How Do I Choose a Realtor or a Real Estate Company?

All Real Estate Companies are not Created Equal

What is your ultimate goal?

So you have decided to sell your home or property, what is your next step?   Well you first need to make sure to identify your end goal.  You say your goal is to sell your house, right?  Or you say your goal is to sell your house with the best terms, right?  Well maybe….. but not exactly.

Your goals should be:

1.       You want to sell your house quickly so that you have access to the equity.  Study the time value of money. 

2.       You want to sell it for the most money possible.  Think about “what the market will bear” or “wringing every last dollar” out of your transaction.

3.       You want to have your home exposed to as many people or potential buyers as possible.  This will help facilitate the first two goals.  The more people who have access to your home the more likely you will find that perfect buyer and you won’t need to settle for whoever comes along.  

4.       The best deal is a done deal where the drama involved was ZERO.

Choosing a Realtor – An Aggressive Advocate or a Best Friend

When choosing a Realtor, it is important to know what you want.  Is it important to you that you get someone knowledgeable who knows the market and has experience?  If you answered yes, then you want a full-time real estate agent who doesn’t just “dabble” in real estate as a sideline to another career.  You should interview Realtors like you were interviewing prospective employees for a job.  Imagine you are hiring a person to look after several hundred thousand dollars of your money because you are. 

Many people make the mistake of choosing a family friend or a person they know is a Realtor. Personally, if I were looking for an attorney to represent me, I would always choose the best one I could afford and I would hire the best person for the job.  Remember, you are hiring a professional to represent you in a transaction where hundreds of thousands of dollars are changing hands.  A Realtor is your agent, and he or she should be acting in your best interest by the very definition of the Agency relationship. Choosing a family friend may be OK, but sometimes this creates issues. Money, business, and friendship often create tensions for some.  When I am hired to do a job, I aggressively represent my clients and seek their best financial interests at all times.

Choosing a Real Estate Company – Size Matters

There are all types and sizes of real estate companies out there, so how do you choose the best one?  Do you recall the 3 goals?  You should choose a company who can help you reach those goals.  For instance a small “mom and pop” operation may be nice to you, but again we’re talking about a whole lot of money here.  A larger company has advantages.  Marketing is the key to receiving the most money for your property.  Larger companies have more resources and often have an internal marketing advantage within its walls.  With many agents, it is very likely that your home will be sold by one of those agents due to size and an economy of scale advantage.   Also many larger companies have an internal marketing and IT staff and in this technology weighted economy that is very important.

Marketing Tools – Technology is King

Any successful product you can name has a marketing plan behind it.  Putting a sign in your front yard and introducing your home into the local MLS is a poor marketing plan, but that is what you’ll get from many Realtors today.  Recent studies have shown that it takes multiple exposures before a person decides to purchase.  My company uses many innovative ways to get your home exposed to many potential buyers.  See goal 3.   

Wrap Up

I think you’ll agree that if you take the time to choose wisely it can save you a lot of money in the long run.

Barry Suttles – Realtor

New Homes Group Manager

540-246-5666 mobile

540-437-3671 office direct

540-437-3500 Kline May  Realty

Barry@providencevalley.com

Yes Virginia, There is a Harrisonburg!

Retirement at its Best 

Even as I write this, I realize that there are people out there looking for a great place to live and enjoy their golden years.  Many say that that is the last thing you need to be thinking about during a downturn like the one we are currently experiencing, is real estate.  Poppycock!

If you would have bought a retirement home 3 years ago in many places across the country, you would have bought at the top of the market and then subsequently watched in horror as the value of your retirement home lost 20% or more.  Well, in Harrisonburg Virginia even the people who bought at the top have weathered this storm quite nicely with prices declining 3 to 5 percent.

Harrisonburg is a great place for retirement.  The current national statistics say we are still in a slumping market but be careful when you read these.  Real estate, like politics, is local. The Harrisonburg area has had very little decline in real estate prices during this national crisis.

Live Where Others Pay to Visit Every Year

Here are just a few reasons to consider retiring in Harrisonburg Virginia.

• The Shenandoah Valley is beautiful, and every year thousands of people from all over the globe come to enjoy this gift of nature.
• Many great schools - Eastern Mennonite University, James Madison University, Bridgewater College. Every year thousands of students come to study in Harrisonburg and the surrounding area and many never go back home after graduation.
• Culture – only 2 hours from Washington DC and other great cultural hot spots
• Strong Local Economy
• Retirement communities like Virginia Mennonite Retirement Community, and Bridgewater Retirement are great places.
• Recreation – I could write a book on this. People who live here know that you don’t ever have to be board. There is so much to do and see you will always be busy…..if you want to be.

Call me if you are considering a move to Harrisonburg.  Better yet, let me know when you are going to be here and we can have a cup of coffee and I can help you get started finding your next home!

Barry Suttles – Realtor

540-246-5666 mobile anytime

540-246-5666 mobile anytime

Harrisonburg Schools – Redistricting

Mom….what school do I go to now? 

Many local people have children in the public schools. And you are probably wondering how the redistricting affects you, and where your son or daughter will go to school.  Well, we here at providencevalley.com want to be of help anytime we can.  So here is a link that may help you and I have some pdf files outlining the maps and school district locations for you to download too if you would like them.

$8000 Housing Credit Explained

Taken from a report by the National Association of Realtors.  

Bringing the Dream of Homeownership Within Reach

As part of its plan to stimulate the U.S. housing market and address the economic challenges facing our nation, Congress has passed legislation that grants a tax credit of up to $8,000 to first-time home buyers.

Here is more information about how the 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit can help prospective home buyers become part of the American dream.

Register for Sept. 3rd  Research First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit webinar (Aug. 24)

Who Qualifies?

First-time home buyers who purchase homes between January 1, 2009 and December 1, 2009.

To qualify as a “first-time home buyer” the purchaser or his/her spouse may not have owned a residence during the three years prior to the purchase.

Which Properties Are Eligible?

The 2009 First-Time Home Buyer Tax Credit may be applied to primary residences, including: single-family homes, condos, townhomes, and co-ops.

How Much Will the Credit Be?

The maximum allowable credit for home buyers is $8,000. Each home buyer’s tax credit is determined by two factors:

The price of the home—the credit is equal to 10% of the purchase price of the home, up to $8,000.

The buyer’s income—single buyers with incomes up to $75,000 and married couples with incomes up to $150,000—may receive the maximum tax credit.

If the Buyer(s)’ Income Exceeds These Limits, Can He/She Still Get a Credit?

Yes, some buyers may still be eligible for the credit.

The credit decreases for buyers who earn between $75,000 and $95,000 for single buyers and between $150,000 and $170,000 for home buyers filing jointly. The amount of the tax credit decreases as his/her income approaches the maximum limit. Home buyers earning more than the maximum qualifying income—over $95,000 for singles and over $170,000 for couples are not eligible for the credit.

Will the Tax Credit Need to Be Repaid?

No. The buyer does not need to repay the tax credit, if he/she occupies the home for three years or more. However, if the property is sold during the three-year period, the credit will be recouped on the sale.

If you are ready to buy your first home in Harrisonburg or the surrounduing area, call me at 540-246-5666.  Time is running out on this tax credit and there is some doubt that it will be extended.

Barry Suttles – Realtor