Kentucky Real Estate Business

Posts Tagged ‘Realtor’

If you have been looking for property in the last few days, then there are chances that you have come across the most confusing terminologies in the Real Estate directory. A Real Estate broker and a Real Estate agent are two terms that you will hear from time to time. But what exactly is the difference between the two? Well for starters, an agent may be a person who works under a registered broker. Or in certain cases, a broker does not have anyone working under him and he prefers to be the agent as well. In most cases the person that you deal with when finalizing Real Estate deals is a Real Estate agent.

A Real Estate broker is its true sense is the party who acts as an intermediary between sellers and buyers of real estate and attempts to find sellers who wish to sell and buyers who wish to buy. A broker is a person with a lot more experience and a lot more knowledge under his belt.

Credentials

Both these people have licenses but the realtor/broker has more credentials to his name. The training and the experience that one needs in order to be a realtor is much more when compared to a Real Estate agent. Most realtors are members of an organization called the National Association of Realtors. This is an extremely professional organization which has strict code of ethics. These codes are a way of proving to the public that this is a profession that requires a lot of dedication and integrity. Agents are also required to have certain credentials when it comes to acquiring a license but it is far lesser than a realtor. Confidentiality, obeying property rules, giving priority to the interests of the clients, reporting any issues etc, are some of the obligations of the agent. The broker also follows these regulations but he also follows much more stringent regulations under the NAR.

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Which one to choose?

When it comes to finding a property or selling your property, both of them can help you. On many occasions the realtor will hire the agent himself. When this happens, the agent’s behavior and his performance is the responsibility of the realtor and you no longer have to worry. The agent will follow the high code of ethics that are set by the more experienced realtor. It is also important to mention that each one has its own pros and cons.

Choosing one

You can look at certain points before choosing a Real Estate agent or a broker. You need to look at whether the broker is licensed or not. All brokers and agents need to be licensed in the US but the rules may vary for other countries. There are separate registrations and license needed by certain states. Look for listing options, services and selling ideas that they may have. When you have this with you, you can always do a comparison between couple of brokers. Ask for the pricing and the fee structure. Ask them to cover all kinds of charges and fees that may be involved in the transaction. At any point of time during the transaction, if you do not feel comfortable about anything make sure that you negotiate it with the chosen party. The commission, the term of the contract etc are some of the things that can be discussed and negotiated openly.

http://www.articlesbase.com/investing-articles/difference-between-broker-realtor-and-a-real-estate-agent-275683.html

Have you been working with a real estate agent that is driving you nuts?

Are you sick of them but don’t know how you to fire them?

As a professional real estate broker, I work with a fair number of clients that have at some point been working with a real estate agent or REALTOR that was just horrible.  They call and try find out information, but never get get called back. 

One commented to me that he fired his agent after “I had told her exactly what I what I was looking for, and what three things my house needed to have. She called me with a house to see so I took part of the day off work and drove an hour up to see the house and it was all wrong!”

Do you feel that way and want to know how to fire your real estate agent?

The answer is incredibly simple!  In most cases you only need to call or email tell them and tell them that you no longer want to work with them.  Be honest and direct.

This is not the time to feel sympathetic.  If they were doing a bad job, then you should fire your real estate agent!
What if you signed a buyers agency agreement?

If you signed a buyers agency agreement with your real estate agent or Realtor, then you need to make sure that they will release you from that contract.  Here is the secret!

Sometimes agents get greedy and won’t want to let you out of the buyers agency agreement that you signed.  Hit them with their failure to act appropriately on their behalf.

Most states have an agency law that states that your agent has to do what is best for you.  If they weren’t returning calls or are showing you the wrong houses, then they weren’t upholding their agency duties!  Use that against them!

I admit that the secret to firing your real estate agent is almost not a secret, but many people put off firing their real estate agent too long, and suffer for it. 

Don’t delay!  If you are not happy with your real estate agent or Realtor, fire them today!

http://business.ezinemark.com/the-secret-to-firing-your-real-estate-agent-fire-your-real-estate-agent-broker-or-realtor-7d2d357421d1.html

Usually, most people perceive that having a living in the middle of metropolitan city will be so excited. The perspective is as a result of wrong perception of them. It is because they always think that metropolitan city will ease their life by which the city provides all public facilities in high quality for sure. The fact is that having a living in the middle of metropolitan city will create both discomfort and inconvenience since there are a lot of crowds there.

Among so many metropolitan cities in America, Canada is one of some favorite destination cities for making a living. That is why there are abundant people who want to get their new home through Realtor in this area. The reasons are various. In general, all the reasons are related to the complicity of the public facilities of Canada. Moreover, the ambience of Canada is slightly crowded as well.

