Margaret Hickman, REALTOR®, ABR®, SRS
Name
Margaret Hickman, REALTOR®, ABR®, SRS
Company
Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate
E-mail
Contact Margaret Hickman, REALTOR®, ABR®, SRS (Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate)
Website
http://margarethickman.clb.mlxchange.com
Office Phone
(318) 445-2500
Cell Phone
(318) 715-0807
Fax
(318) 445-9419
Address
1471 Dorchester Drive, Alexandria, LA, 71301
Description
My mission is to provide the best quality of real estate services to my clients as I would expect to receive. Whether buying or selling in central Louisiana, give me a call.

About Margaret:

I am a full-time agent who is committed to working every day to be the best REALTOR® I can be.  Accordingly, I earned both the Accredited Buyer's Representative (ABR®)  and the Seller Representative Services (SRS) designations.  I am a life-long learner.  Fortunately, my company, Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate, believes in providing the best training for their agents.  I don't believe one can ever learn everything, so you will find me taking advantage of almost every education opportunity the company provides.   Because of Coldwell Banker Pelican Real Estate's educational opportunities,  I am also a certified relocation specialist for several corporate relocation companies.

My market is central Louisiana.  This includes the cities of Alexandria and Pineville as well as outlying communities both north and south in Rapides Parish (County).  Grant Parish includes Colfax, Montgomery, Dry Prong, Pollock, Georgetown, Bentley and points in between.  Avoyelles Parish includes Marksville, Mansura, Hessmer, Cottonport, Bunkie and other smaller communities.  Allen Parish includes Oakdale, Oberlin, and Kinder as well as other communities.

So, if you live in one of these areas and need to sell, there is no reason why you can't take advantage of the resources of a national franchise as well as my own personal marketing expertise.  And, if relocating to work in one of these areas, rest assured my training and personality make me sensitive to your stress.  I will strive to make your transition easier.

My background is in state government.  I retired with 35 years of service.  I love to work with people--all kinds of people, with different personalities.  If I can help someone find the perfect house at the best possible price or sell a house at the best possible price, I'm happy.  The money is good, but it is not my primary motivation.

I develop a good rapport with my clients.  I have a good sense of humor, and we generally relate well.  So, if you are looking for a REALTOR® who will put your real estate needs first, you've come to the right place.  I serve Alexandria, Pineville, and all of Central Louisiana.

Areas of Expertise

I specialize in residential real estate--both buying and selling.    I also sell land.  I like guiding first-time home buyers through the process, sending them to lenders who have either state or parish bond money (when available), explaining why we need a pre-approval letter and how that helps us shop in the proper price range as well as entice a seller to accept our offer because he/she knows the buyer can buy.  I also enjoy working with people who are moving up to a higher price range.  I really enjoy showing houses, and I enjoy working with people relocating to the area.  I will take the extra time needed to show them areas of interest; i.e., local shopping, restaurants, airport, DMV, hospitals, etc.

My first listings sold within the first month.  Listings are a bit more challenging, but they are rewarding as well!  A listing in a good location priced correctly will sell quickly most of the time.  I personally believe it is dishonest to price a listing higher than market value.  It won't sell, and then the agent is forced to go back and ask for price reductions.  Should it by chance sell, it may not appraise.  Then the REALTOR must go back to the seller and explain why he/she priced it above market value knowing it probably would not appraise.  It is critically important that the seller understand current market conditions and other factors influencing the sale of his property as well. 

Internet marketing is my "thing."  I have a personalized, branded marketing plan designed to help sell property.  I don't guarantee the property will sell, but I will guarantee my real estate marketing services.

Testimonials

I received a plant from one of my clients who moved from out of state.  Their note said, "Thank you for making us feel so welcome!" 

A seller said, "You've been more than a REALTOR.  You've been a friend." 

Another said, "We appreciate you so much.  You've been so good and tried so hard to sell our property."  When it sold and closed, they again said how much they appreciated what I did and how they wished I had been the first agent they called.

I send a post-closing survey to my clients.  I get many nice comments with permission to share them.