A realtor has an unbelievable burden (no, I am not one). But, just imagine the many challenges that they encounter. They have picky buyers in a seller’s market, or sellers selling in a slow one. I have included some of the “best of” moments either personally experienced or that I have heard about from friends. Many of these are way above and beyond what anyone should expect from a great realtor. Also, we’re keeping it positive on this one, but along the road, expect to hear about the experiences on the other side. 1. Worked at any hour. There is … Continue reading →

Maybe your realtor told you to bake cookies or an apple pie the day that you will be showing your house to potential buyers, or to remove pictures of people from the walls so that they feel less intrusive and more able to envision your house as their own. Each time you get in the market to buy or sell a home you are likely to get a lot of advice about when and how to sell, and about what to buy. Having been in the market a number of times, our family have received some great advice, as well … Continue reading →

Whether buying or selling, all real estate transactions involve a contract. The contract is used so the sale of the home can be arranged and made legal. In addition, the contract provides all the arrangements between buyer and seller in a format that is official. Included in the contract would be the parties information, selling price, interest, points, financing contingency, termite inspections, title issues, home appraisals, etc. Since buying or selling a home is big business involving big money, it is essential that a contract be used. Even if the seller and buyer are best friends or family, the contract … Continue reading →

When you work with a Realtor, there are several ways you can be represented in a transaction. These are known as types of agency, since you are hiring someone to represent your interests, and be your agent. An agent who represents only the buyer in a transaction is the buyer’s agent. Some agents only represent buyers, and this type of representation is known as exclusive buyer agency. The availability of agents that only represent buyers varies from market to market. Whether or not they are exclusive buyer agents, those who have recognized professional specialization beyond the minimal standards often have … Continue reading →

It’s negotiable. You are about to list your property for sale with a realtor. You ask “what is your commission?” The answer you get is “It’s negotiable”. Now what? The realtor is not dodging your question. It really is negotiable. It is against their ethics to tell you that a certain percentage is “the going rate”. There are strict guidelines for realtors to follow concerning price fixing and anti trust laws. I have seen commission agreements between 2% and 10%. In my area, full service realtors generally operate between 5% and 7%. I have seen a few 10% listings for … Continue reading →

You probably get solicitations in the mail from Realtors all the time, offering you a “free Market Analysis of your home”. The Realtor is offering to tell you the current market price if you were to sell now – and they hope you will be impressed by their knowledge and list your house with them! If you are looking for a realtor, or just need to have your expectations regarding the market value of your home confirmed for your personal planning, this is a very good way to judge the value of your home in the current market. A market … Continue reading →

Ever wonder what it is like to have a town featured in a reality show? Well, the town where I live, Bergenfield New Jersey, found out recently when Extreme Home Makeover performed their radical miracle for a family of visually impaired people. If you thought it isn’t possible to really build a good house in two weeks, guess what? You’re wrong. It is beautiful, sturdy, and the local building inspectors (a pretty tough bunch) are very pleased with the quality. The design and production team works with military precision, round the clock. Day and night. They do not do a … Continue reading →