What do you do for your commission, Rich*?

I'm glad you've asked that, as not everyone does. The most critical thing that I do is answer my phone. If I don't answer, if I am on the phone, I return the call within 30 minutes. This seems rather a simple fundamental that should go without saying. I never cease to be amazed when I frequently hear people say how their last agent never answered their phone, if they returned calls it was always a day or two later. I'd have a hard time believing it if I didn't experience it myself dealing with other Realtors.

The second thing that I do is take a genuine interest in you and your home selling. Anyone can put a sign up, and make up fancy marketing materials. (Which I also do, as all Realtors do, as all lemmings jump off cliffs) Not everyone can CARE. I want to make you a happy client. My goal is always to make the home selling process as painless and as quick as possible.

I always recommend a fair list price. Numerous agents will come in and tell you your home should list for 10-20,000 more than the market will bear in order to get the listing. This tactic does not help you at all. In fact, it hurts you. Your home will sit on the market for months without any real interest, and you will have to make price reductions, frequently below fair market value in order to get your home sold. In the end, the process takes months longer, and results in a lower sale price than if you had listed your home at a fair market price to begin with.

I tell the truth. I will not hesitate to tell you areas where you can improve your home to make it sell faster, and for more money. I will not hesitate to tell you how the market really is right now. I don't do this to be mean, depressing, pessimistic, or hurtful. I really believe that you are smart enough to figure out if someone lies to you. I don't want to be that person that lies to you. My business is built on trust and repeat business. If you can't trust me, you won't use my services again, and you won't recommend me to friends.

I also tell potential buyers the truth. There are some things I don't share, such as bottom line price, your reasons for moving. (I also protect your best interests) But, if the basement leaks, it leaks. I will tell buyers this. You may think that this hurts a sale, or is not your best interest. It is simply to avoid a lawsuit against you. You will not loose as much money on the sale, disclosing defects in the home, as you will spend defending yourself in a lawsuit.

I would be happy to meet with you, in your home, and give you a fair market assessment of your home's value, as well as discuss with you further how I can help you sell your home fast, and for the best price. I would be happy to show you how I will market your home, and answer and questions or concerns you may have.

Contact Rich Keller*....

There are other advantages as well. If you are working with your own Realtor, you have the advantage of convenience. Your Realtor who knows your schedule will set up showing time to best suit you. You don't have to wait for an open house in order to see a prospective home.

Then comes the advantage of familiarity. You will know what to expect from your sales representative. Your will also find that your sales representative will learn about you and your preferences and will be able to speed up your search by eliminating properties from the list that he or she knows wouldn't suit you. Your Realtor will also show you properties that you don't want to see out-of-hand, knowing that there is a potential fit with you.

Confidentiality is another advantage that you can expect. Your agent is required by law to keep everything you say in confidence. If you go to an open house, or even to a private showing with the listing salesperson, they do not have to keep anything you say in confidence. In fact, you can be sure that everything you say is relayed to the seller.

Your agent is further required to work in your best interests. A good sales representative will point out all the features of a property, both good and bad, rather than try to sell you a property. Your sales representative should also point out site influences of the home from beyond the lot lines, giving you a picture of the potential neighborhood that comes with the home.

However, Your sales representative will ask you to sign a contract in order to make their brokerage your agent. Why? Why can't you use (as many have told me) the first sales representative who finds you the right house? Why not call five or six salespersons and have them all search? A contract binds you to a particular agent for a length of time. Does the salesperson think they own you? No. Contracts were brought about for our protection, they guarantee us that we will be payed if you buy a house. But this same contract is also for your protection. Without it, we do not have to work in your best interests, keep what you say confidential, give you good advice, and share with you our insight into the market. Also, you will find that if you do not have any commitment to your salesperson, he or she will not have any commitment to you. When an salesperson sees a hot new property at an amazing price, would he or she call you, an customer without a contract, and risk you purchasing the property from another salesperson? Or would he or she call a loyal client, who has signed a buyer representation agreement, where the salesperson knows they will be paid the commission? Not to many people will work to hard when they doubt they will be paid.

I would be happy to meet with you and discuss any questions or concerns you have about buyer agency, at no-cost/no-obligation to you.

Contact Rich Keller*...