by Terry Booth
When you think about buying a new home, you may not know exactly what you’re looking for. From condos to town houses to sprawling acres of land in the country, the Nashville area has lovely homes waiting to be bought and lived in. Make sure you find the ideal home for you and your family by choosing the right real estate agent.
As a real estate professional, I can help you decide on and pinpoint your “must-haves” and introduce to you the amenities suited for your lifestyle. For example, how much interior space do you want; do you want a small or large yard; have you always wanted a fireplace; would you like to be able to walk to restaurants?
It is important that you find a Realtor who listens to your specifications, who is eager and friendly, and who has experience in your desired market. The perfect home is waiting for you!
by Terry Booth
EVERYONE knows a Realtor, or has a friend who knows a Realtor…Real Estate agents’ names get tossed out to prospective Buyers and Sellers on a daily basis….Honestly, we are a dime a dozen….I bet there is a Realtor living within a 4 block radius of your home. My point being that with so many Realtors vying for the clients’ business, how is the consumer to know how to pick the right Realtor?
Just like all homes are not built alike, all Realtors are not alike. Sure, we all offer the same basic product…we either sell your home or help you purchase a new home. So what sets the first-class Realtor apart from a mediocre Realtor? QUALITY OF SERVICE….seems simple enough that every Realtor offers a service, but some Realtors still believe that sticking a sign in your yard, holding one open house, and doing a minimal amount of advertising is all that is needed to procure a sale of your home. IT JUST ISN’T SO. Times, they are changing, and if your Realtor is still living in the past, your home just might sit on the market longer than you want it to.
Let me give you an example. Within the past 2 months, our Team was approached by a Builder who had a client who had contracted to purchase a new home. The problem was that the client’s existing home had not sold and his new home was nearing completion. The Builder didn’t want to lose his prospective homebuyer, so he asked us to step in and assist his client with the sale of his home. His home had been on the market for over 8 months with 2 different Realtors; neither Realtor was able to bring an offer to the table. We had only 45 days to get this home marketed and sold before the client was going to pull out of the deal to purchase his new home. My Team Leader and I previewed the home, and within seconds of entering, knew why the home had not previously sold. It needed some updating and some cleaning. We scheduled a meeting with the Homeowner and gave him the bad news. We prepared a list of items that needed to be updated prior to the house going back on the market. We didn’t “suger-coat” the problem…we told him exactly what any prospective Buyer would have told him if they had gotten the chance. Although the Homeowner didn’t really want to invest any money into a property that he was trying to sell, he understood that the sale of his existing home stood between him and his “dream” home. The Owner agreed to the renovations, but was going to be out of town traveling on business and could not oversee the project…Remember when I said QUALITY OF SERVICE separates the men from the boys….Well, we scheduled the repairs, let in the crews, hired the maids…We made sure that the project was completed within a very short time frame so that we could then begin to actually MARKET the property. With our marketing “hats” securely fastened, we developed a campaign that generated so much interest, that WE SOLD THE PROPERTY WITHIN 4 DAYS of listing it, with multiple offers! Needless to say, the Homeowner was thrilled…If he had hired the right Realtor from the start,he would have saved himself a lot of grief and sleepless nights.
In today’s topsy-turvy market, Realtors who are turning up the heat and getting the job done deserve to get the business. They are offering PERSONALIZED SERVICE…a rarity in today’s marketplace. As a consumer, don’t be afraid to ask your Realtor what he has done for you today….if you don’t like his answer, it might be time to look for a new Realtor to represent your best interest…
