FAQs
- What education and/or training do you have that relates to your work?
I am constantly learning and searching new and better ways of doing business. Technology changes so fast that if you don't stay on top of what is going on you're out of the loop before you can turn around. Real estate today is virtually bought and sold via the web. I have listed and sold property and have never met the seller in person. The contracts were emailed signed and ratified. The closing paperwork overnighted via FedX and the deal is done. Knowing where and how to reach buyers is the key to success. Social media and networking is not a hobby it's a online business. Continuing education is mandatory as a member of National Association of Realtors but it is also a choice for those who want to excel.
- What types of customers have you worked with?
Many people don't really know what real estate agents do besides show property and write offers and listing contracts. Before I take a listing I do a Property Price Analysis which is where I have to find the homes that are similar to the home in a similar neighborhood that have recently sold and homes that are similar that are on the market now and calculate what the home should sell for. When I get the listing, I take pictures, put up a sign and put a lock box on the door, then I go back to the office and put the information and the pictures on the MLS, my website, my blog, upload to Facebook, Craigslist, Linkedin,Tweet it etc. then put the listing on a whole list of other sites, make a virtual tour & make flyers. I show the home whenever a prospective buyer wants to see it and the homeowner agrees, that can be after hours, weekends & holidays & I haven't made a dime yet and won't until it sells. I schedule and coordinate home inspections, surveys, septic permits and inspections, perform well tests,schedule closings and work with closing attorneys to provide needed documentation, schedule termite inspections, repair bids and coordinate the work. Work with the lenders providing documentation, contracts, addendums when needed and that is just the typical things there are always unexpected things that you have to deal with. For instance the deal I'm working on now produced a suprise for me the buyer and the seller. A new survey was done and it showed the neighbors blacktop driveway, cement patio and fence were about 10 ft into my buyers lot. The buyers were ready to walk away not wanting to make enemies with the neighbor by insisting they tear everything up. They decided to meet the neighbor to see what kind of people they were going to live beside. They were such a nice elderly couple they decide to go ahead with the deal and not make them tear it all up but to agree to remedy the problem before they sold the home. It could have been the end of a sale had I not presented the buyer and seller with the idea to grant a temporary easement which would terminate when the couple sold the home and arrange for the sellers to pay the closing attorney to draw up the agreement. Everyone is happy and that is the way I like it. The best sale is where everyone concerned feels like they got the best deal they could have gotten.