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The Art of Selling Real Estate, Then and Now by Andrew E. Nelson, President & CEO

By on November 1, 2011 in Real Estate, Willis Allen

The Art of Selling Real Estate, Then and Now
By Andrew E. Nelson, President & CEO, Willis Allen Real Estate

It’s a whole new world in real estate today. Gone are the days when a real estate transaction was completed with a one-sheet contract and a handshake. Now, thanks to the internet, consumers have nearly as much assess to listing details and marketing data as their Realtor does. So what is the role of the Realtor in today’s real estate marketplace?

Even though much has changed over the years, the actual art of selling real estate remains the same. Time-tested tools are still important to real estate transactions, including the open house, client referrals and pairing with the right company and the right Realtor. Furthermore, success in real estate is – and always will be – about honesty, integrity, knowledge, professionalism, connections, timing and personality.

Real estate transactions continue to be one of the biggest financial investments one will experience in his or her lifetime. When you need work done on your car, you hire a mechanic. When you have an issue with your electricity, you hire an electrician. For an investment as important and financially significant as a home purchase, why would you trust it to anyone other than a professional Realtor?

When buying a home, working with a trusted Realtor will give you the inside scoop and could give you a jump on the competition for the right-for-you home. A Realtor has access to homes the public does not. Many times the perfect property is not even on the market yet. These ‘pocket listings’ are only shared within the real estate community. Your Realtor is your connection to these under-the-radar homes.

Knowledgeable Realtors have a wealth of resources they can share with you throughout the home buying process. Lenders, home inspectors, roofing companies, home repair and remodeling companies – you name it, your Realtor has a list of trusted businesses to which he or she can refer you.

Working with a Realtor also provides peace of mind. Good Realtors have their finger on the pulse of the communities in which you are searching. They can help you navigate zoning issues, evaluate the quality of the neighborhood schools, and determine whether the homes hold their value for resale.

On the selling side of the equation, Realtors are equally important. They can suggest repairs and cosmetic fixes that will showcase your home in the best light to buyers. Your Realtor also has an arsenal of tools to market your home to other Realtors and the public, including open houses, advertising, referrals, effective MLS listings, video tours, etc., which will help bring in the best buyer.

Additionally, Realtors are a key factor in getting your home sold at a competitive price, with minimum hassle and in the shortest amount of time possible. Realtors are trusted sources for information on the other houses that are for sale or have recently sold in your neighborhood, so they can help you price your home competitively.

Finally, and importantly, a Realtor can help close the deal. Your Realtor will serve as your champion for the best price, will negotiate closing terms on your behalf, and will take care of the piles of paperwork needed to close your transaction.

Contact us!
877-515-7443
info@willisallen.com

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Hip or Hopeless?

By on October 28, 2010 in News, Real Estate

I’m sure you are reading this missive on your smartphone or maybe your new tablet. The last I heard smartphones were on track to out sell PCs next year and eclipse total sales by 2012. Amazing, simply amazing don’t you think?  Most likely if you are an incorrigible early adopter you already get it, if you are a laggard, now’s the time to join the fun. And for the Luddites out there, well what can I say?

Just noticed that Microsoft has “officially” launched its new smartphone, the “Windows Phone 7”. David Pogue in his always instructive column this morning seemed to suggest why now…it’s a wee bit late in the game. The iPhone introduced 3 years ago, has sold over 70 million iPhones, has 300,000 apps with some billion plus downloaded worldwide. The Google Android phones launched a mere 2 years ago give or take have already sold 30 million phones from the likes of Motorola, HTC, Samsung to name a few and have an impressive 100,000 apps available.

Happily there are a whole slew of excellent real estate apps out there too. The bad-boy of real estate Zillow has the number one app for real estate along with others from Trulia and Realtor.com.

What makes a smartphone so adorable to so many? It works, its easy and its just plain fun. Think of a productivity tool that really does it all. By the way some “cloud thinkers” are saying software is so yesterday as apps continue their onslaught to rule the net. In fact the new Mac Book Air is reported to embrace apps with its own apps store, just like iTunes. Very cuil and maybe another game changer from Steve Jobs and Apple.

And while you are thinking about all this, you need to keep up your energy, nourish the little grey cells, so you’re on I-5 going or coming from downtown San Diego, exit right at Tecolote Road, take another right on W. Morena Blvd. to one on San Diego’s (no the world’s) best kept culinary secrets, Waters Fine Catering (think Café Cuil). Long and widely known as for its premier catering, Waters also offers its menu of fresh, inventive cuisine as take-out or even eat-in from its storefront café cuil with its kitchens just behind. But be forewarned…Waters is habit forming and not just from the I-5.

Now back in the game and inexplicably wondering just how fast is your smartphone after all? Well its fast, and just like your old PC travels the Internet. That’s really what a smartphone is, a hand held computer. So connectivity over the Internet …I know…I know…and yes there many circumstances and reasons that impact its speed, but theoretically the Internet travels at the speed of  light and that is 186,000 miles per second. Snap your fingers and you’re in Australia or a couple of times and it’s the moon and back. Or download a novel in 10 seconds.

So Hip or Hopeless? Relax Gandhi figured it out for you…“The future depends on what we do in the present”.

- Bud Clark

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