realtor on this level, it’s a sure bet that the road to a purchase or sale will be rocky. Thinking back to a time when I did not yet possess my realtor credentials, the agent that stands out in my mind was the one I used after moving from Phoenix, AZ to Huntsville, AL. I was fortunate to be able to develop a strong and immediate bond.
The questions I asked—although undoubtedly ones she had answered thousands of times—were brand new to me, and I needed answers presented in a format that was readily understandable. My realtor did just exactly this and patiently provided the information in a calm, caring, and compassionate way.
For the clients I meet and greet each week at my Open Houses, it all comes down to their assessment of my ‘fit’ with their personalities and lifestyles. For instance, a client who is highly verbal is not likely to do well with a realtor who responds in monosyllables. Similarly, a client who is more reserved, will probably not appreciate incessant chatter.
The second question of equally great importance should be:
“Do I feel comfortable with his/her level of professional competence?”
The reason this is so crucial is that as a consumer, you will be forced to rely not only on your realtor’s knowledge--of the home, the community and the marketplace—but also on his/her ability to deliver the kind of services you expect. Ideally, he/she will have a personal knowledge of the area you are targeting, having hopefully lived in the region for a number of years.
If this is the case, he/she will be able to tell you about the schools, the churches, the shopping centers and the recreational amenities, to say nothing of the various neighborhood characteristics.
Thirdly, a consumer will want to know:
“How can I get the best price for my house or find the right home at the lowest cost?”
First of all, what every seller should know is that a prospective buyer views a home by imagining his family living in it. This requires a neutral environment, i.e. one without the seller’s personal photographs or trophies or mementos of that European vacation. Such items serve only to distract a purchaser from focusing on how the home would fit his lifestyle and needs. If there is one recommendation that realtors often make, it is to consider removing as many family items as possible so that buyers have a chance to ‘live’ your home in their minds without your possessions taking up space. One very popular trend these days is to rent a POD in which you can place excess furniture, appliances and other personal effects for subsequent storage in a warehouse, or transportation to your new home.
Remember that “CLEAN MAKES GREEN!” Your goal, therefore, is to get as close as you can to a model home. And, in so doing, you’ll make the job of your home-stager that much easier. On the other hand, finding the right home for the least amount of money, is simply a question of patience and diligence. There are a number of internet sites a consumer can use to locate the type of home he or she is seeking. And, before even calling your realtor, it’s a good idea to do a ‘drive-by’ to view the neighborhood. This will allow you to evaluate its character and decide whether it is pleasing to you. Once you have pinpointed a home and area in which you’d like to live, your realtor can accompany you to see the inside.
Remember, too, that it is STILL a buyer’s market. Don’t hesitate to offer less than the list price. Especially if a home has been on the market for a long time, a seller may happily accept less then full price contract. Realtors often tell people, “NO OFFER IS A BAD OFFER.” One just never knows what pressures and time constraints a seller is facing.As a final thought, buying or selling a home can be a frustrating and over-whelming experience. But the right agent can make the process fulfilling, stress-free and even F-U-N!!
Here’s wishing you the best of luck in your real estate transactions!
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