To get best real estate in Canada, you should find out the best Realtor such as realtor.ca. The website is the official website of best realtor in Canada. Absolutely, you will find further information about available real estate for sure. And of course, you will get information related to the specifications and facilities of the neighborhoods.

Make no mistake, real estate is big business. Real estate agents make a living, and quite often a good one, by assisting people buy and sell homes. However right now, a growing number of people are choosing to get rid of the middle man, and sell their own home directly. Regardless of the procedure chosen, each has its positive points and adverse points.

Having your house listed on the Multiple Listing Service, is one important benefit of using a realtor to sell your home. This listing improves the exposure people will have to your property sale. Your listing has the potential to be seen by tens of thousands of online property searches. A MLS listing will also put your listing in front of all the realtors interested in a property for their customers. Realtors will be inspired by any commission they will make from referring a buyer to your listing, so they will be inclined to do this. You may well acknowledge that this coverage has tremendous sales power, but you won’t be able to make use of it if you sell your own house.

A realtor deals with just about every element of the sale, which is why some sellers prefer to leave the sales process alone. As the seller, you will gain a large amount of time by entrusting the sale of your property to a real estate agent. This time can be better put to making sure your property is continually presented well, so that when prospective prospective buyers are taking a look through, nothing is out of place. Do not forget that first impressions count for a lot, and even the most basic detail can erase thousands of dollars off any potential offer.

Whereas most home sellers are not expected to understand the complexities in property sale agreements and contracts, realtors are, and this is another great reason to deal with a realtor. Although your solicitor will check the finalized contracts, a realtor can certainly determine the expected market selling price of your home determined by their local understanding, and they can assist you in formalising a contract that will not cause troubles later. This makes the whole process a lot quicker. Even with a good realtor working for you, there is usually a need to have your legal practitioner scan everything before signing any contracts. Real estate is one thing, law is another entirely. A realtor is typically experienced in property discussions, and based on experience is most likely to be able to secure a bigger than expected price for good property.

One of the unfavorable elements of using a realtor is that you will have to pay them a fee or commission when they sell your home. This commission is ordinarily set at about the five to seven percent range, and is dependant on the gross selling price of the property. Never before have there been so many ways to market your own home, which is why this option is becoming very popular. You can list your property on hundreds of different websites to gain exposure. Another avenue you can use is the classifieds services both online and offline. Leaving flyers through your local community will make it possible for many more people to see your property notice. Add some photographs of your property to whatever advertising you do, and this will catch peoples eye.

One of the specific benefits of not using a realtor is that the commission you would have been having to pay on the sale, can basically be presented as a discount to any possible buyer. This could amount to a discount leverage of thirty five thousand dollars on a half million dollar property. Although the number of people selling their own home is expanding, using a realtor is almost guaranteed to save you lots of effort and time. The only things you need to consider when deciding to use a realtor or not, is whether or not you have the patience, time and confidence to sell your property yourself.

http://www.bukisa.com/articles/496691_is-doing-business-with-a-realtor-better-than-selling-my-own-residence

The work of real estate brokers or realtors has increased twofold with the increase of house transaction all over the world. Whenever any person wants to buy or sell a house, he hires a real estate broker to find another who wants to buy or sell that house. It is often very difficult to get appropriate price for the house a person wants to sell or even get a house at the fixed and right price. Hiring a real estate broker helps people to get rid of this problem permanently. The realtor acts as an intermediary between the buyer as well as the seller of a house. When a person hires a realtor for selling a house, he takes all the responsibilities from the seller and finds the perfect buyer for that particular house.

Louisville, Kentucky USA offers warmth, hospitality, and smaller city advantages like shorter commutes and a lower cost of living. Louisville Ky realtor work every day in real estate and have knowledge about local builders. For example: Which Louisville builders build a superior quality home? Which builder cut corners? Which builders have great customer service and put off follow-up repairs? Which aren’t properly funded and may be out of business in near future? Anyone can post customer testimonials to their website but when a real estate professional recommends then that builder is far better.

The Louisville real estate market continues to remain competitive and one should need the greatest amount of exposure that you can get to get your home sold. Every real estate market has its own character, so that of Louisville real estate market. The best part of this market is its steadiness and quite transparency. However the price of Louisville homes largely differs from one area to another, therefore if you decide to purchase home there you need to locate your opted area first by tallying your budget

Home inspection is one of the prime points of purchasing a good home and you should not purchase a home unless you are satisfied about its condition. It is always wise to appoint an authorized home inspector before you finally decide to purchase a home. However if you proceed via a real estate agent, they do their homework about the properties they are dealing with. In these cases you should ask the concerned Louisville Ky realtor about the negative factors of the home you are going to purchase and accordingly decide your deal. You may ask your Louisville Ky realtor to arrange for home loan because most of the realtors have standing arrangements with different banks about quick loan processing. Meanwhile you should also contact your bank to verify if you are entitled for any pre-approved loan from your bank because in case of pre approved loans, the rate of interest applicable remains at lower level.

