R.O.C.K.I.N.G Realnbsp;Estate Agents - K is fornbsp;Knowledgeable
Hiya all, back from trekking back forth across Ohio to meet with agents and discuss proper care of referrals and clients.
Had an absolutely wonderful and relaxing stay again at Donnas Premiere Lodging in Berlin, Ohio out in Amish Country; had to stock up on spices and cheeses again.
Love that place, the chalets, log cabins and service are amazing and very romantic. Check out Donnas if you ever get the chance, you wont be disappointed.
Well, among other real estate agent characteristics that are good for business and great for clients, we discussed knowledge.
Id like to preface this with the fact that just because an agent is newer to the industry, doesnt mean they cant serve you well. It boils down to having to do a lot more with attitude and service-oriented intention and being pro-active on behalf of clients.
In addition to understand good characteristics, youll want to know about Agents to Avoid.
Knowledge is Power
Buyers and sellers alike benefit from knowledgeable agents, provided said knowledge is accompanied by integrity and strong ethics.
Benefiting Buyers (click here for Benefitingnbsp;Sellers)
If your buying a home, youre going to want to possibly know about:
protecting and / or improving your credit score.
What type of home is right for you, i.e. HUD homes, foreclosures, traditional sales etc.
What types of home loans work for you, like low down, no money down and low down payments for homes that need repairs.
Sharp agents also stay on top of city, county and state down payment assistance and buyer programs.
In addition to various home loans and types of homes, a sharp agent should know if a property has features that will prevent certain types of financing from being utilized. For instance, a horse property wont work for USDA no money down financing. A VA loan isnt gong to work on a distressed property etc.
Buyernbsp;tip; if youre in the market for a home loan ask your Realtor. Good real estate agents typically keep a small army of good lenders in their back pocket representing a variety of loan products for different purchasing requirements and will gladly refer you. You might be challenged with the credit score, or desire a specific location or type of property with specific financing needs.
Good real estate agents are also knowledgeable and efficient with technology and tools like how to use their local MLS for auto-prospecting, a valuable tool that allows agents to send listings to clients that match requested search criteria, price and location giving buyers a competitive edge, and a benefit to sellers.
Some websites, like ours, allow you to save your searches, bookmark listings and be notified of new matching listings along with the ability to instantly inquire about a property or request a showing.
Ohio and Northern KY Property Search.
Strong working knowledge of these tools also enables agents to conduct proper comps or CMAs; Comparative Market Analysis. This helps an agent guide a client on whether or not homes are in the fair market value range and helps ensure buyers are going to get a decent buy on a property.
In the same way, knowledge and familiarity with such tools also helps an agent price a home correctly for sellers.
Benefiting Sellers
Speaking of pricing a home correctly, knowledgeable agents (and ethical ones) price a home to sell based on their clients time frame to sell. Logically, if a seller needs to move a property in a hurry, its going to have a lower asking price, while sellers that want to net every penny of their homes fair market value will be on the market longer in most cases. Taking the time to understand a sellers goals, time frame and net requirements requires more diligence than simply stabbing at a price, slapping it up on the MLS and hoping for a buyer.
In addition, theres an arsenal of things for agents to be knowledgeable about when it comes to successfully listings and selling a property:
Knowing how to take good real estate photos, and how to make them SEO Friendly, which simply means good search engine optimization. Most agents dont name the photos something that people actually search. I suggest 20 or more good photos and named the street address and things like homes for sale in Cincinnati, house for sale in Cincinnati and reversals like Cincinnati home for sale for example and unique targeted phrases like waterfront home in Cincinnatinbsp;and other naming conventions highlighting specific desirable features.
Strong knowledge of Internet and Social Media marketing is also keen for meeting and exceeding a sellers goals. Does the agent understand social media, what kind of audience and reach do they have? Definitely questions to ask in choosing an agent to list your home.
Does the agent know about syndicated marketing and working with the scores of advertising forums available to highlight your home.
Staging, minor cosmetics, and how to get buyers to an open house are all valuable skills that garner attention, interest and help move a property quicker and for better net.
If youre looking to buy or sell in southwestern Ohio, Dayton - Cincinnati, contact my business partner Marty Snyder, hes a R.O.C.K.I.N.G real estate agent with excellent history, knowledge andnbsp;testimonials.
If youre a newer but pro-active real estate agent, I encourage you to check out more desirable characteristics of good agents, and if youre a buying or selling you may want to also make sure the agent you choose exhibits these traits.
Good Real Estate Agents R.O.C.K.I.N.G.nbsp;(summary of good characteristics)
Part 2: R is for Responsive
Part 3: O is for Obedient
Part 4: Cnbsp;is for Cautious
Part 5: K is for Knowledgeable