Realtor

Q. Describe the most common types of jobs you do for your clients.

A. Helping people find a new home or condo and also helping people sell their homes.

Q. What advice do you have for a customer looking to hire a provider like you?

A. Make sure you hire someone who knows the area well. If you are looking at a home that has already had renovations or needs renovations, make sure you hire a realtor who can advise you on these renovations before you enter into a contract.

Q. If you were a customer, what do you wish you knew about your trade? Any inside secrets to share?

A. Most realtors do not have construction or renovation experience. If you are buying a home that needs renovations or has had renovations, you need someone who can advise you on this before you enter into a contract.

Q. What important information should buyers have thought through before seeking you out?

A. They really only need to know that they are interested in buying or selling a home somewhere in the area. I can help them with everything else.

Q. Why does your work stand out from others who do what you do?

A. Because I have building and renovating experience, I am able to offer much more advice than your typical realtor. Not only can I find a house or condo for you, but I can also tell you if the house has expansion potential, how easy it would be to renovate and what size additions to the home the current zoning laws would allow. I can also advise you to the quality of the construction or renovations that were already completed on the home.

Q. What do you like most about your job?

A. I love helping people find the home of their dreams and making sure that they are buying a quality home.

Q. What questions do customers most commonly ask you? What's your answer?

A. Can I build an addition to this house and what will it cost? Can I remove this wall and open up these rooms? Is this a quality renovation or did the contractor cut corners? Is this new home built well and does the builder have a good reputation?

The answers vary, of course, depending on the home.

Q. Do you have a favorite story from your work?

A. My best stories are about houses that I did not buy for my clients. I saw that these homes had very poor quality renovations or serious water problems and I talked them out of buying homes that may have been a real nightmare situation down the road.

Q. What do you wish customers knew about you or your profession?

A. How important it is to know something about construction and renovation before buying a home that needs or has had renovations. If the house you are considering is well priced, you won't have time to find contractors and get estimates - someone else will put it under contract first. You need a realtor who can advise you.

Q. How did you decide to get in your line of work?

A. I have been building and renovating homes for over 16 years. I received my real estate license 5 years ago to help me when buying and selling my own properties, but also to allow me to help all of my friends who had been seeking my advice on homes they were considering purchasing. In addition, I was tired of hiring realtors that knew much less about the process than I did.

Q. Tell us about a recent job you did that you are particularly proud of.

A. I had a family that wanted to buy a house that met some very strict and narrow criteria. I found them a well built house that was exactly what they were looking for, but it needed a few renovations before they could move in. I inspected the house and gave them approximate costs for the renovations they needed. We put the house under contract, I recommended quality contractors to them, we settled on the home, had the renovations completed 4 days after settlement and they moved right in.

Q. Do you do any sort of continuing education to stay up on the latest developments in your field?

A. In addition to the 16 hours of continuing education that I receive to keep my real estate license current, I also receive a great deal of continuing education on the latest construction and renovation techniques and materials.

Q. What are the latest developments in your field? Are there any exciting things coming in the next few years or decade that will change your line of business?

A. The latest developments are all of the "Green" building techniques that are very popular and also save a lot of energy.

Q. Describe your most recent project, what it involved, how much it cost, and how long it took.

A. I helped a family buy the house they wanted and we had it renovated immediately after closing. It only took 4 days to paint a few rooms, update the kitchen and have all the hardwood floors refinished. They were abe to move in 4 days after settlement to a completely finished house without having to hassle with the dust, mess and moving all the furniture around. Everything was completed prior to move-in date and it was like they were moving into a brand new home.

Q. If you have a complicated pricing system for your service, please give all the details here.

A. When selling a home, most realtors will list your home for 6% (3% to the listing agent and 3% to the buyer agent). I will list your house for 5% (2% for the listing agent-myself- and still offer the full 3% to the buyer agent). If I sell your house without a buyer agent present, I will only keep 4% instead of 6%. With an average home price in this area of about $600,000, that will save you anywhere from $6,000 - $12,000. If you also have me help you find a new house, I can save you even more.

Q. If you were advising someone who wanted to get into your profession, what would you suggest?

A. Learn as much as you can about a particular area and concentrate in that one area so you can be a specialist.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Can't I just sell my house as a "For Sale By Owner?"

Yes, you can try, but it is very difficult. Real estate agents will not show a "For Sale By Owner" home to their clients because they do not get paid for it. In addition, the house does not show up in the MLS. The MLS or Multiple Listing Service is the computer listing that all realtors and most individuals use when looking for a home.

Q. Write your own question and answer it.

A. Why do I need a realtor if I am buying a new home? Can't I get a better price if I don't have a realtor?

Generally speaking, you will pay the same price for a home whether you use a realtor or you go it alone. The listing agent will just keep all of the commission if you do not have your own buyer agent. The seller pays the sales commission, not the buyer. In addition, you need a realtor to represent you and make sure the contract is written correctly, that you have a home inspection contingency, a financing contingency, an appraisal contingency, radon and mold tests, etc. Without the proper representation, you could end up stuck in a contract for a house that has a lot of problems, or lose your deposit if your bank does not approve the financing based on a low appraisal.