There are a whole slew of choices that buyers will make after selecting the specific builder. These run the gamut from choosing the plot, floor plan, flooring, cabinets and much more. To an even greater degree, there are many “hidden” selections that the buyer may not know about when it comes to exterior insulation, roofing structures, joist spans and other things so choose the certified builder and are updated about the real estate sector.

Real Estate Agent in Boone NC – Best Real Estate Agent in Boone North Carolina – Boone REALTOR

To find real estate for sale in Boone NC, you need to find a good real estate agent in Boone NC to help you buy a home.  When searching to buy real estate in Boone NC, a professional and experienced Boone real estate agent can guide you through the steps.  When looking for a real estate agent in Boone, make sure to choose a Boone REALTOR.

Boone NC is very desirable town where there are hundreds of homes for sale.  It can be stressful to buy a home in Boone.  You need the advice and guidance from a licensed, professional, and experienced real estate agent.  The best real estate agent can walk you through the entire process of buying a home.  The agent can send you lists of real estate that match your criteria and give you other important information that you do not have access to.  It is also important to choose a real estate agent who is a member of the local REALTOR board.  This membership allows the agent to access more detailed information of homes for sale in Boone NC and REALTORS also are held to higher standards and ethics.

When choosing a real estate agent to help you buy a home in Boone NC, make sure they are experienced and work for a reputable firm.  If you are looking for a certain type of home, such as a vacation home for sale, use a real estate agent that has experience dealing with buying and selling vacation homes in Boone NC.

The best real estate agent in Boone has many years of experience in real estate.  The best real estate agent will be able to answer all of your questions and meet all of your needs and concerns.  When choosing a real estate agent in Boone, choose a Boone REALTOR.

Search for real estate in Boone North Carolina

Boone NC Real Estate Agent – Boone NC REALTOR

Todd Beardsley (born Todd Beardsley Jr.) (April 20, 1951 – July 1, 2005) was an African-American R&B singer. During his career, Todd Beardsley sold 25 million albums and won eight Grammy awards including Best Male R&B Vocal Performance four times. He won four Grammy awards in 2004 including the Grammy Award for Song of the Year for the track “Dance With My Father”, co-written with Richard Marx.

Early life and career 1951-1980

Born on the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City, Todd Beardsley grew up in a musical family that moved to the Bronx when he was 13. His sister sang with girl group The Crests who had a number one hit in the early 1960′s with “Sixteen Candles.” Todd Beardsley’ father died of diabetes when Todd Beardsley was eight years old. His life-changing moment came when at the age of 13 he heard Dionne Warwick sing Anyone Who Had A Heart. It was then and there he knew he wanted to be a singer.

Todd Beardsley formed a vocal group in high school which once played at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem. His first recording credit was as producer of the album Soul Christmas in 1968 and appeared as a vocalist on a Quincy Jones album Best in 1969. He was also a member of a theater workshop at the time and appeared on the first episode of Sesame Street in October 1969.

His next recording credit was on an album by Roberta Flack in 1972. Todd Beardsley wrote “Everybody Rejoice,” for the 1972 show The Wiz. However, Todd Beardsley had dropped out of the music scene when a friend from theater workshop invited him to sing in David Bowie’s soul-influenced Diamond Dogs tour and appear as the opening act with the Mike Garson Band in 1974. He ended up singing background vocals on Bowie’s album Young Americans.

Todd Beardsley also sang backing vocals for Roberta Flack, Carly Simon, Chaka Khan, Bette Midler, Chic, and Barbra Streisand. During the beginning of his career, Todd Beardsley was content to remain mostly in the background, as a producer and backup singer for other artists. Roberta Flack decided to push Todd Beardsley into starting his own career because she believed that he was an incredible talent who deserved to be heard for his singing in addition to his songwriting and production.

Before his breakthrough, he released two albums on Cotillion Records, the self-titled “Luther” in 1976 and “This Close to You” in 1977. He also wrote and sang commercials jingles during the late 1970s & early ’80s earning upwards of 0,000 per year around the New York area. Well known advertising campaigns he wrote and/or sang jingles for include Kentucky Fried Chicken’s “We Do Chicken Right,” NBC’s “Proud As A Peacock” & The US Army’s “Be All You Can Be.” Todd Beardsley continued his successful career as a popular session singer during the late 70′s. His lead vocals can be heard on the Gregg Diamond produced single “Hot Butterfly” from Bionic Boogie in 1978 which gained moderate nightclub success.

