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Why Hiring a Neighborhood Expert Over Other Agents Is A Great Idea

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Real Estate Agent with Long and Foster Real Estate VA License # 0225089470

Why Hiring a Neighborhood Expert Over Other Agents Is A Great Idea

If  you want fast results when selling your home, (let's be honest, who doesn't?) the best idea is to hire a full-time agent with expert knowledge of your community.  First of all, by being full-time, their entire career is based on helping buyers buy and sellers sell.  They are meeting lots of buyers and sellers.  They know the pulse of your market..  And if they have a neighborhood speciality, and advertise it, they are probably picking up buyers that want to live in that neighborhood on a regular basis.

Theoretically, you could list your home for sale to hit the market by a certain date and have it under contract before it ever even gets a lockbox or sign in the yard.   Yes, it is possible to an attractive offer on your home without having to go through the inconvenience of having to pick up the house, pack up the kids and gets the dogs out of the house for showings every couple of hours.  

You can read all about such a success story on my Selling Braemar blog.  You'll see what happens when you hire a full-time neighborhood expert to list your home who doesn't make their neighborhood speciality a secret.  

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Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

Chris Ann, there is a definite plus to hiring someone who knows the neighborhood well. You may have access to buyers who have already told you they are looking in this neighborhood and are just waiting for the right house to come on the market which could mean a quick sale for your seller.

Apr 20, 2013 10:36 AM
Jimmy Faulkner
Florida. Homes Realty & Mortgage - Wantagh, NY
The Best Of St. Augustine

Not hiring someone local is a receipe for poor marketing & it will show in the price. If you do not know the neighborhood than you can not sell to successfully in the neighbor.

Apr 20, 2013 10:59 AM
David Shamansky
US Mortgages - David Shamansky - Highlands Ranch, CO
Creative, Aggressive & 560 FICO - OK, Colorado Mtg

Hi Chris if people are looking to sell who wouldn't want to list without all the inconvenience of showings etc???

Good post

Apr 20, 2013 11:16 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Chris

It always surprises me when a seller picks someone who is out of the area to sell their home, for a host of reasons - not just for marketing but all the other things you need to do during the transaction.

Jeff

Apr 20, 2013 11:19 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

Anyone can find out the big things in a neighborhood.  it is the little things that the local agent will know.

Apr 20, 2013 12:44 PM
Teral McDowell
Referral Patners LLC - Murphy, TX

Homes are selling quickly and it does help to have a neighborhood expert on your side.

Apr 20, 2013 01:10 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Tammie:  It is a huge plus, as my Sellers found out.  And my previous Buyer.  

Jimmy:  Yep.  And if you can't pick a good list price, you can't very well help a buyer find a good offering price either.  Knowing the area is key to real estate success.

David:  I actually feel guilty for not having a ton of photos of the interior.  We never got that far.  My listing feels like it's naked to me.

Jeff:  Lenders should be local too.  They know the local tax rates and fees.  A guy you found online won't.  And that's critical for first time buyers especially who are new to the process.

William:  Knowing the ins and outs of the neighborhood is a huge deal and helps in marketing to buyers and sellers.

Teral:  Buyers can get a leg up on upcoming listings before they hit the market if they are working with an agent that gets a lot of business in the area they are looking.  And it's not just with that particular agent.  Agents talk to one another and love to give sneak peeks of listings.  An easy sale with few showings is easier on everyone.

Apr 20, 2013 01:31 PM
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services
Charles Stallions Real Estate Services Inc - Gulf Breeze, FL
Buyers Agent 800-309-3414 Pace and Gulf Breeze,Fl.

I put a lot of thought into a listing appointment, I am prepared for just about everything so as to win the listing. Being the neighborhood expert will go along way

Apr 20, 2013 02:45 PM
Carla Muss-Jacobs, RETIRED
RETIRED / State License is Inactive - Portland, OR

And the same could be said for the local knowledge a buyer's agent can bring.  I had a "savvy" buyer (rolling eyes) who just knew everything, a local expert she was not!

Apr 20, 2013 02:56 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

 There is so much to learn about a new neighborhood.  Hiring a neighborhood expert, all your questions should be answered.

Apr 20, 2013 09:03 PM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Joyce:  Knowing the know is one thing, but the surroundings...totally different.  The surroundings are often HUGE selling features that are keywords buyers are searching online.  School districts.  Amenities.

Carla:  It's true.  Working with a local agent is a HUGE plus for buyers.  

Roger:  In the case of my recent success, I was the hyperlocal choice.

Apr 21, 2013 02:11 AM
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