Hire a Professional Real Estate Agent
A qualified, competent real estate agent will help you navigate the myriad of decisions that arise when buying and selling a home. An agent provides value to the homeowner in many ways:
Pays for all marketing and advertising costs.
Adds experience and expertise in all aspects of the sales process including marketing, financing, negotiations and more.
Handles all showings.
Brings a network of known, trusted real estate professionals. If your agent doesn't have the answer, he or she likely knows someone who does.
Always has your interests in mind so you always have someone on your side.
Can handle and advise on all price and contract negotiations.
Provides you with all the possible options and opportunities without holding back.
Gives an unbiased, realistic view of your home and your options. Unlike buyers and sellers, an agent has no emotional attachment to property.
Has the knowledge to help you ask the right questions.
Being a third party, potential buyers are more likely to tell your agent the truth about your home, even if it is unflattering. This objective viewpoint will help you make the necessary changes to get your home sold.
Your time is valuable. A real estate agent allows you to spend your time how you want.
Friday, January 02, 2009
Common Selling Mistakes
Common Selling Mistakes
Mistake #1 -- Placing the Wrong Price on Your Property
Every seller obviously wants to get the most money for his or her product. Ironically, the best way to do this is NOT to list your product at an excessively high price! A high listing price will cause some prospective buyers to lose interest before even seeing your property. Also, it may lead other buyers to expect more than what you have to offer. As a result, overpriced properties tend to take an unusually long time to sell, and they end up being sold at a lower price.
Mistake #2 -- Mistaking Re-finance Appraisals for the Market Value
Unfortunately, a re-finance appraisal may have been stated at an untruthfully high price. Often, lenders estimate the value of your property to be higher than it actually is in order to encourage re-financing. The market value of your home could actually be lower. Your best bet is to ask your realtor for the most recent information regarding property sales in your community. This will give you an up-to-date and factually accurate estimate of your property value.
To download the full report simply fill in your email address and it will be sent to you immediately!
Mistake #1 -- Placing the Wrong Price on Your Property
Every seller obviously wants to get the most money for his or her product. Ironically, the best way to do this is NOT to list your product at an excessively high price! A high listing price will cause some prospective buyers to lose interest before even seeing your property. Also, it may lead other buyers to expect more than what you have to offer. As a result, overpriced properties tend to take an unusually long time to sell, and they end up being sold at a lower price.
Mistake #2 -- Mistaking Re-finance Appraisals for the Market Value
Unfortunately, a re-finance appraisal may have been stated at an untruthfully high price. Often, lenders estimate the value of your property to be higher than it actually is in order to encourage re-financing. The market value of your home could actually be lower. Your best bet is to ask your realtor for the most recent information regarding property sales in your community. This will give you an up-to-date and factually accurate estimate of your property value.
To download the full report simply fill in your email address and it will be sent to you immediately!
Avoid the most commone homebuying errors
Avoid The Most Common Buyer Errors
Shopping for a new home is an emotional experience. It’s also time consuming and comes with a myriad of details. Some buyers, however, caught up in the excitement of buying a new home tend to overlook some items. Their home purchase turns into an expensive process. These errors generally fall into three areas:
Paying too much
Losing a dream home to another buyer
Buying the wrong home
When you have a systematic plan before you shop, you’ll be sure to avoid these costly errors. Here are some tips on making the most of your home purchase:
Bidding without sufficient information
What price do you offer a seller? Is the seller’s asking price too high? Is it a deal? Without research on the market and comparable homes, you could lose thousands of dollars. Before you make that offer, be sure you have researched the market. A professional realtor, can offer an unbiased opinion on the value of a home, based on market conditions, condition of the home and neighborhood. Without knowledge of the market, your offer could be too much. Or worse, you could miss out on a great buying opportunity.
Buying a mis-matched home
What do you need and want in a home? Sounds simple. Yet, clearly identifying your needs and bringing an objective view to home shopping, leaves you in a better position. Sometimes, home buyers buy a home that is too large or too small. Perhaps they didn’t consider the drive to work, the distance to school, or the many repair jobs waiting for completion. Plan ahead. Use your needs list as a guideline for every home you view.
Unclear title
Before you sign any document, be sure the property you are considering is free of all encumbrances. As part of their services, a realtor can supply you with a copy of the title to ensure there are no liens, debts, undisclosed owners, leases or easements.
Outdated survey
Before the purchase is completed, an updated survey is essential. This report will indicate boundaries and structural changes (additions to the house, a new swimming pool, neighbor’s new fence which is extending a boundary line, etc.).
