A lot has changed in the last 20 years or so in Real Estate. It used to be that Realtors were the Gatekeepers of Information. Back then, in order to find out which house was for sale, and the details involving that property. the only way to get information on a property was to contact a Realtor!

Today, the Public has access to a tremendous amount of information on Real Estate.  What was previously considered private information is now public, thanks to technology and websites.  Furthermore, almost all of it is free!

So, why use a Realtor, you ask? There are plenty of reasons why a knowledgeable and experienced Realtor won’t be replaced by a technological tool or widget any time soon.  Here are some to consider:

1.) Buying and Selling is an Emotional Process  Think about it: buying or selling a house involves a great deal of emotions. In most cases, a home is your most valuable monetary asset. In other cases, your reasons for buying or selling could be emotional too.  Perhaps you are expecting a baby, getting a divorce, or facing a job loss. Or maybe you have spent a long time raising your family in your home and have become quite attached to it. In any event, this transaction becomes an emotional one due to the high stakes involved or by the circumstances you find yourself in.  An experienced and compassionate Realtor can help you sort through your feelings and emotions and help you make the best decisions possible in a stressful time, by helping you consider BOTH the pros and cons of a decision.

2.) Face-to-Face Contact is Important  When I sit down with clients and discuss their Real Estate goals, a lot of communication involves body language. What we express with the way we hold our bodies, facial expression, intonation, and  interaction with others holds a lot of meaning in the overall message we convey. So, while texting and emailing are time-saving measures, the face-to-face interaction can often provide more information in the communication process.  Communication is key! This is why Realtors often prefer a face-to-face meeting with clients, particularly for the first time.  It also establishes trust, another key component in any relationship. And that is something you cannot get from technology!

3.) Interpretation of the Facts  There is a plethora of information available to buyers and sellers alike on the internet, and it can sometimes be overwhelming.  However, information alone is not enough.  How that information is interpreted is even more important.  For example, you may read that your area has 4.5 months of inventory, but what does this mean? How does this affect you as a Buyer? As a Seller? A Realtor can explain facts and how they pertain to you in a certain area, and in a certain market.

4.) Other Tools  A Realtor can also assist with other things, such as recommend a local expert to replace your counter top, or suggest a qualified and certified house inspector.  In most case, this Realtor has either used this person, or know someone who has, and was happy with the results.  This can save you time, money, and frustration.

5.) A Relationship to Last a Lifetime.  Relationships are built on trust and good experiences, so it is no surprise that when you find a great Realtor you have also found a friend!  This person will be your “go-to” person between homes and will be referred time and time again by you to your family, friends and colleagues.  A good Realtor will also stay in touch and provide you with valuable information along the way and be ready to help you whenever you need it!

Looking for that Personal Touch? Contact me today and allow me to provide you with the Service You Deserve!

I remember, many years ago, sitting in a classroom with 26 other students working to get my Real Estate Licence. Near the end of the course the Instructor informed us, according to local statistics, that only 1 in 4 of us would still be in Real Estate after about ONE year of working in the business.

We all gasped, looking around the room and mentally calculating how many of us would still be in the field after only one year. Only 6.75 of us would remain working as Real Estate Agents! In 5 years, that number would dwindle to about 3. That is a pretty low success rate compared to other careers.

Now you may ask, why is that? I mean, being a Realtor is easy, right?

Wrong! Like a lot of professions, selling Real Estate for a living is a lot tougher than it looks. Forget what you see on TV, forget the stereotype of every Real Estate Agent dressed in bling driving a Mercedes, having decadent lunches with friends and having copious amounts of leisure time. The truth is, you might be a Real Estate Agent if:

1.) Your Career is a Lifestyle, Not a Job. Agents are self-employed entrepreneurs, meaning they work long hours even when it is inconvenient to their personal life. Imagine sitting down to a family dinner and you suddenly get a call that an offer is coming in on a listing of yours, and it needs to be dealt with immediately. Or, a buyer calls you excitedly and has found “the house” and there is already a line-up at the front door. Realtors do not work 9 to 5. They are on call, working for their client; often weekdays turn into weeknights, and weekdays turn into weekends. The intrusive nature of this business is not for everyone – you have to be flexible to meet the needs of others.

2.) You Get Paid on a Contingency Basis. Imagine going to work and not getting paid for the time you put in. That’s Real Estate! You only get a pay cheque once a successful deal has closed, and only when the cheque arrives. No salary, no benefits, no paid holiday time, no pension or retirement plan.

3.) You Have a Huge Amount of Expenses. Most people think the average agent makes a bucketload of money. In reality, the average agent sells between 6 and 7 homes a year. Subtract from this the monthly expenses, such as marketing, Office fees, Brokerage fees, gas, etc., and you get the picture. Mark my words, the more you make, you more you have to spend, especially as a Listing Agent. This is also why you defend your Commission. In order to stay in business, you have to make money.

4.) You Hold a Great Deal of Responsibility. Whether you are working with Buyers or Sellers, there is a lot of money involved in a transaction and a lot can go wrong. Because you are licenced to trade in Real Property, you are held to a higher degree of accountability than an ordinary salesperson and must carry Insurance for Errors and Omissions. You are in charge of making sure your clients’ interests are protected, even if it conflicts with your own. That’s called Fiduciary Duty.

5.) You Can’t Imagine Doing Anything Else for a Living!! Even though the job is tougher than it looks, there is nothing you would rather do than see the smiles on your clients’ faces when they sell their home or find theur Dream Home! You are helping them achieve a very important goal, and there is no better feeling than that! That is why we do what we do!

I LOVE my job! Let me help you achieve your Real Estate goals. Contact me today!