Why Buyers and Sellers should use a Professional REALTOR® like Christine Smith

Posted Jul. 18th 2011 under General

As tempted as some people may feel about Selling or Buying their home privately, there are many important factors that you should consider before deciding. Real Estate Agent such as Christine Smith has years of education and experience to offer when it comes to Buying and Selling Real Estate.

Why Use a REALTOR®?

1. Correct Initial Pricing: A real estate professional can provide the knowledge, research and advice a seller may seek in order to identify the proper listing price for a property. A REALTOR® best serves this critical timing of a property's exposure to the market, with access to the MLS® database and the host of other tools available to us.
   
2. Education: Prior to obtaining a license to legally practice in the real estate profession, a rigorous series of courses and examinations must be successfully completed. This is followed by a two year articling period in which a further set of courses and examinations must be completed. All of the above courses must be completed with a high degree of proficiency. Further courses must be taken annually on an ongoing basis to maintain one's license. This legally mandated initial and ongoing education promotes increased competence and professionalism in our industry.
   
3. MLS®: Real estate professionals in Canada have access to one of the best real estate databases in the world. Our MLS® system is effective, organized and highly developed. Continually updated and ever present, MLS® data is a valuable tool available to all licensed salespeople and brokers.
   
4. Business/Negotiation Skills: Real estate professionals bring a wealth of experience and skills to complicated negotiation processes. They can provide insight into strategies and procedures to help in successful offer, leasing and sales contracts. Negotiations, which frequently involve a seller's most valuable asset - as well as their home - often become emotionally charged. Keeping business principles first and foremost in focus, is part of our job description and is critical to our client's success.
   
5. Production Management: Behind the scenes, real estate salespeople engage in many tasks every day to keep the various processes (listing, marketing, liaising, sales contracts) moving smoothly. I am constantly engaged with marketing services, municipalities, appraisers, lawyers, financial institutions, construction services and condominium management providers. This is a short list that provides just a glimpse of the various groups that must be consulted to successfully complete most real estate transactions.
   

Local Specialized Knowledge: Data

REALTORS® in their respective trading areas have access to detailed data pertaining to listings and sales in that area. There is also historical data available to aid in the various tasks necessary with the listing and sales process. This actual data is bolstered by wealth of "common" knowledge within the ranks of veteran real estate salespeople who are a valuable source of resource material.

Local Specialized Knowledge: The Extras

REALTORS® in specific trading areas are also very knowledgeable of municipal, legislative and other governmental factors/applicability that directly affect value, salability and usability of the given property. An example of this would be the knowledge that the Nottawasaga Valley and Grey Sauble Conservation Authority may need to be consulted for a building permit near a watercourse in certain areas. This matter would be discussed and usually made a condition of any written agreement, to allow a buyer time to investigate and satisfy themselves as to the affect of such developmental control. In addition to the above factors, local REALTORS® operating in a predominantly rural area would be very familiar with well, well water and septic clauses.

Electronic Lock Boxes

Long a progressive and technologically inclined group, GTREB adopted a board-wide policy which made electronic lock boxes mandatory for all listings. This policy ensures security, while improving access to our various listings. Issues of credibility and accountability are also greatly improved by this policy: REALTORS® can track who accessed a lockbox, when it was opened and for how long, for every showing. Statistics may be gleaned from these devices, which is provided to the membership. Examples of this are graphs of Board-wide showing activity over the year and time of day graphs of same.

Local Contact Benefits

GTREB REALTORS® have built relationships with local contractors, legal professionals and governmental authorities. These relationships benefit our buyers and sellers in many ways. From preparing a property for listing, building a home, obtaining legal advice, or investigating the uses or legality of an existing property, local real estate professionals know who to call, when. These associations help our clients meet their goals of selling, leasing or buying a property.

Production Specialists

More of a combination of all of the above, GTREB REALTORS® are intrinsically linked to the products they sell. They live here. They know what it takes to list and sell the various types of real estate in this area. The diverse nature of our property types and areas requires a great deal of co-ordination and action, often behind the scenes. Research occurs before each showing; offer preparation is distinct for each type of property and successful closings increasingly require a skillful touch with a variety of associated professionals. Specific local expertise and skills are important in each phase of the sales process. From condominiums to farms from chalets to bungalows, GTREB REALTORS® are knowledgeable, trustworthy and capable.