Unexpected repairs
For $300 - $500 a professional inspector will conduct a thorough inspection of the home. This way, you’ll have an idea of the cost of future repairs. Make the final contract subject to a favourable report.
Shopping without pre-approval
It only takes a few days to get financing pre-approval. When you are shopping for a home, this gives you more power. A seller is more likely to consider an offer from a serious buyer.
Remember additional cost
Besides the funds for the purchase of a home, you’ll need funds for items such as loan fees, insurance, legal fees, surveys, inspections, etc.
Rushing the closing
Before you sign, ensure that all documentation clearly reflects your understanding and conditions of the transaction. Has anything been forgotten? Don’t rush. You could lose money, financing or even the sale.
www.mapazhomes.com
Shopping for a new home is an emotional experience. It’s also time consuming and comes with a myriad of details. Some buyers, however, caught up in the excitement of buying a new home tend to overlook some items. Their home purchase turns into an expensive process. These errors generally fall into three areas:
Paying too much
Losing a dream home to another buyer
Buying the wrong home
When you have a systematic plan before you shop, you’ll be sure to avoid these costly errors. Here are some tips on making the most of your home purchase:
Bidding without sufficient information
What price do you offer a seller? Is the seller’s asking price too high? Is it a deal? Without research on the market and comparable homes, you could lose thousands of dollars. Before you make that offer, be sure you have researched the market. A professional realtor, can offer an unbiased opinion on the value of a home, based on market conditions, condition of the home and neighborhood. Without knowledge of the market, your offer could be too much. Or worse, you could miss out on a great buying opportunity.
Buying a mis-matched home
What do you need and want in a home? Sounds simple. Yet, clearly identifying your needs and bringing an objective view to home shopping, leaves you in a better position. Sometimes, home buyers buy a home that is too large or too small. Perhaps they didn’t consider the drive to work, the distance to school, or the many repair jobs waiting for completion. Plan ahead. Use your needs list as a guideline for every home you view.
Unclear title
Before you sign any document, be sure the property you are considering is free of all encumbrances. As part of their services, a realtor can supply you with a copy of the title to ensure there are no liens, debts, undisclosed owners, leases or easements.
Outdated survey
Before the purchase is completed, an updated survey is essential. This report will indicate boundaries and structural changes (additions to the house, a new swimming pool, neighbor’s new fence which is extending a boundary line, etc.).
Unexpected repairs
For $300 - $500 a professional inspector will conduct a thorough inspection of the home. This way, you’ll have an idea of the cost of future repairs. Make the final contract subject to a favourable report.
Shopping without pre-approval
It only takes a few days to get financing pre-approval. When you are shopping for a home, this gives you more power. A seller is more likely to consider an offer from a serious buyer.
Remember additional cost
Besides the funds for the purchase of a home, you’ll need funds for items such as loan fees, insurance, legal fees, surveys, inspections, etc.
Rushing the closing
Before you sign, ensure that all documentation clearly reflects your understanding and conditions of the transaction. Has anything been forgotten? Don’t rush. You could lose money, financing or even the sale.
www.mapazhomes.com
Thursday, January 01, 2009
What is the difference between a REALTOR® and a real estate team? A single REALTOR® typically is a salesperson. They own their job. They market and sell a house and then market again and sell another house. They are one person wearing many hats. It is a difficult job to do well by yourself. Imagine your physician or your dentist working alone. It would be difficult for them to answer the phones, run the tests, see the patients, perform the surgery, book the appointments, follow-up, etc. You get the point. A real estate team is a group of professionals. A business. Everyone is trained to perform their expertise as it is applied to your real estate transaction. At AZ Mastermind Group, LLC. you will find that each member of the team is a highly trained professional. They know the real estate process from start to finish. Each member performs a specific job in relation to the transaction. Michelle Shelton is our Marketing Expert and Listing Specialist. She is constantly researching the real estate market and analyzing what forms of marketing works best to sell homes. She is out in the field meeting with clients that want to sell their home. She also makes all the business decisions on what trainings will be implemented as well as what systems are best for the team. She sets high standards for her team and hand selects her team members based on their character, skills, goals, philosophies and attitudes. She is a servant and expects her team members to serve clients. She wants to have fun and be on top of things at all times. As a Certified Negotiation Expert , Michelle teaches her buyers agents how to best serve buyer clients. Buyer Specialists serve our buyer clients. They do research, perform searches, evaluate the market and pricing, and are strong negotiators. They write offers and present them on behalf of you, our client. Our buyer specialists are highly motivated professionals. What your REALTOR should teach you. Jenny Howie is our Business Director. Jenny makes sure everything in the office runs smoothly. She is the heartbeat of our organization. She is the person that carries things out and makes sure all of your paperwork is submitted to the Broker for review. Each of our team members plays a role in the success of your real estate transaction. You will also have couriers and other behind the scene members that serve as part of your team. Thank you for the opportunity to earn your business. Michelle Shelton AZ Mastermind Group 480-577-8272 "Be more concerned with your character than your reputation, because your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are." - John Wooden Find your next home at www.mapazhomes.com |
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Sunday, November 26, 2006
Keller Williams Training
This last week we attending some high quality training. One thing I love about being an agent at Keller Williams is the fact that you are a full partner. Part of that is being nominated to the Agent Leadership Council. This is the top agents in each market center that are selected to become a voice for all the agents in the market center.
