Remember
when you were single and you wanted to meet the person of your dreams? It wasn't like you were going to go out and the first person you bumped into was
going to be “that person”.
You don’t
have to worry about walking down the aisle with your agent, just to the real
estate attorney to sign the closing papers.
Finding
the right agent for you is kind of the same situation. Your agent will be the
most important part of your team to find you the right home or to sell your
home at the best price. You should feel confident and comfortable talking with
your agent. You will be giving them lots of information about yourself and your
family and discussing your wants and needs.
ElliottCoastal Living is one of the oldest and largest real estate companies in the
Myrtle Beach area and has been in business for over 55 years. Elliott Coastal Living works with communities throughout the Myrtle Beach area and the coastal communities of South Easter North Carolina. Rick Elliott, President,
said that a relationship between a real estate agent and seller or buyer of a
home is a special one.
“An agent
is like your best friend. They will offer you suggestions, answer your
questions, handle negotiations with a buyer or seller, be able to network with
other real estate professionals and also handle a lot of paperwork that is
necessary when you buy or sell a property. Any mistakes can cause a sale to
fail…and no one wants that.” Elliott added.
What
should you do to find the perfect match? Here are some suggestions:
1.
Talk
to several agents and make sure you feel comfortable with whomever you select.
You will be talking with them quite often, asking their advice and giving them
lots of information about yourself and your family. If you don’t feel
comfortable with them, it might make for some awkward conversations.
2.
Real
estate professionals have to be licensed by the state and meet certain
standards. While a state license does not mean they are the best agent for you,
having someone who is not licensed in the state would be like giving the keys
to your car to someone who’s not a licensed driver. They may know how to drive,
but the state doesn’t recognize their ability and skills.
3.
How
long have they been in business? According to experts, it’s better to have a company
that has been up and running for a while. "If
they haven't been in business five years, they're learning on you and that's
not good," says Robert Irwin, author of "Tips & Traps When Buying
a Home." Rick Elliott, President of Elliott Coastal Living said “Our Company
has been in the area for over 55 years. We have seen the community grow and are
able to recognize trends early.” Factors like this can help you avoid pitfalls
that a less experienced company might not see.
4.
It
is an excellent idea to check to see if the Relator is a full time agent. If
you select a agent who sells real estate every other Saturday and the first
Tuesday of the month, you may not be getting the best person to work for you. Your
agent needs to be someone who follows your area market every day. If you are
buying a home, you will want someone who can see a new listing quickly and show
you the house immediately. If you are selling your house, you will want an
agent to be able to show your house at the prospective buyer’s convenience. “A
missed opportunity may be a missed sale” says Rick Elliott.
5.
Uncle
Jim Bob may tell great stories that make Aunt Rose shrink under the table from
embarrassment during Christmas dinner, but he may not be your best selection as
your real estate professional. Having an agent who is a relative may cause hard
feelings and some resentment. Especially if the home you buy or sell ends up
with some problems or the price is either too high if you are a buyer or too
low if you are a seller. Conflicts may cause the transaction to fail. It may
also cause long term family conflicts and you might only get a lousy fruitcake
from Uncle Jim Bob in the future.
6.
If
you are selling your home, the most important thing to ask an agent is what
kind of marketing plan they have to sell your home. It is not enough to just
have a home listed on the MLS listings. Will there be an open house? How about
a web video tour? Who is the most likely buyer that would be interested a home
like yours? How will they get your property in front of that buyer?
7.
The
Stupid Question? You probably had a high
school teacher that told you “the
stupidest question is the question that has not been asked”. This is especially
true when talking to a potential real estate agent. Don’t feel afraid to ask potential real estate
agents questions. There
will be different questions to ask depending on whether you are the buyer or
the seller.
8.
As
a buyer, you should want to know how much communication the agent will have
with you. You will want to know how they will contact you. These days, it can range
anywhere from a phone call, text message or via email. If they tell you snail
mail, you probably should look elsewhere. Ask them how often you should expect
to hear from them. Are they familiar with people in your situation? Cash sales
are pretty straight forward. Homes with VA Loans and FHA Loans may require some
extra steps.
9.
As
a seller, you will also want to know how you will be communicating with the
agent. While each house is different, your agent can give you trends in your
area for the number of days on the market, average price of a home and average
sales price of a home in the area. You would also want your agent to help you
meet the goals of your sale. Are there simple repairs that should be made? If
you have already moved, will renting some furniture help nudge the sale? If the
house does not sell in a set number of months, what options do you have?
10. Foreclosures may be a bargain worth
looking at in Myrtle Beach area. Even though the real estate market in the
Myrtle Beach area is improving, you may still find a budget priced foreclosures
for sale. Some foreclosures may take some work or need appliances and fixtures
depending on the state the previous owner left the property in. Many foreclosures
can be a very shrewd investment. If you are in the market for a foreclosure,
make sure your real estate agent is familiar with some of the extra steps
required for the purchase of a foreclosure.
11. Look at the company that your agent
works for. With today’s changing technologies, having a real estate company
that does not use the latest technology or means to market your property may
lead to longer wait times to sell or purchase your home. Does the company the
agent works for meet your expectations?
There are
many real estate agents in the Myrtle Beach area and some are better than
others. Not every real estate company is on equal terms either. The best advice
anyone can give you is carefully select your agent and the company they work
for. Elliott Coastal Living has many very qualified and professional agents who
will give you the best service available.
According
to Rick Elliott, “Every member of the entire company is there to help you
either buy or sell your home. We take great pride in the personal service that
we give each person that walks into any of our offices. I strongly believe that
we are the best when it comes to delivering quality service to you. Our
involvement in the community, knowledge of the real estate market, and care in
meeting the needs of our customers and clients have enabled us to enjoy a fine
reputation across the state.”
Call your
Better Homes and Gardens - Elliott Coastal Living office and make plans to stop
by and meet the agent that will be your guide and knowledgeable helper in
either finding your new home or selling your old one.
No comments:
Post a Comment