So let's
talk about relationships. No, I'm not going to propose a long term
relationship with your agent that involves romantic dates and long
strolls in the park. I'm talking about the type of relationships that
will save you money, save you time and will get your house SOLD.
INSPECTORS
Inspections
are recommended to sellers before they get their house listed. If you
are not a very handy person or just do not have all of the information
of the performance of your property's nervous system (HVAC, plumbing,
electrical), then an inspection is a must. You do not want to go into
the selling process blind. There could be major issues that would kill a
deal or even prevent deals from happening.
Why do you want a
trusted inspector? Your agent should have someone that is able to meet
with you immediately. Remember, inspectors are vested in having a good
working relationship with someone who represents buyers and sellers just
as much as an agent needs someone reliable. Someone that the agent has
already worked with in your area and is familiar with the type of
builds, someone that can identify issues that would not pass certain
financing inspections and someone that might be able to provide a
discount. All inspectors are NOT created equal. Experience and
recommendations are key.
LENDERS
This is probably
the most complicated area of the buying process. How good a buyer's
lender is can be a cause for celebration or it can be a cause for heart
ache for sellers. If my seller has any reason to not trust the pre-qualification of a potential buyer, or if the financing possibilities
are restricted, a trusted lender can help you wade through murky water.
Agents spend a hefty amount of their time communicating with lenders.
Some lenders have too much on their plate and their service suffers
because of that. Others will go to bat for their clients at all hours
of the day to make sure deals are completed. Your agent can explain
your scenario to a lender and ask them to pre-qualify your potential
buyer. Again, this could save you valuable time. If financing falls
through on a deal, you could waste weeks of advertising. Day on market
adversely affect the potential to sell your home.
ATTORNEYS
This
might not seem like a big deal but good relationships with different
closing attorneys can save you time as well. A closing attorney has a
very seasonal calendar that books up fast. If you are in a time crunch
and have to have a closing by a certain date, this relationship could
come in handy. There have been several times that we have had to really
push for different closing dates/times in order to help our sellers
out. Having a good relationship with pre and post-closers also helps
with the ever increasing document train that comes with selling real
estate.
OTHER AGENTS
The negotiation process
starts before an offer is ever submitted. Agents work together in order
to feel out the other side and see what type of demands, issues, etc
that might pop-up. Your agent will already know the type of negotiation
style to anticipate which can be a mental win in itself for you as a
seller. You have an emotional attachment in this transaction, your
agent does not. You need to feel comfortable that your agent will be
able to get the results you want without showing the emotional
attachments you have.
CONTRACTORS
Something
always needs to be fixed or estimated. That is just part of owning real
estate. If you are about to list your house or if you are in the midst
of negotiations, you do not have time to waste and shop around for
contractors on your own. Use the tools you have, ie your agent. If you
have a good agent, they will have the names of several contractors in
their phone that will be more than happy to earn your business. Again,
contractors need relationships with agents just as badly, if not more.
When
you are in search of an agent, you are looking for so much more than a
personality and ability to market your property. You should be looking
for the full package. We have worked hard spending the past 10 years
creating an inclusive package for our clients. Let us show you the
proper way to list your house.
-Published by guest writer, Jana Lambros
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