If you are an agent at another company you should have a voice in how things operate in your brokerage, shouldn't you? Call us to check out Keller Williams...there is no kool-aid to drink...promise!
If you are an agent at another company you should have a voice in how things operate in your brokerage, shouldn't you? Call us to check out Keller Williams...there is no kool-aid to drink...promise!
Buyer Broker Agreement?
Buyer Broker Agreement? What’s that? Most agents don’t ask their potential buyers to sign anything. It is too…well…you know…uncomfortable. Hmmmmmmm.
A professional is viewed as a professional for a reason. They value their own time and energy as well as their clients. Of all the paperwork required, I often wonder why the Buyer Broker Agreement isn’t required.
Personally, I take anywhere from 40 to 50 phone calls per day from my listing signs. Most of these individuals do not have an agent or they are not happy with their agent’s performance. When someone calls without representation, I also extend an offer of my services, but there is a catch, they must be willing to sign a buyer broker agreement. Why? It is the right thing to do. I often hear agents griping about how people run them ragged and use them up and then go and buy from someone else from a sign or perhaps a for sale by owner. In my opinion, this is the agents lack of educating their clients on the value, they, the agent, bring to the deal.
Even though I have a high energy level and run at high speed most of the time, there are times when it can still catch up to me. Prioritizing, organizing and actually roping in time, is certainly a challenge. One of the ways this can be done is to fully commit to my clients and like a good marriage, why would the commitment only be one sided? After all, if I was committed to my husband and he was not committed to me, it seems a bit unequal, unfair, and even unhealthy to continue in such a relationship, doesn’t it?
Many people talk about commitment as if it is stomach gas. First they feel committed, then they don’t feel committed. I don’t think commitment is a feeling at all! True commitment is a conscience decision to follow something through to completion and give it your all to make it work.
I met a man once that wanted to do business with me. He continued to talk about his high level of commitment and integrity. He didn’t talk about it in a way of saying he valued integrity, he talked about how he just had integrity. Integrity, like any character trait is not something we have….people don’t just have patience. These traits must first be recognized and then developed.
When it came time to do business with this same man I asked for the terms we had agreed to in writing. He became angry and said his word was his word and he didn’t need to put it in writing. He said I was questioning his integrity and he didn’t like it. In return, I simply stated that everyone that I knew that had integrity, didn’t have a problem putting it in writing. Hmmmmmmm. This didn’t make him happy. But of course, it is not my job to make other people happy is it?
The next time someone asks you to look for a home…take a minute and say, I have a slot open to help you find a home…and…let me tell you how I work…at this point, explain the buyer broker agreement to them in depth…tell them it is not about obligating them…it is about YOU committing to them fully.
Professionals protect their clients and want what is in the clients best interest. If you are not giving your buyers your commitment in writing, you are not doing them any favors. Buyer Broker Agreements also protect your clients from the wolves out there that will hound them and beat them up. Do what is right and best for everyone and take control of your business. Be a professional! Use a Buyer Broker Agreement with all of your clients.
Michelle Shelton lives in Gilbert, Arizona on horse property with her husband Paul and their five children. Michelle is an author, educator, recruiter and licensed Arizona REALTOR. If you would like Michelle to assist you in purchasing or listing a property in Arizona, please visit her website: http://www.askmichelleshelton.com
A professional is viewed as a professional for a reason. They value their own time and energy as well as their clients. Of all the paperwork required, I often wonder why the Buyer Broker Agreement isn’t required.
Personally, I take anywhere from 40 to 50 phone calls per day from my listing signs. Most of these individuals do not have an agent or they are not happy with their agent’s performance. When someone calls without representation, I also extend an offer of my services, but there is a catch, they must be willing to sign a buyer broker agreement. Why? It is the right thing to do. I often hear agents griping about how people run them ragged and use them up and then go and buy from someone else from a sign or perhaps a for sale by owner. In my opinion, this is the agents lack of educating their clients on the value, they, the agent, bring to the deal.
