Why A Buyer Chooses A Home

I would like to visit with the listeners about why a buyer makes the decision to purchase their next home, the things they desire and missteps by sellers. I think this can be helpful information for both buyers and sellers. If you’re like most people, you probably think that practical issues such as the number of bedrooms or kitchen amenities control the home buying process, correct?

That would make sense, yes!

Nevertheless, this is not the case.  Financial and emotional considerations have taken the lead when buyers view homes. Over 60% of homebuyers say the “feel” of a home is important and 78% place more emphasis on quality rather than square footage. We are seeing that buyers will no longer tolerate purchases of “as-is” properties. In our marketplace, we have recently seen multiple offers  for nice properties simply because buyers don’t want to deal with a lot of “projects.” Remember, we are still in a price war and a beauty contest! Buyers want the best deal on the best house! This doesn’t mean that sellers need to spend a lot to sell their home; there are some tricks to get that necessary first impression on good standing.

What are a few things sellers can do to help showcase their home and make a good first impression?

Every home is unique and with 26 years of experience, I can easily point out the key elements to draw buyers’ attention to the best features of your home. Overall, however, sellers should keep up on curb appeal, even in the winter time. Your yards and driveway free are the first impression they will see upon arrival. De-cluttering your home so that buyers can picture their own belongings in the floorplan as well as keeping dirty laundry and dishes away is definite bonus! If you have time, boiling some cinnamon before a showing is a welcoming scent, and fresh cookies are always appreciated! And last but not least, sellers staying for the showing is a no-no; buyers want to tour the homes with freedom of discussing their options. 

Do-It-Yourself Homebuying

11700 Beringer in Sauvignon

Can you tell us why it's not a good idea to buy a home without using a Realtor?

Absolutely! Buying without using a Realtor can definitely be a risky choice. A buyer might think that they're making a smart financial decision in trying to cut expenses by not enlisting the aid of an expert in the real estate industry, but in reality, they could be making exactly the opposite.

Why should buyers elicit the help of a Realtor?

It's simple. Realtors, like myself, are experts in their profession! Buyers who try to represent themselves in a real estate transaction may have knowledge based on previous experience with buying or selling, or reading some real estate know-how books; Realtors, however, live and breathe real estate. And while books are great (I, myself, read up constantly), they don't represent all of the complex rigors and rules of our current housing market. It's our job to know all of the ins and outs of every real estate transaction, as well as to make all aspects of the sale as smooth and swift as possible.

Can you give us some examples of times when a Realtor is a necessity in a real estate transaction?

Though I believe a Realtor is necessary through every step, let me provide those examples. First of all, the biggest thing we are needed for is to help clients weave their way through the many dilemmas that plague current market-loan qualifications, appraisals, and renegotiations. Second, buyers and sellers hire agents that know the process and understand market value so that they don't pay too much or sell too low. When it's your life or your money, you need to hire the absolute best professional with the most experience available. The skills required to succeed at a high level are no different from the skills that you would expect a great doctor to have when caring for you. you would never knowingly go to a doctor for surgery who you knew only did three operation a year. As a buyer or seller, would you consider selecting a real estate agent that is not as skillful as the best doctor?

Seller Resources

Last week we talked about buyer resources, can you explain your seller resources this week?  

Over the past 27 years, my in-house professional team and I have designed a stream-lined, successful marketing plan, implementing many systems and resources to exceed our clients' expectations.  There are many benefits and resources you can avail yourself of when you hire us, such as an aggressive and effective marketing plan, team concept and availability, and technological magic. I have a wonderful team that brings diverse talents together to ensure our customer satisfaction and streamline each transaction to help ensure smooth closings.

What do you mean by team concept and availability?  

When meeting with potential clients, one of the top items people express that they desire from their Realtor is communication. This is such a key element in any relationship. We work with each homeowner individually to ensure that there is consistent communication and that all aspects of the sale are properly coordinated  to make the sale of your home as smooth and enjoyable as possible. Not only do we notify our clients the moment someone has shown their home, we also obtain feedback from that showing. We update our clients via email three times a week, in addition to a personal phone call. Our goal is to help sell your home for the maximum price, in a reasonable time frame, with the least inconvenience to you as the homeowner.

What can you tell us about the marketing plan?

We market our listings to over 100 of the top real estate websites, focusing on resources for potential buyers' rapid access to information, as well as other online and offline marketing. my team and I are also Relocation Certified and work with a variety of business, both national and local, offering a consistent stream of buyers and sellers. Technology in our business is a great benefit. However, what really sets my team and I apart is that we consistently look for buyers for our sellers and sellers for our buyers, the old-fashioned way: we get on the phone and prospect for business! There are many facets to our proven successful marketing plan, and I am happy to share them in greater detail with an interested buyer or seller!