Why Should You Contact a REALTOR outside of buying or selling?

I bet most people don't think of contacting their real estate agents for questions outside of the need to buy or sell and the occasional referral.

I think there are many important reasons clients should contact their real estate agent and I do my best to remind them that I am more than just someone you can trust during your sale or purchase.  Here are some reasons you may need to contact me after closing:

1.  Your plumbing is backed up and your home warranty is no longer in place.  You are going to finally take out that orange formica in the kitchen and replace it with granite.  I have a great database of professionals that have provided me or my clients with excellent service.  Instead of calling a national company that is going to charge you a potentially unfair price for service, give me a call for anyone from landscapers to HVAC contractors.  In fact, from the time I started typing this to now, a friend of mine sent me an email asking for a shower recommendation!

2.  Uh oh.  You got your tax assessment and it's a whopping $50,000 more than you bought your home for.  I always remind my buyers to make sure and keep their HUD, or settlement statement, handy so that they can protest their newest assessment value in a quick and easy fashion.

3.  Uh oh.  You got your tax assessment and the county raised your taxes once again.  One thing I have done for my clients is to run comps for them and see what's actually going on in the neighborhood.  In Denton County (among others), your taxes cannot be raised by more than 10% per year.  I have seen amounts raised 9.8%...isn't that convenient!?  I have also seen tax values go down.  

4.  You closed on your house and there is a service that is available to help file your homestead exemption for $30.  Seems like a good deal.  NO-filing your homestead exemption is FREE and so very easy to do!  Go to the county website and print off the form and send it in.  Done and look at that, I just saved you $30!

Being more than just a REALTOR is what gets repeat clients and generates new business!  What other reasons can you come up with?