3 Ways to Find the Right Realtor for You

Have you ever met a bad Realtor? They can change the way you view this profession.

When you need a real estate professional, it can be hard to find someone you can trust. When the market is hot like it's been lately, a lot of people think they can make a quick buck selling real estate, and these people can be hard to spot. To help you differentiate between a good Realtor and a bad one, I want to share the three things you should ask a Realtor before you decide to work with them.

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 Is real estate a hobby
 or a profession for them?

”

1. How long have you been selling real estate full-time, and how many homes are you selling? This will show you if real estate is a profession for them or just a hobby. People who think they can use real estate to make a quick buck don't last long in this market.   
2. How do you determine the price of a property? Listing your home at the right price can be the difference between selling or lingering on the market with no offers. Pricing a home is more than checking the comps—a true professional will have a comprehensive strategy for pricing.
3. What is your marketing plan? Sticking a sign in the yard and listing your house on the MLS is not a marketing plan. There are more than 30 different ways a professional agent can market your home, so make sure your agent is maximizing their network and has a strategy to help you achieve your real estate goals.

I really hope these tips help you find the right Realtor when the time comes. If you have any more questions about finding the right agent, please feel free to give me a call or send me an email. I hope to hear from you soon!

Is The Market On The Decline?

I just returned from a week-long seminar with 4,000 of the top real estate agents in the world. We've noticed that the market in America has been great coming out of the recession, and that cycles in the last 50 years have been five to seven-year cycles where the market goes up, peaks, and comes back down.

We're likely on the back end of the peak in the seventh year of the cycle coming out of the worst real estate recession ever.

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The market is good, but it
 probably won't go up anymore.

”

The market is good, but it's probably not going up anymore. If you're considering trying to take advantage of the market, know the stats! We have more properties coming on the market, as well as more properties expiring and canceling because they weren't priced properly.

If you're thinking about selling, look at those properties that have recently come on the market, are pending, or have sold. Find out where they are right now - how many times have they been listed? Look at where they started price-wise, and where they sold at.

If you have any questions about the market, give me a call or send me an email. I'd be happy to help you out.

How Can You Avoid Overpricing Your Home?

When the market is hot and agents are fighting over listings, it’s easy to get caught up in the crossfire, which can cost you the sale of the home. One of the worst things that I see agents do all too often is overprice homes. Lucky for you, I have three easy ways to ensure this doesn’t happen to you.

1. Use a trusted home valuation tool. Don’t rely on sites like Zillow and Trulia. Their home values can be off by as much as 25%!
2. Get a professional opinion. Once you get an online valuation, call a professional to come see your home. Each home is unique, and there are many factors that can make your home worth more than your neighbors'. I love to give homeowners this information because it empowers them to make the best decisions.
3. Keep current. Home values in markets like San Diego can change quickly and your information can become outdated pretty quick. Don’t hesitate to subscribe to monthly emails or newsletters to stay in the loop.

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Home values change all the time in
San Diego, so it’s important to stay updated.

”

If you have any questions about how I can help and empower you in your real estate journey, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us. We would love to hear from you!