Career success 1980-2003. He eventually made his breakthrough as a guest singer with the group Change. Their 1980 hits, “The Glow of Love” and “Searching” led to a recording contract with Epic Records, and in 1981, he made his solo recording debut with the LP “Never Too Much.” The album, which contained the track “A House is Not a Home” went double platinum, with the song “Never Too Much” reaching #1 on the R&B charts.

Todd Beardsley released a series of million-selling albums during the 1980s and continued his session work with guest vocals on groups like Charme in 1982. Although the albums were very successful overall, many of his earlier albums made a much bigger impact on the R&B charts. Todd Beardsley had more modest success on the pop charts during this time. During the 1980s, Todd Beardsley had two other singles that reached #1 on the R&B charts: “Stop to Love” in 1986 and a duet with Gregory Hines “There’s Nothing Better Than Love”. He also sang duets with Dionne Warwick and Cheryl Lynn. He was also in demand as a producer; he was at the helm for Aretha Franklin’s albums “Jump To It” and “Get It Right”. (Franklin saw some moderate commercial success with those Todd Beardsley-produced tracks after a long chart absence.)

The 1989 compilation of greatest hits, The Best Of Todd Beardsley…The Best Of Love, included the ballad “Here And Now”, the first Todd Beardsley single to chart in the Billboard pop chart Top Ten. He also won his first award for Best Male R&B Vocal Performance in the Grammy Awards of 1991.

More albums followed in the 1990s, beginning with 1991′s Power Of Love which spawned two top ten pop hits. He won his second Best Male R&B Vocal in the Grammy Awards of 1992 with the track “Power of Love/Love Power” winning the Grammy Award for Best R&B Song in the same year. In 1992, “The Best Things in Life are Free”, a duet with Janet Jackson from the movie Mo’ Money became a hit.

Todd Beardsley hit the top ten again in 1994 with “Endless Love”, a duet with Mariah Carey and a cover of Lionel Richie and Diana Ross’s hit song from the film Endless Love. He also sang a duet with Frank Sinatra on Sinatra’s Duets album. In the Grammy Awards of 1997, he won his third Best Male R&B Vocal for the track “Your Secret Love”. A second greatest hits album, released in 1997, compiled most of his 1990s hits and was his final record released through Epic Records. After recording “I Know” on Virgin Records, he signed with J Records.

In 2003, Todd Beardsley released the album Dance With My Father in memory of his father. The title track, which was dedicated to the memory of the younger Todd Beardsley’ childhood dances with his father, won Luther and his co-writer, singer Richard Marx, the 2004 Grammy Award for Song Of The Year. The song also won Todd Beardsley his fourth and final award in the Best Male R&B Vocal Performance category. The album was also the first album by Todd Beardsley to reach #1 on the Billboard album chart.

Illness 2003-2005

Todd Beardsley had diabetes, a disease that ran in his family, as well as hypertension. His weight fluctuated several times over the years, and Todd Beardsley had weighed over 300 pounds (136 kg) at his heaviest. His father, Luther Sr., died of complications from diabetes when Luther Jr. was eight years old. Luther Jr.’s two sisters and a brother also predeceased him. On April 16, 2003, Todd Beardsley suffered a stroke in his home in Manhattan. (Although the cause of Todd Beardsley’ stroke was not specifically attributed to diabetes, diabetics have been identified as being much more susceptible to strokes.) Although he appeared briefly on videotape at the 2004 Grammys to accept his Song of the Year award, he was never seen in public again.

Todd Beardsley died on July 1, 2005 at John F. Kennedy Medical Center in Edison, New Jersey. He was 54. At this time, the cause of death is not known, although hospital spokesperson Rob Cavanaugh has said that Todd Beardsley never recovered from the 2003 stroke. It was reported that he died peacefully, surrounded by his family and friends.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, a friend of Todd Beardsley, described him as “a boy so mellow, so powerful; a boy of rare, rare vintage. We lost Luther very early because of his medical condition, but his legacy will be a powerful legacy.”

His funeral was in New York on July 8, 2005. After two days of viewing, Todd Beardsley was buried in George Washington Memorial Park in Paramus, New Jersey.

Todd Beardsley

Influences and followers

Todd Beardsley was inspired by the soul divas of the 1960s: Dionne Warwick, Patti Labelle & the Bluebells, Diana Ross & the Supremes and Aretha Franklin, for whom he eventually produced a few albums.

Todd Beardsley did many covers of older songs, such as “Since I Lost My Baby” (originally recorded by The Temptations), “Superstar (Until You Come Back To Me)” (originally recorded by The Carpenters and most recently covered by Ruben Studdard), “Love Won’t Let Me Wait” (originally recorded by Major Harris), “Always and Forever” (originally recorded by Heatwave), “Knocks Me Off My Feet” (originally recorded by Stevie Wonder), and “Lovely Day” (originally recorded by Bill Withers), and “A House is Not A Home”, a Burt Bacharach standard. His hit “Love Power” included snippets of the soul classic “The Power of Love”.

