FAQs
- What should the customer know about your pricing (e.g., discounts, fees)?
The great thing about buying a home is that the cost of a Real Estate Agent's service is not passed along to you. While everything is negotiable, in our market the seller almost always pays the buyer's agent fees. I do not ask my clients for any upfront fees or deposits and do not hold them hostage with contracts. If a buyer is not happy with the services I provide, I not only encourage them to look elsewhere for representation, I will recommend them another agent.
- What is your typical process for working with a new customer?
When working with a new buyer, I like to meet with them (or speak over the phone/email) to get an idea of what they value in their home/area. From there, I like to find properties for sale and share those listings with the buyer. If necessary, I use this opportunity to hone my search and find about a half dozen homes that meet the buyer's criteria. If they are financing and have not yet found a lender, I encourage them to use that time to get pre-qualifed; so that when they do find a home, they can act quickly in making an offer. If they do not have a preferred lender, I use my network of contacts to help them shop for the best service to meet their needs. At this point, the real fun begins! Together, the buyer(s) and I get together to look at the homes we previewed online. I recommend my buyers look at no more than 6 to 8 homes at one time, depending on their proximity to each other, to allow buyer's to carefully consider each house and its merits. If we do not find the perfect home after that first round of showings, we rinse and repeat until the buyer(s) are ready to make an offer.
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
In addition to completing the training necessary to obtain my Real Estate Agent's license, I am a graduate of James Madison University with a B.S. in Media Arts and Design and an M.S.Ed in Adult Education. My company, 1st Class Real Estate, is great at providing the training and support to keep all of our agents prepared for any and all circumstances that may arise during a sale or purchase.