Tag Archives: agent

3 Benchmarks for Sapphire Real Estate Agent Dowsing

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3-30-16-realestateagent
Whenever a buyer or seller is set to enter the market, they find themselves faced with the task of identifying the Sapphire real estate agent who will serve them best. There are many of us to choose from—and not a lot guidance on how to proceed.

Maybe there should be something like a Real Estate Agent Dowser. You remember dowsers—the folks who divine where to drill for ground water. Most do it by walking around, holding a dowsing rod (usually Y-shaped). When it shivers or points down, BINGO! That’s where the water is. Pay the fee and call the drilling company. Now, it’s said that there is absolutely no scientific evidence that dowsing works. Yet there are plenty of folks who live out in the country who will tell you that, of course it’s hard to believe, but still… That’s why dowsing is a real occupation. Just ask any one of the American Society of Dowsers’ 3,000 members…

Here in Sapphire, when you set out to find a real estate agent to help with buying or selling a home, there is no American Society of Real Estate Agent Dowsers to help. Fortunately, Sapphire’s real estate agents aren’t as hard to find as underground water pockets—but even so, detecting which of us is best suited to be your partner is no “gimme.”

One good solution is to interview the candidates with an eye toward finding out how they stack up against three practical benchmarks:

Selling Skill. A great real estate agent is a great salesperson—easy to talk to, sympathetic to your needs—genuinely likeable. When you are interviewing potential agents, offer an objection or two to test how seamlessly the conversation proceeds. The most valuable sales representatives are those who can adapt to resistance without batting an eye, or letting negativity prevail.
Current knowledge and experience. Being able to provide accurate and fact-based market information and analysis is an important indicator— as is having successfully performed in a variety of Sapphire real estate transactions.
Negotiation Skill. When all else points to a good fit, discuss the terms that candidate proposes between you. Your chosen real estate agent will be negotiating on your behalf—so your agent’s ability to present hard business matters in a relaxed and amenable way will serve you well.

When you become your own real estate agent dowser, you won’t need a witch hazel stick to point the way. A few thoughtful interviews will do the trick—and I hope you’ll be sure to give me a call as soon as you go dowsing!

3 Key Ways You Can Help Your Lake Toxaway Real Estate Agent

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2-13-agentIn the weeks before you decide which of our local real estate agents will represent you and your home once it goes on the market, you’re probably looking for a Lake Toxaway Realtor® with the qualities that make a great sales person: knowledgeability, directness, personality, trustworthiness. Likeability is always helpful, but it’s only one among many qualifications. This is a business decision, and an important one for you and your family.

Then, the instant you make your selection, the landscape changes completely! You are no longer on your own: you and your Lake Toxaway real estate agent are members of a team that’s ready to get to work on the project. You both want your home on and off the market as quickly as possible, so the smoother the workflow with your real estate agent goes, the better.

Your real estate agent will already be hard at work assembling the marketing program that will attract prospects from near and far, but you can be helpful even with that effort. It’s the first of three key ideas that are often pointed to as key contributions owners can make:

Help your agent with unique selling points

What makes your home different from all the others that will be listed for sale? Every property has unique selling points that don’t fit into the standard check boxes, so let your agent know. Qualified agents are already thoroughly familiar with Lake Toxaway’s broad attractions, but you’ve experienced specific advantages to living in this home, in this neighborhood. Each selling point is another facet that could fire a buyer’s imagination. Having a rich store of real life anecdotes to draw upon will strengthen your agent’s ability to put your home in the limelight.

Keep it cozy without clutter

Most times, an owner is still living at home, so your Lake Toxaway real estate agent will be working with what you have available when it comes to furniture and home décor. It’s a strongpoint when prospective buyers are able to project themselves into being the comfortable homeowners. If they’re prevented from envisioning your home as their own, they’ll be out the door and onto the next! Clearing away personal items helps with that—and keeping the clutter level low increases the sense of spaciousness. If buyers see an overstuffed closet, they’ll sense a house that lacks storage space. If kitchen counters are cluttered, they’ll think the space is too small.

Be flexible with your schedule

Your real estate agent lists your house, makes sure to market it in all the many venues available, arranges open houses and showings, and spreads the word throughout the industry. During this part of the process, you help greatly by being as flexible as possible when it comes to showings. Sometimes potential buyers may seem to be placing insensitive scheduling burdens on the team—but as any serious-minded house hunter can tell you, they have their own scheduling issues, too!
Selling a home is a team effort, for sure; one you can decide to launch with a simple phone call to me at my office!