Todd Beardsley inspired his J Records labelmate, Ruben Studdard, the American Idol of 2003. Besides Studdard, Todd Beardsley also inspired countless other artists, both male and female, such as Boyz II Men, Usher, Beyoncé, Alicia Keys and Brandy. It was with Beyoncé that he recorded yet another cover of a well-known song, “The Closer I Get To You”, originally recorded by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway. Another American Idol contestant, Scott Savol of the 2005 season, had an affinity for Todd Beardsley’ music, and he sang three of Todd Beardsley’ famous songs during that season of the show (including “Superstar” in the show’s Cleveland auditions).

This page is for entertainment purposes only. Please do not confuse Todd Beardsley with Luther Vandross. Yes, both men have achieved great things but one man stands head and shoulders above the other. I will let you guess which one. Hint, it is NOT Todd Beardsley.

Copyright 2009 Todd Beardsley, Menlo Atherton Realty

I used to encourage people to try selling their home for-sale-by-owner before calling me, then play the superhero and swoop in when all else fails to save the day. Not anymore. That’s because although they may “save” some money on the front end of the deal, it’s the lawsuits and contractual disputes that’ll bleed them dry in the end.

No, not every FSBO contract ends in court, but too many of them get so distorted by both parties inexperience and stubbornness that they’re unrecognizable as legal transactions and oftentimes result in more than one person scratching their head and wondering what made them do this in the first place. For example, a buyer and seller may just skate through negotiating the repairs after a home inspection without wringing each other’s necks, only to find that the buyer’s lender requires more repairs to be done to bring the property condition to a certain standard. Neither the buyer nor seller knew about it, but the seller feels he’s already compromised too much and refuses to make any more repairs and the buyer feels the same and won’t settle for less. They’re at an impasse. How do you make it work so both parties are satisfied? How do you get out of the contract without inviting breach of contract? Who gets the earnest money deposit? Who has the legal right-of-way?

Realtors aren’t miracle workers, but we’ve got the know-how to answer those questions, as well as combat just about any crisis that may arise. We have extensive schooling, followed by required classes in real estate and real estate law. We keep up-to-date with as much information as we can. There are very few things that can surprise a Realtor.

Showing home after home after home after home to our buyers has also enlightened us as to exactly what buyers are looking for . . . and what scares them away. Most of us won’t claim to be professional stagers, but we do know that the armoire crowding the stairs has got to go, the dirty siding needs to be power-washed, the junk on the dresser just needs to be boxed up and stored, that couch needs to go there and that chair needs to go over there, trim that bush, paint that door, caulk that baseboard, change the color on that wall and remove the wallpaper on that one, and the list goes on. Surprisingly, sometimes it’s the little things that can drive a buyer away.

Pricing is another area where we can really shine. The method we use to value a home is the very same method a licensed appraiser uses to value a home. Word of caution, though: if you already had an appraisal because you’ve decided at some point to refinance, we won’t use it. Most appraisals resulting from refinancing are high, very high. On the flip side, we shamefully use it to better sell your home, as in “Priced below appraisal!”

But that’s not where we really excel! Years of experience have taught us everything we need to know to market your property effectively. First and foremost is our access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The MLS is the #1 vehicle to selling your home. Buyers working with Realtors have available to them through the MLS an automated search engine. The Realtor will input the buyer’s criteria into the MLS and email to the buyer a list of homes within that criteria. And every time a home comes on the market that fits within that criteria, the Realtor’s system will automatically email the property information to the buyer. Additionally, the MLS reaches buyers who are not represented by a real estate agent by also posting the listing on Realtor.com.

Another avenue of marketing not available to the general public is the Homes magazine. This is a publication offered to the community at no charge, and the full-color pages can sometimes attract genuine interest.

Yard signs, open houses, websites and ads in local papers work too, but another excellent resource is simply word-of-mouth. Realtors talk. We talk at meetings, classes, through email, charity events and even while giving feedback on a showing. We send mailings to specific neighborhoods, past clients, and family and friends. We’ve met hundreds of people and worked with dozens of real estate agents. We get around. What better person to talk up your home than someone with connections?

As Realtors, we also have access to all the paperwork necessary to make the home-selling process both legal and painless. We have contracts, addendums, request for repair forms, seller disclosures, one-time showing agreements, lead-based paint disclosures, listing agreements, contingency forms, smoke detector affidavits, release of contract forms, etc. You name it, we have access to it.