Even though I have a high energy level and run at high speed most of the time, there are times when it can still catch up to me. Prioritizing, organizing and actually roping in time, is certainly a challenge. One of the ways this can be done is to fully commit to my clients and like a good marriage, why would the commitment only be one sided? After all, if I was committed to my husband and he was not committed to me, it seems a bit unequal, unfair, and even unhealthy to continue in such a relationship, doesn’t it?
Many people talk about commitment as if it is stomach gas. First they feel committed, then they don’t feel committed. I don’t think commitment is a feeling at all! True commitment is a conscience decision to follow something through to completion and give it your all to make it work.
I met a man once that wanted to do business with me. He continued to talk about his high level of commitment and integrity. He didn’t talk about it in a way of saying he valued integrity, he talked about how he just had integrity. Integrity, like any character trait is not something we have….people don’t just have patience. These traits must first be recognized and then developed.
When it came time to do business with this same man I asked for the terms we had agreed to in writing. He became angry and said his word was his word and he didn’t need to put it in writing. He said I was questioning his integrity and he didn’t like it. In return, I simply stated that everyone that I knew that had integrity, didn’t have a problem putting it in writing. Hmmmmmmm. This didn’t make him happy. But of course, it is not my job to make other people happy is it?
The next time someone asks you to look for a home…take a minute and say, I have a slot open to help you find a home…and…let me tell you how I work…at this point, explain the buyer broker agreement to them in depth…tell them it is not about obligating them…it is about YOU committing to them fully.
Professionals protect their clients and want what is in the clients best interest. If you are not giving your buyers your commitment in writing, you are not doing them any favors. Buyer Broker Agreements also protect your clients from the wolves out there that will hound them and beat them up. Do what is right and best for everyone and take control of your business. Be a professional! Use a Buyer Broker Agreement with all of your clients.
Michelle Shelton lives in Gilbert, Arizona on horse property with her husband Paul and their five children. Michelle is an author, educator, recruiter and licensed Arizona REALTOR. If you would like Michelle to assist you in purchasing or listing a property in Arizona, please visit her website: http://www.askmichelleshelton.com
Tuesday, September 19, 2006
The Hidden Business Message in Finding Nemo! By Michelle Shelton, Realtor
In the movie, Finding Nemo, Nemo's father, Marlyn asks the sea turtle, "Dude, how do you know when they are ready?" This is an interesting question that many Mentors would like to know. How DO you know when your little fledglings are ready to take on tasks for themselves? The only way to know if your associates are ready for something, is to test them. In the movie you may remember Nemo being in the fish tank and becoming stuck in the air tube, all of the other fish wanted to rescue Nemo from a certain death. All except Gil. Gil could see that Nemo was perfectly capable of getting out of the tube for himself. Nemo on the other hand was told his entire life by his father that he couldn't swim well because he had a bad fin. Nemo promptly relayed this message to Gil. Yet Gil didn't buy it. He could see that Nemo could indeed save himself and he told him so. So what could Nemo do? Nothing. Nothing that is, except, perform. He had to save himself because he had no other choice. He had to get out of the air tube himself or he would die. When put to the test by Gil, Nemo passed with flying colors. He got himself out of the air tube and quickly realized that he COULD do it himself. Gil instantly gave Nemo the gift of self-accomplishment and confidence that his father had unintentionally robbed Nemo of his entire life.
New agents often tell their mentors that they can't perform certain tasks because the new agents hope the more experienced agent will bail them out. Someone is always selling and someone is always buying. When your new associates are selling you on what they can't do, are you buying? Or do you sell them on what they CAN do?
As mentors we must realize that our new agents need to be tested in order to grow. We must allow them to fail on the little things and be there to pick them up when they fall. This is how they learn. This is how they grow.
Nemo's Father Taught us Failure is Necessary for Success!
I think the way you know they are ready is to train them to do a task and then teach them why it is important to be able to do it themselves. Next , turn them lose and allow them some room to fail. That's right, I said fail. My father once told me that failure was necessary for success. "Don't worry about failure," he said, "just make sure you always fail forward."
In order for new agents to develop properly we, as Mentors and Coaches, must allow them room to grow and that means not doing everything for them. Anything you do for your new agents that they can do for themselves will cripple them. I find it interesting that Nemo had a crippled fin and wonder if he was crippled because his father never allowed him to swim very far from home. Because, after all, there are many dangers out in the ocean…like sharks! Nemo's father was so overprotective of him that he didn't give him the skills necessary to develop confidence and the life skills he needed to deal with the dangers of the ocean.
