By Alicia Lanier, REALTOR
At my weekend open houses, I meet many home buyers who – because they are web savvy – will at first insist that they do not want to work with a REALTOR because they can search on the web for homes being offered for sale and then go to an open house to check them out. Sometimes they say they have even driven by several homes to eliminate them so they “don’t have to go to the open house.” This is a big mistake, in my opinion, because often a home’s interior can, happily, sometimes be just what they want and a less-attractive exterior can frequently be modified to their satisfaction.
Admittedly, today’s buyers have in the Web a very powerful search tool at their disposal. But what most buyers don’t realize is that only about one-third of homes for sale have open houses. For the other two-thirds, a buyer needs a professional real estate agent with the right tools and instincts to find, help evaluate, and quickly access all remaining properties that might actually appeal to the buyer.
Secondly, using a buyer’s agent is not only free to the buyer … perhaps the only time any of us receive free professional service … but also saves time and even money in today’s market. Today’s buyers do have useful resources available, but a professional REALTOR has more – plus the expertise to know what further information a buyer really should have to make an informed home choice and acceptable purchase offer. More importantly, the buyer needs an advocate who will represent that buyer’s interests in both negotiations and property disclosures.
As for Sellers, the FSBOs out there (owners who are choosing to have a home For Sale By Owner) are perhaps the most misled of all. Obviously trying to save agency fees, an owner may strike out on his own without realizing that most FSBO homes end up with selling prices far less than comparable homes marketed by listing agents who are highly skilled marketing professionals. Just hiring any agent to place the home in the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is not enough to sell a home in today’s market. Worst of all, the owner unknowingly may not have made all the appropriate disclosures which could leave them vulnerable to a future lawsuit.
Unfortunately for them, the buyers and sellers out there who are so reluctant to work with a professional REALTOR are overlooking some highly useful free real estate services that can save them large amounts of time and money.
As we enter the waning days of 2007 – which, by the way, offers you buyers a compelling trio of reasons to buy now because of attractive inventory, motivated sellers, and low home lown rates – here are My Complimentary Services to help both buyers and sellers get started immediately on the path to finding the perfect property or selling a home ….
FOR BUYERS: Request my Just Listed Homes for Sale e-mail alerts. I will send you regular emailed photos and details about newly listed homes for sale that meet your search criteria. Request alerts for Single-Family Homes, Condos/Townhomes, Land, or Multi-Family properties anywhere in the Silicon Valley.
FOR SELLERS: Request my indepth free Home Audit to learn how to “dress” your home for a successful sale, its potential selling value and more. I will also include my customized, exclusive “fast track” marketing plan for your home.
REFERRALS. Ask for the name and contact information for an excellent REALTOR in our Coldwell Banker network who can assist you with buying or selling anywhere in the United States.
My Other Complimentary Services will help both buyers and sellers and are also designed to inform everyone about our Silicon Valley housing market and its impact on our daily lives …
Print newsletter, Service for Life. Ask for a complimentary subscription to this consumer publication about living “healthy, wealthy, and wise” in the Silicon Valley.
Market updates for all Silicon Valley cities … ask me to furnish an up-to-the minute report of all single-family or condo homes for sale/activity for your specific city or neighborhood.
Alicia’s Homeowners Guide … ask for a free subscription to my monthly e-mail newsletter filled with tips for buying, selling and maintaining a home.
Search the Entire MLS at www.AliciaLanier.com – simply click on Property Search to search for Single-family homes, Condos/Townhomes, Multi-Family Properties or land. When you find something that looks promising, call or e-mail me with questions or to visit the property.
FREE REPORTS, including: “Tips for Selling Your Home for Top Dollar – and Fast!” ~ “12 Questions You Should Ask Before Committing to a Real Estate Agent” ~ “The Best Home Fix-Ups” ~ “Avoid 7 Costly Mistakes When Selling Your Home” ~ Customized City/Neighborhood MarketWatch Reports
To Request Any Complimentary Service, call me at 408-491-1634 or write your request below and click submit.
Alicia Lanier is a REALTOR and member of the Coldwell Banker Diamond Society – Top 8% of Agents Internationally www.AliciaLanier.com 408-491-1634