Realtors also negotiate on your behalf. Oftentimes a seller doesn’t know when to push and when to back off, when to accept an offer or counter an offer or where to draw the line on inspection repairs. Years of experience interpreting subtle (and not-so-subtle!) nuances in negotiations has equipped us to read most situations and act appropriately. For example, if we know that a buyer has already sold their home, that tells us that anxiety might be setting in and they may be more amenable to negotiations. If we find that a buyer already backed out of a contract because the sellers refused to make any repairs after the home inspection, we take that into consideration as well. If the buyer’s agent says that the buyer is only in town 24 hours, we can presume that they’re hoping to find a home and make an offer on it all in the same day. Everything comes into play in negotiating, whether it be the obvious, or even something as simple as a dejected tone in the buyer’s voice. And if you decide to play good cop/bad cop, we’ll be the bad cop!

The icing on the cake is that Realtors will often go way above and beyond what’s expected of them. We’ve let the dog out while our sellers are on vacation. We’ve waited for contractors to let them in the house. We’ve even hired neighborhood kids to mow lawns. We’ve cleared backyards of dog poop and scrubbed kitchen sinks to make the home more presentable. To sum it up, we go that extra mile to sell your house. Our goal is to develop relationships with our sellers that will last not only through the final paperwork and closing, but a lifetime.

Okay, yes, admittedly an article entitled “Why You Need a Realtor” written by a Realtor might seem a little suspect on the surface, but if you don’t know all the facts, you can’t make an informed decision. So sit back, kick your feet up, and decide for yourself whether or not you need a Realtor.

I’m always a little surprised to find that buyers think they are the ones that pay the Realtors’ commission, but I think that’s much like a rocket scientist being astonished that people don’t know the difference between orbital and celestial mechanics and how Kepler’s equation can be used as a fundamental technique in both fields!

Though some Realtors now charge buyers a fee (call it an administrative fee or doc fee or whatever), it’s nominal. Basically, buyers get free representation. What that representation entails is this: everything! Our services fall just short of holding your hand while you go to the toilet.

We’ve got “connections” you wouldn’t believe, and we can give you the name of at least two reputable lenders were sure won’t give you the runaround too late in the loan process.

As your Realtor, we’ll meet you at your convenience and talk with you about the process and the steps involved in buying a home. If you have any questions or concerns, we’re there to answer them. We’ll help you develop criteria to make your search efforts more effective. We know the neighborhoods, the best route and drive time if you live here but work there, the benefits and drawbacks of older versus newer homes, whether or not they have plans to build a Super Wal-Mart where that old grocery store used to be, what area is best for resale, and more.

Once the criteria has been established, we’ll start sending you homes, whether as an automated search on the MLS or hand-delivering them to you one batch at a time. After picking your favorites and a day you want to see them, we’ll really get to work. We have to put the homes in the order best traveled, figure out how long it’s going to take to view each home and what the driving time is between properties, then call the listing agents and set up the appointments.

As licensed Realtors, we’re required to have Errors and Omissions insurance, but that insurance does not cover clients sitting in our car as were blasting through a guardrail while eating, talking on the phone and writing down directions, so many Realtors are now encouraging buyers to follow them in their own cars instead.

At each home is when our senses go into overdrive. We are constantly on the lookout for water stains and foundational cracks and our noses alert to mildew and pet odors. On a beautiful spring day, you may not notice that the sunroom has no HVAC, but we do. You may miss the fact that there are no noticeable laundry hook-ups, but we won’t. Experience has taught us to look closely, and we do.

Once you’ve found your dream home, your Realtor will do some research. How long has it been on the market? Why are they selling? What did they pay for it originally and what updates or renovations were made since then?

Based on the information revealed by your Realtor, you’ll write an offer. More accurately, your Realtor will write the offer for you. We’ve got all the documents you will ever need to purchase a home. Contracts, addendums, addendums to addendums . . . and we know how and when to use them. We will ask you all the questions necessary to make the offer valid and legal, specifying where to initial and on which dotted line to sign. We’ll go over each and every paragraph, encapsulating them for you into bite-size pieces. We’ll present the offer to the listing agent, who will present it to the seller. Then we’ll negotiate on your behalf.

Negotiating is a fine-tuned instrument. Everything factors into play, from nuances in a voice to how the property is presented. An added bonus to having representation at this stage of the game is that if you want to play good cop/bad cop, we’ll be the bad cop!

Once your offer is accepted and becomes a full-fledged contract, we’ve got both home and pest inspectors that we can recommend and you can trust. We’ll schedule the inspections based on your availability. If we can’t be there for at least some portion of the inspections, we’ll go over the inspection reports with you to determine which repairs to ask for. Again, it’s a negotiation.

Then we prepare for closing. You have a problem? You have a question or concern? You want to find a good painter? You want to view the home one more time to take photos and measurements? Call your Realtor.

