Need an agent? GO
Local!!
No, not Loco – Local!
I’ve
run into and across a lot of non-local agents in recent months. With the market getting back on track
and choo choo chooing us out of the recession many homeowners are once again
eager to sell. A common mistake in
the Real Estate market is simply choosing the wrong agent – the non-local. As within any industry you are bound to
know of a friend, family member or acquaintance in the business. While this can be appealing and may
seem like the easy choice, if they are not local to your property - it is often the wrong choice. By choosing “feelings” over your
success you can easily put yourself and your transaction in Jeopardy.
“Like
the back of my hand”
It’s
a term we are all familiar with; an agent with complete knowledge of your local
area gives you a tremendous leg up in your sales process. A local agent can and will answer all
pertinent questions regarding shopping, schools, entertainment available and
more. Today’s buyers are savvier
then ever, giving just as much importance to lifestyle as you’d expect they
would give to the home itself. Your listing agent MUST know the surroundings
and what is offered in your exact location. Having an immediate answer instead of a “….ugh… let me ask
the owners and get back to you” can and will increase your odds of a successful
and profitable sale. If your agent
doesn’t know or isn’t familiar with your area, how can you have faith that they
will sell and market your home properly?
You can’t.
“More
show = More dough”
I
personally like to show all of my listings and don’t believe in lock boxes,
others do and that’s fine.
However, using an agent outside of your territory only adds time and
frustration to a market that moves rapidly. People’s schedules in these times are very different. The standard 9 to 5 workweek is becoming
a thing of the past, and if your agent is not available to show buyers when they are ready – your proverbial cart is
in front of your horse. Agents
whom are not local may tell you that they are available at all times, but we
need to be realistic. There are
not many people ready to leave at a moments notice for a 45-minute commute with
the hopes and prayers that this will be
the buyer. A local agent can
easily access and show your home when buyers
want to see it, as they’re just a hop/skip/jump away. Speed is the name of the game here
sellers – closeness in proximity simply equals greater speed.
“Local
agents swim in your pool”
..when you are at work. All joking aside, a local Realtor will be “swimming” in the
same pool of buyers that you are trying to entice and obtain. An agent from Weston is not very likely
to meet a buyer looking for a Parkland home, so why go in that direction? Local offices, local media, local
advertising, these are the ways we gain our cliental, and generally speaking
agents are going to market and promote in the area closest to them. Setting yourself and home up with an
agent who is marketing in a different territory would be like trying to sell cars
at the Parkland Farmers Market – you’re not going to have much luck, it’s just
not what the buyers are looking for.
Don’t be a fool - Stay within your pool!!
Local
agents are what truly drive the Real Estate market, by knowing the area as well
as recent sales trends a local agent will net you more and will be able to do
so in a timely manner. So
remember, when selling... Don’t go LOCO – Go LOCAL!