The type of parenting parallels with the same type of Coaching and Mentoring. These Coaches create agents that never learn to get themselves out of a jam. These agents become very dependent on their Mentor or others to bail them out of every situation. These agents may already be dependent adults. Not only do they become extremely dependent on others, they have very little confidence in themselves and their own abilities and often lead a chaotic life.
It is difficult to know when we are being too protective of our new agent, “fledglings” and to know when we must step in and rescue them. I suggest that Coaches and Mentors not only train their new agents how to do something but also give them the "why" behind the training so they instill it in their mind. We must train AND teach them about real estate so they can learn to make good decisions when we are not there to bail them out. Perhaps you have been overprotecting a new agent? How can you change? First ask yourself. Can he do this himself? Is he at the point he can be trained how to do this? Why should he do this himself?
This is the only hope of giving your new agents confidence in their own abilities and making them independent of you. After all, your job as a Mentor and Coach is to teach your agents to be independent of you, not dependent on you!
About the Author: Michelle Shelton, Gilbert, Arizona, Maricopa County michelleshelton@yahoo.com More Details about Real Estate Coaching from Michelle here. Michelle Shelton. Michelle is a licensed REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty Southeast Valley in Gilbert, Arizona. Michelle specializes in teaching clients the entire process of Real Estate. She believes that the more educated her clients are, the less anxiety and stress they will have when buying or selling their home. Michelle lives in Gilbert, Arizona with her husband, Paul and their five children. She specializes in listing East Valley property and her main focus is Horse Properties in Arizona. You can email Michelle directly at Michelleshelton@yahoo.com
New agents often tell their mentors that they can't perform certain tasks because the new agents hope the more experienced agent will bail them out. Someone is always selling and someone is always buying. When your new associates are selling you on what they can't do, are you buying? Or do you sell them on what they CAN do?
As mentors we must realize that our new agents need to be tested in order to grow. We must allow them to fail on the little things and be there to pick them up when they fall. This is how they learn. This is how they grow.
Nemo's Father Taught us Failure is Necessary for Success!
I think the way you know they are ready is to train them to do a task and then teach them why it is important to be able to do it themselves. Next , turn them lose and allow them some room to fail. That's right, I said fail. My father once told me that failure was necessary for success. "Don't worry about failure," he said, "just make sure you always fail forward."
In order for new agents to develop properly we, as Mentors and Coaches, must allow them room to grow and that means not doing everything for them. Anything you do for your new agents that they can do for themselves will cripple them. I find it interesting that Nemo had a crippled fin and wonder if he was crippled because his father never allowed him to swim very far from home. Because, after all, there are many dangers out in the ocean…like sharks! Nemo's father was so overprotective of him that he didn't give him the skills necessary to develop confidence and the life skills he needed to deal with the dangers of the ocean.
The type of parenting parallels with the same type of Coaching and Mentoring. These Coaches create agents that never learn to get themselves out of a jam. These agents become very dependent on their Mentor or others to bail them out of every situation. These agents may already be dependent adults. Not only do they become extremely dependent on others, they have very little confidence in themselves and their own abilities and often lead a chaotic life.
It is difficult to know when we are being too protective of our new agent, “fledglings” and to know when we must step in and rescue them. I suggest that Coaches and Mentors not only train their new agents how to do something but also give them the "why" behind the training so they instill it in their mind. We must train AND teach them about real estate so they can learn to make good decisions when we are not there to bail them out. Perhaps you have been overprotecting a new agent? How can you change? First ask yourself. Can he do this himself? Is he at the point he can be trained how to do this? Why should he do this himself?
This is the only hope of giving your new agents confidence in their own abilities and making them independent of you. After all, your job as a Mentor and Coach is to teach your agents to be independent of you, not dependent on you!
About the Author: Michelle Shelton, Gilbert, Arizona, Maricopa County michelleshelton@yahoo.com More Details about Real Estate Coaching from Michelle here. Michelle Shelton. Michelle is a licensed REALTOR with Keller Williams Realty Southeast Valley in Gilbert, Arizona. Michelle specializes in teaching clients the entire process of Real Estate. She believes that the more educated her clients are, the less anxiety and stress they will have when buying or selling their home. Michelle lives in Gilbert, Arizona with her husband, Paul and their five children. She specializes in listing East Valley property and her main focus is Horse Properties in Arizona. You can email Michelle directly at Michelleshelton@yahoo.com
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