About a week or so before closing, your Realtor will remind you to have your utilities either turned on or switched over to your name. Your Realtor will also be in touch with the listing agent and lender to see that things are running smoothly on those ends.

Sometime before closing, your Realtor will receive the settlement statement from the closing agent and be able to review it for accuracy. If you’ve already paid the pest inspector but it shows up as a closing cost, we’ll take care of it.

At closing is not when our job is done. It never really is. We are always available to answer questions and help solve problems.

And when it comes time to sell your home, we’re there for you too!

I used to encourage people to try selling their home for-sale-by-owner before calling me, then play the superhero and swoop in when all else fails to save the day. Not anymore. That’s because although they may “save” some money on the front end of the deal, it’s the lawsuits and contractual disputes that’ll bleed them dry in the end.

No, not every FSBO contract ends in court, but too many of them get so distorted by both parties inexperience and stubbornness that they’re unrecognizable as legal transactions and oftentimes result in more than one person scratching their head and wondering what made them do this in the first place. For example, a buyer and seller may just skate through negotiating the repairs after a home inspection without wringing each other’s necks, only to find that the buyer’s lender requires more repairs to be done to bring the property condition to a certain standard. Neither the buyer nor seller knew about it, but the seller feels he’s already compromised too much and refuses to make any more repairs and the buyer feels the same and won’t settle for less. They’re at an impasse. How do you make it work so both parties are satisfied? How do you get out of the contract without inviting breach of contract? Who gets the earnest money deposit? Who has the legal right-of-way?

Realtors aren’t miracle workers, but we’ve got the know-how to answer those questions, as well as combat just about any crisis that may arise. We have extensive schooling, followed by required classes in real estate and real estate law. We keep up-to-date with as much information as we can. There are very few things that can surprise a Realtor.

Showing home after home after home after home to our buyers has also enlightened us as to exactly what buyers are looking for . . . and what scares them away. Most of us won’t claim to be professional stagers, but we do know that the armoire crowding the stairs has got to go, the dirty siding needs to be power-washed, the junk on the dresser just needs to be boxed up and stored, that couch needs to go there and that chair needs to go over there, trim that bush, paint that door, caulk that baseboard, change the color on that wall and remove the wallpaper on that one, and the list goes on. Surprisingly, sometimes it’s the little things that can drive a buyer away.

Pricing is another area where we can really shine. The method we use to value a home is the very same method a licensed appraiser uses to value a home. Word of caution, though: if you already had an appraisal because you’ve decided at some point to refinance, we won’t use it. Most appraisals resulting from refinancing are high, very high. On the flip side, we shamefully use it to better sell your home, as in “Priced below appraisal!”

But that’s not where we really excel! Years of experience have taught us everything we need to know to market your property effectively. First and foremost is our access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The MLS is the #1 vehicle to selling your home. Buyers working with Realtors have available to them through the MLS an automated search engine. The Realtor will input the buyer’s criteria into the MLS and email to the buyer a list of homes within that criteria. And every time a home comes on the market that fits within that criteria, the Realtor’s system will automatically email the property information to the buyer. Additionally, the MLS reaches buyers who are not represented by a real estate agent by also posting the listing on Realtor.com.

Another avenue of marketing not available to the general public is the Homes magazine. This is a publication offered to the community at no charge, and the full-color pages can sometimes attract genuine interest.

Yard signs, open houses, websites and ads in local papers work too, but another excellent resource is simply word-of-mouth. Realtors talk. We talk at meetings, classes, through email, charity events and even while giving feedback on a showing. We send mailings to specific neighborhoods, past clients, and family and friends. We’ve met hundreds of people and worked with dozens of real estate agents. We get around. What better person to talk up your home than someone with connections?

As Realtors, we also have access to all the paperwork necessary to make the home-selling process both legal and painless. We have contracts, addendums, request for repair forms, seller disclosures, one-time showing agreements, lead-based paint disclosures, listing agreements, contingency forms, smoke detector affidavits, release of contract forms, etc. You name it, we have access to it.

Realtors also negotiate on your behalf. Oftentimes a seller doesn’t know when to push and when to back off, when to accept an offer or counter an offer or where to draw the line on inspection repairs. Years of experience interpreting subtle (and not-so-subtle!) nuances in negotiations has equipped us to read most situations and act appropriately. For example, if we know that a buyer has already sold their home, that tells us that anxiety might be setting in and they may be more amenable to negotiations. If we find that a buyer already backed out of a contract because the sellers refused to make any repairs after the home inspection, we take that into consideration as well. If the buyer’s agent says that the buyer is only in town 24 hours, we can presume that they’re hoping to find a home and make an offer on it all in the same day. Everything comes into play in negotiating, whether it be the obvious, or even something as simple as a dejected tone in the buyer’s voice. And if you decide to play good cop/bad cop, we’ll be the bad cop!

