SPECIAL SECTION:
Real Estate
IMPORTANCE OF
A LOCAL REAL
ESTATE AGENT
10. SELLING:
Don’t spend earnest money!
Many sellers make the mistake of depositing and spending
earnest money before closing day. If the transaction doesn’t go
through or the buyer pulls out due to repair issues, it is up to
the seller to return the cash. It is recommended to have a real
estate agent or broker hold the deposit. Most buyers’ earnest
money will be held in an escrow account until the closing day,
allowing the money to remain untouched by either party.
FUN FACT:
Get the name and numbers.
Just when you think you’ve checked all the boxes for an
easy sell of your house, take a second look at your address.
According to Zillow, street names and house numbers matter!
If you happen to live at 666 Fanny Hands Lane, you may be
out of luck (however that particular street is in the United
Kingdom, so you should be safe). Innuendo-laden street
names tend to not sell as quickly as something more like
Thunder Road. American numerology says that 666 is bad luck
and could decrease the value of your home by 2-3 percent.
Also, steer clear of the number four, considered unlucky in
Chinese culture. Stick to the number eight, or include the
lucky digits 316 in your asking price!
Before entering the real estate market, educate yourself. The
more you know, the better your chances are for nailing down
the home of your dreams! ■
You wouldn’t undergo surgery without a surgeon, or do
a root canal without a dentist, so why would you buy or sell
a house without a real estate agent? Agents have in‑depth
knowledge of local communities, an insider’s view of the
real estate market, and early access into listings that go on
the market. By having a real estate agent on your team, you
can take full advantage of these perks when trying to buy or
sell a home!
Moving into a new community? A real estate agent
is familiar with the lay of the land—from what the
neighborhood is like, to the local hotspots. He/she will be able
to guide you in the decision that best fits your ideal location
and wish list. Making a move into a new neighborhood or
town with kids makes a real estate agent even more necessary.
Agents can provide an inside look into school districts, sports
teams and available extracurricular activities that could be a
game-changer for you and your family.
Having an agent as an insider into all things local is just
one benefit. With access to other real estate professionals,
such as mortgage lenders, home inspectors, attorneys and
title companies, agents are valuable in streamlining the
process of making a transaction. They also have access to the
multiple listing service (MLS) to provide you with information
on available homes. Access to the MLS is restricted to
licensed agents and brokers, providing them with a wealth of
knowledge that they can then pass along to you. This includes
information that sellers don’t necessarily list on public sites,
such as square footage, seller disclosures and HOA regulations.
Armed with facts from the MLS, including comparable
listings in the area, real estate agents can negotiate on
your behalf. They are able to develop an offer that reflects
market value, while still staying within certain budgetary
guidelines. Once these offers are reviewed, agents can make
recommendations from the inspection on repair costs and
how to appropriately counter an offer.
If you are in the market to buy or sell, start by doing some
research on a real estate agency that is right for you. Have new
neighbors? Ask who their agents were. They obviously did a
good job of selling your neighborhood to buyers. If referrals
aren’t available, look for a local office in your neighborhood
or in the neighborhood where you’re interested in moving.
The agency can offer guidance and support throughout the
entirety of your home-buying or selling process.
Continued on page 39 >
CANON-MAC
❘
SUMMER 2019
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