It’s HGTV y’all

   

Have you ever wondered what it would be like to be one of those people on HGTV? Well… first-time SELLERS, now is your chance!

 HGTV’s hit Primetime show, My First Sale is filming in Charlotte until early 2011. They are now taking applicants for 1^st Time Home Sellers through mid-December. If you or someone you know is thinking about selling their first home, this could be excellent exposure for your property and a fun way to be a part of the real estate experience!

 Please comment, email or facebook me if you or someone you know may be interested. I will also be offering a HUGE COMMISSION BREAK to anyone looking to sell between now and 12/31/2010 and that offer is extended to EVERYONE – not just 1^st Time Sellers.

 

 

If you or someone you know is interested, please visit the CONTACT ME page and contact me in whatever way is convenient for you. I look forward to being a HAM on TV with you! 🙂

What can a REALTOR do for you?

As I was reading through my first post, I realized I may have come off a bit harsh on you, world. I do believe research is key when trying to find a Realtor, but I stumbled across a terrific article on www.Realtor.com today and I think they say it best. So – if you jusssst so happen to be thinking about buying or selling soon, take this advice from us pros….

What a REALTOR® Can Do for You

The REALTOR® you work with could be one of your most valuable resources. Unlike many real estate agents who are simply licensed by their state to do business, REALTORS® have taken additional steps to become members of the local board of REALTORS® and have agreed to act under and adhere to a strict Code of Ethics.  Plus…

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• A REALTOR® can help you determine how much home you can afford. Often a REALTOR® can suggest ways to accrue the down payment and explain alternative financing methods.
• A REALTOR®, in addition to knowing the local money market, also can tell you what personal and financial data to bring with you when you apply for a loan.
• A REALTOR® is already familiar with current real estate values, taxes, utility costs, municipal services and facilities, and may be aware of local zoning changes that could affect your decision to buy.
• A REALTOR® can usually research your housing needs in advance through a Multiple Listing Service–even if you are relocating from another city. 
• A REALTOR® can show you only those homes best suited to your needs–size, style, features, location, accessibility to schools, transportation, shopping and other personal preferences.
• A REALTOR® often can suggest simple, imaginative changes that make a home more suitable for you and improve its utility and value.
• A REALTOR® is sensitive to the importance you place on this major commitment you are about to make. Look for a real estate professional to facilitate negotiation of a win-win agreement that will satisfy both you and the seller.

 Regardless of your home finance needs, experts agree the first step is to perform a financial checkup and the best place to start is with free credit reports. Then, once you have an idea of your debts, assets and credit score, you should be ready to meet with a REALTOR® and Mortgage Specialist.

 

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REALTOR.com® is the official site of the National Association of REALTORS® and is operated by Move, Inc.

 Contact one of my preferred lenders directly to see if you are pre-qualified for a home refinance or purchase

 

 

© 1995- // 2010 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® and Move, Inc. All rights reserved.

 Equal Housing Opportunity
REALTOR.com® is the official site of the National Association of REALTORS® and is operated by Move, Inc.

REALTOR® — A Registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics. Inquiries regarding the Code of Ethics should be directed to the board in which a REALTOR® holds membership.

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*Note from MyAgentKatie: the above article came from Realtor.com. I am not the original author. Words in RED are written by MyAgentKatie (Katie Pope Guthrie).

Doin’ it the Right Way

Today’s buyers and sellers are all pretty tech-savvy. You’re all searching online…actually about 94% actually look online before you select your Realtor or even go look at properties. But many of you don’t really understand the way we work. That is, the way Realtors work. 

Realtors are commission based, which means rarely do we charge any up-front fees to do the dirty work to help you. We get a percentage of the sales price and that percentage is typically paid by the seller of the property. So Buyers, why spend all your personal time searching for homes when you can hire a Realtor to do this for you? And Sellers, please do your homework! Don’t just take the word of your favorite blogger… conduct in-person interviews, ask your friends who they would refer and think about the value of actual personal contact.  Do it the right way: research, interview, make contact.

That’s right, I’m calling you ALL out. For the last few years, I have absolutely noticed a difference in the attitudes of the common buyer or seller “lead” I get. Many of you have done a lot of research about home buying/selling, you’ve read about Charlotte’s top agents before you make any phone calls and some of you have even signed up for automated home searches. But the general attitude is this: agents are simply a commodity.  There are tons of us, right? So why even bother taking the time to really look into who would best represent us in the singlemost important purchase of our lives?  Because it is too easy to just click a mouse.

So, I want to challenge all of you online home buyers and sellers … think about the way you want your transaction to turn out and seriously contemplate who you are hiring to represent you. The way agents work can vary greatly in different parts of North Carolina and around the US.   Some states even rely on attorneys to negotiate purchase contracts rather than having the agents and clients do so! Crazy, right?

So, here’s the gist of what I want you to all think about:

There are a lot of Realtors out there, sure, but some are good and some  are not sogood.  All we agents can do is to try to show you through our testimonials, our involvement in our communities (online and in real-life) and by our closing stats that we can get the job done for you and take a lot of stress off your shoulders.  Do your homework and don’t just settle with going with the company whose search you prefer to use on the internet. Think about your interests, that company’s mission, the agents’ personalities, and how you want your transaction to turn out. Do it the right way: utilize the freedom of the internet, but don’t forget you are still a human and you will need another human to get you through your real estate transaction without any hiccups.