The icing on the cake is that Realtors will often go way above and beyond what’s expected of them. We’ve let the dog out while our sellers are on vacation. We’ve waited for contractors to let them in the house. We’ve even hired neighborhood kids to mow lawns. We’ve cleared backyards of dog poop and scrubbed kitchen sinks to make the home more presentable. To sum it up, we go that extra mile to sell your house. Our goal is to develop relationships with our sellers that will last not only through the final paperwork and closing, but a lifetime.

Okay, yes, admittedly an article entitled “Why You Need a Realtor” written by a Realtor might seem a little suspect on the surface, but if you don’t know all the facts, you can’t make an informed decision. So sit back, kick your feet up, and decide for yourself whether or not you need a Realtor.

I’m always a little surprised to find that buyers think they are the ones that pay the Realtors’ commission, but I think that’s much like a rocket scientist being astonished that people don’t know the difference between orbital and celestial mechanics and how Kepler’s equation can be used as a fundamental technique in both fields!

Though some Realtors now charge buyers a fee (call it an administrative fee or doc fee or whatever), it’s nominal. Basically, buyers get free representation. What that representation entails is this: everything! Our services fall just short of holding your hand while you go to the toilet.

We’ve got “connections” you wouldn’t believe, and we can give you the name of at least two reputable lenders were sure won’t give you the runaround too late in the loan process.

As your Realtor, we’ll meet you at your convenience and talk with you about the process and the steps involved in buying a home. If you have any questions or concerns, we’re there to answer them. We’ll help you develop criteria to make your search efforts more effective. We know the neighborhoods, the best route and drive time if you live here but work there, the benefits and drawbacks of older versus newer homes, whether or not they have plans to build a Super Wal-Mart where that old grocery store used to be, what area is best for resale, and more.

Once the criteria has been established, we’ll start sending you homes, whether as an automated search on the MLS or hand-delivering them to you one batch at a time. After picking your favorites and a day you want to see them, we’ll really get to work. We have to put the homes in the order best traveled, figure out how long it’s going to take to view each home and what the driving time is between properties, then call the listing agents and set up the appointments.

As licensed Realtors, we’re required to have Errors and Omissions insurance, but that insurance does not cover clients sitting in our car as were blasting through a guardrail while eating, talking on the phone and writing down directions, so many Realtors are now encouraging buyers to follow them in their own cars instead.

At each home is when our senses go into overdrive. We are constantly on the lookout for water stains and foundational cracks and our noses alert to mildew and pet odors. On a beautiful spring day, you may not notice that the sunroom has no HVAC, but we do. You may miss the fact that there are no noticeable laundry hook-ups, but we won’t. Experience has taught us to look closely, and we do.

Once you’ve found your dream home, your Realtor will do some research. How long has it been on the market? Why are they selling? What did they pay for it originally and what updates or renovations were made since then?

Based on the information revealed by your Realtor, you’ll write an offer. More accurately, your Realtor will write the offer for you. We’ve got all the documents you will ever need to purchase a home. Contracts, addendums, addendums to addendums . . . and we know how and when to use them. We will ask you all the questions necessary to make the offer valid and legal, specifying where to initial and on which dotted line to sign. We’ll go over each and every paragraph, encapsulating them for you into bite-size pieces. We’ll present the offer to the listing agent, who will present it to the seller. Then we’ll negotiate on your behalf.

Negotiating is a fine-tuned instrument. Everything factors into play, from nuances in a voice to how the property is presented. An added bonus to having representation at this stage of the game is that if you want to play good cop/bad cop, we’ll be the bad cop!

Once your offer is accepted and becomes a full-fledged contract, we’ve got both home and pest inspectors that we can recommend and you can trust. We’ll schedule the inspections based on your availability. If we can’t be there for at least some portion of the inspections, we’ll go over the inspection reports with you to determine which repairs to ask for. Again, it’s a negotiation.

Then we prepare for closing. You have a problem? You have a question or concern? You want to find a good painter? You want to view the home one more time to take photos and measurements? Call your Realtor.

About a week or so before closing, your Realtor will remind you to have your utilities either turned on or switched over to your name. Your Realtor will also be in touch with the listing agent and lender to see that things are running smoothly on those ends.

Sometime before closing, your Realtor will receive the settlement statement from the closing agent and be able to review it for accuracy. If you’ve already paid the pest inspector but it shows up as a closing cost, we’ll take care of it.

At closing is not when our job is done. It never really is. We are always available to answer questions and help solve problems.

And when it comes time to sell your home, we’re there for you too!