Choosing an Agent
Choosing an Agent
In my two decades of selling real estate in one of the most competitive market, the things that has separated me from the pack in my relationships. I am very open and honest with my clients advising on trends in the market, when it is the best time to buy and sell as well as how to negotiate offers. Most of my business comes from referrals and repeat customers. I was lucky to have an incredible mentor who had deep knowledge of the neighborhoods, schools, and contractor networks in San Francisco. The secret to being a successful agent is making your clients happy. That being said, I have an incredible team whom I work with that ensures that all Ts are crossed. Some of the biggest mistakes I hear about come from agents not understanding the needs of their clients.
As an agent, it is my responsibility from the very first conversation to layout all of the steps for preparedness. It does not matter if this is our first transaction ever or the 10th. The market is constantly changing as are the parameters. I think Covid and the intensity of the current real estate climate with record-low interest rates has brought new energy in. Not a day goes by that I don't get a call from prospective buyers and sellers asking for my opinion on what they should do. In San Francisco, we have a handful of new financial programs to assist new buyers. For my repeat buyers, I am seeing new ways to deal with contingencies. Lining up expectations, steps and a proper plan is important to agree on before we more forward as to not lose out on opportunities.
Being an agent has been the most rewarding career I could ask for. I get to work with clients to understand their desires and pull together a strategic plan. A good agent knows the intricacies of each neighborhood, how to read comps, who to call on to create vision. It is amazing what a fresh coat of paint could do for my sellers and what the right contractor could provide to my buyers. I work with some folks for years until they are ready to pull the trigger seeing dozens of homes. It is important to have the right mortgage brokers and lawyers who can speed things along when it comes to closing.
We have seen such a huge uptick in sales well above asking price for single family homes with outdoor space. The numbers are staggering due to low-interest rates, the ever-evolving work from home possibilities and client's having a vision to stay in one place for a while. When we stage a home for selling, I encourage my clients to go pretty neutral so that a potential buyer could envision themselves moving in with little disruption. For my buyers, I work with them to understand what their grand vision is so that when we walk through a home, we can build out a plan. One of my recent clients bought a home in one of San Francisco's gem neighborhoods that needed a lot of love about a year ago. With just some basic updates, we just flipped it for well over what he would have dreamed. That makes me so happy.
Often times I get asked about mistakes I see. Even as a realtor, I one time invested in landscaping but not irrigation. It was a disaster. If we had invested properly at the upfront, we would have saved on having to redo it all. Or, spending a bit more effort on replacing windows and energy-saving measures are so worth it to lower utility bills. I tell everyone to install solar when possible and weatherize the home. It saves more than the initial cost in the short and long-term.
The most important thing to remember is that your real estate agent should be your partner. Trust, knowledge and experience are the key factors. My team and I are here for you to answer any questions.