Twenty Four Reason To Call A Realtor

Why Call A

Realtor??

A Realtor is more that a resource for ethical, knowledgeable, experienced service to purchase a home or investment or to sell a piece of real estate that you may own.

A Realtor is an endless source of information!  With many contacts in the city(s) that he/she works and being very familiar with attributes of these locations, a Realtor knows more than one might think!   And what he or she doesn't know, they will find out!!!

Here are a quick 24 reasons to call, message, email, text, tweet a Realtor:

  1. Need a contractor to do repairs/get estimate

  2. Seek a job in a new town

  3. Need temporary housing in a new location

  4. Need Vacation rentals for visiting family

  5. Seek Daycare options: Kids, Elders, Pets

  6.  Need House Cleaner/Carpet Cleaner

  7.  Need to Refinance: Rates, Advantages, Mortgage Officers

  8.  Need quality Pest and Termite company

  9.  Seek restaurant to entertain visiting family

10.  Questions on Property Owner Association or Condo

          Association to which you belong

11.   Landlord rights and obligations

12.   Tenants rights and obligations

13.  Need Information on School zone

14.  Need Information on Schools in area: music programs

           test scores, special education, after school options, etc

15.  Holiday Events/Parades

16.  Need to compare the cost of renting vs buying a home   

17.  Want to know key differences/benefits of living in various

           cities in given area

18.  Need present home's value

19.  Need to verify information on Zillow, Truila or another real 

          estate web site

20.  Have co-worker, neighbor or friend seeking a new home

21.  Have co-worker, neighbor or friend seeking to sell property

22.  Seek available homes for your growing or changing family

23.  Questions on what to do to prepare to sell

24.  Questions on steps to/how to go about buying a house

And this is only the beginning!!

For example, you could ask me where the nearest Dairy Queen is to you in Hampton Roads,  I could help you out.  You would be surprise what we know!!

We get around!

Seller: What's a Website Do for Me

What Can a Website

Really Do?

Talking to potential seller clients, numerous valid topics are discussed:   current competition

                   recent home sales

                   company market presences and benefits thereof

                   my experience and how I sell for more in less time

Yet one of the most interesting discussions is regarding the marketing plan.  As over 90% of home buyers begin their home search on line, web presence is essential.  Yet, the home seller frequently doesn't understand the market presence is very broad on the web.

If asked, the home seller frequently, believes home buyers search simply Zillow and Trulia or the company website. Thus a discussion of the value of presence across multiple portals ensues to help them know how a broad presence among other websites like those shown above(and many more) makes a difference.

Home buyers find varying amount of information on various websites.  Yet, in beginning or continuing a home search, the home buyer may have as little as the city to search or as detailed as the address of the house.

In either situation, multiple hits for a given home or Realtor across multiple sites provide improved information and assures the Seller of a given home a expotential improvement in exposure of their home.

As a result, any marketing plan not leveraging real estate information website will be ineffective in exposing home to every potential buyer for a given home.  Thus, perhaps failing to gain the highest price in the least amount of time that I offer and a seller expects.

Ignore the web at your own peril!!!

Buyer Preparation

Buyer Preparation

Every buyer's needs are different.   Age, family size, savings, income, school needs and a variety of similar factors that are different for every individual will make the home desired different from one person to another.

Yet, the preparation required to successfully move from a rental to a first time purchase or from one home to another is the same for every buyer.   Though the steps be the same, the time require to go from thinking of buying to closing on a new home can vary widely.

Financial factors or present housing factors are most common elements to extend the time frame to purchasing a home. Regardless, of such factors, these are the key steps for every buyer to prep for a new home:

        1. Identify characteristics of home desired.  Be specific

            on beds and baths needed, size range and areas

            of town desired. 

        2. Evaluate finaces: What is the maximum housing 

            cost that fits your budget?  What funds for

            down payment are available?  For repairs, if

            home needs repairs?

        3. Evaluate areas for home purchase by accessing 

            School websites, Crime Stats websites, City

            Websites....as you know the web can provide lots

             of good data.  Be wary though and read with a 

             critical eye.

        4.  Evaluate your personal interest and capability to  do

             home improvements as well as having the time to 

             complete any repairs to make a select house a home.

        5.  Contact a Realtor to learn about the home buying process

             in your area.  Discuss home desired and data collected

             to verify accuracy of perceptions.

        6.  Seek a Realtor that will provide immediate information on

             presently available homes and on homes yet to be listed.

             (Note: Truila, Zillow and like websites are great to begin

                 your search but a Realtor can provide the immediacy

                 of home availability that websites can not.)

        7.  Meet with a Mortgage Office and attain pre-approval letter

             for value of home you wish to purchase. 

             Note:  Essential to provide all financial data in timely 

                       Manner

             Hint:  Realtor should be able to refer you to Mortgage

                      Officer that will be helpful whether able to buy

                       now or needs to work with you over time to

                       be ready to be financially ready.

        8.  Drive by homes immediately upon receiving homes from

              your Realtor that have caught your interest.  Evaluate

              neighborhood, distance to work and other factors 

              important to you.   Always provide feedback to Realtor.

        9.    Evaluate times of day to search for homes and determine

               flexibility to alter work/personal schedule during home

               search process 

Now you are ready to begin your home search in earnest!  All is needed then is the right home at the right price in the right location

to come on the market and for you to buy!!!