5 Tips On How to Spot a Competent Real Estate Agent

Your Satisfaction is My Success ~ #Izabella #luxuryrealestate #bayarea #luxury #realestate #milliondollarlisting

So, you’ve done your best to spruce up your house. You’ve splashed on fresh paint, made sure there is no leaky roof and added those potted plants. You feel satisfied with its curb appeal now. You have also made your research and know more or less the ins and outs of having a mortgage. You feel you are ready. Ready to either sell your house or buy that forever home. But wait! You are missing one key ingredient. You need the help of a competent real estate agent to help you make things happen.

Having a competent realtor to help you navigate your real estate options is like having an extra pair of eyes, ears, hand and feet. Real estate agents can help you see a house’s potential from a different perspective and give you options you may have missed. They help you with inspections and paperwork which, otherwise, would be too tedious on your part. And that is if you even have the time to do these things.

Here are 5 tips on how to spot a competent real estate agent

Ask around. Reach out to family and friends who have had the chance to work with a realtor. They are your best source of information whether a realtor is any good. Ask for specific instances why the real estate agent has performed above and beyond the sale and why they recommend that particular agent. This will provide you a detailed information which will help you determine if a real estate agent can help you or not.

Read Reviews. You know what they say about the internet, you can’t hide anything from it, good or bad. Most real estate agents post reviews that they have received on their website and social media. Be very discerning though because you will not read any negative feedback. In order to get a good idea about a realtor’s true capabilities, scour the internet and look for user reviews. These type of reviews will give you a clear picture.   

Pay attention to a real estate agent who knows the neighborhood. When you buy a house, you are not only buying the physical house but buying into the neighborhood as well. What you want is to buy a house that’s in a neighborhood where your family is safe and secure. You want a neighborhood where the basic necessities like schools, hospitals and stores are readily accessible. More importantly, you want a neighborhood that has a healthy family environment. These reasons make having a realtor who knows the neighborhood even more important. As mentioned earlier, a good realtor can give you insights that you may have missed out.

Widen your search and talk to multiple agents. There are a lot of good real estate agents out there. Each can help you achieve your real estate goals. Finding the right realtor for you means you have to invest some time by talking to multiple agents to determine if you and the agent have a “fit”. Working with a realtor is a “relational” experience and you need to have a good working relationship with your realtor, be comfortable with her and trust that she will give you the best options.

A good agent is a realistic agent. A good realtor will base her recommendations for price by analyzing different data like market reports. A competent realtor will give you information about similarly sold/bought houses in the neighborhood, how long it took before they were sold. A competent real estate agent will give you recommendations based on very calculated data.

Buying or selling a house is a life-changing event. The success, (or failure) of your real estate investment greatly depends on how competent your realtor is. Keep these recommendations in mind and you will at least be sure that you will have the services of a competent agent.  

About the Author

Izabella Lipetski is a premiere California licensed real estate agent with over 20 years of experience. She has served over 200 clients with discretion, integrity, diligence and passion. You may reach her at the ff:

Email: ilipetski@gmail.com/

Phone: (510) 506 2072

  

5 Little Things That Increase a Home's Curb Appeal

. ~ Your Satisfaction is My Success ~ #Izabella #luxuryrealestate #bayarea #luxury #realestate #milliondollarlisting

5 Little Things That Increase a Home’s Curb Appeal

If you are looking to sell your home, whether it be now or in the future, chances are you have thought about doing some renovations to the interior. A splash of paint here, a new tile there. New appliances perhaps? Or maybe just completely remodel the kitchen. After all, the kitchen is the soul of the house. These are all good ideas and probably the only thing that’s keeping you from a full remodel is your budget. Ah, the budget. Every homeowner’s pitfall. But what if I tell you that you don’t have to spend big in order to increase your home’s curb appeal? That got your attention right? So, here are 5 little things that you can do on a budget to increase your home’s curb appeal.

1. The first thing buyers (and practically all visitors) see are your doors. So let’s start with this. Refresh your front door. They say first impressions last and your door will either make the house inviting enough to be seen or discourage any potential buyer because of the years of neglect and wear and tear. Clean your front door, repair anything that is broken (screens and locks) and splash on a fresh coat of paint to make it more inviting.

2. Now that you’ve taken care of the doors, do not forget your windows. Always, always clean them. No need to repaint, a good pressure wash to take away all the dirt and grime will do.

3. Add potted plants. Plants instantly liven a home and makes it more appealing. Home buyers will always have their own ideas about landscaping, so potted plants will be optimal and will not break the bank.

4. The roof is your home’s “crowning glory”. Are there shingles that are missing? Is the roof worn down? Have them repaired. Do not fall into the trap that neglecting your roof will not matter. It does! The roof is very important to any home. And while you’re at it, clean those gutters!

5. Make sure your home is bright! Studies have shown that houses that are bright and with lots of natural light, are more inviting and tends to sell faster. This is another key to making a lasting first impression.

Selling your home can sometimes be a long and stressful process. The key is to make your home as beautiful as it can be. These little changes do not cost much, except some elbow grease. But these little improvements can greatly increase your home’s value. Putting in the work before any showing will give a lasting first impression. So now that you have your plan, the only step remaining is to hire an Agent! And this is where I come in…