collin county homes for sale: Dallas Real Estate -What Makes you a Negotiations Specialist?
- 07/12/06 09:41 AM
Recently, I've noticed some agents putting an alphabet of real estate classes after their name, CNS. This CNS stands for Certified Negotiations Specialist. They are receiving this designation after taking a class on negotiations. Does that make you a specialist? I would have to scream out the answer as NO! I would really hope that Mr. & Mrs. Buyer and Seller would ask the agent what kind of actual experience they have negotiating and not just looking at the words and thinking they must be a great agent. Anyone can sit through a class and sleep. I personally know an agent who … (2 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Dallas Real Estate -How Do You de-Personalize Your Home?
- 07/10/06 06:53 AM
Look around your house. Now, take another look and count how many times your eyes move to all the photos of your family sitting on the shelves and hanging on the walls. Did you notice your college degree? I've had buyers not buy houses because they were Longhorns and they saw the Aggie diplomas on the walls, and vice verse. Sounds silly, but it's very true!You want buyers to be as comfortable in your home as possible. Not everyone shares the same religious beliefs so remove some of the non denominational things that might cause discomfort. Please, don't be offended by … (0 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Builder Rep Murdered in Model Home
- 07/10/06 06:52 AM
This is crazy!! I'm sitting home on a Saturday evening and I refresh my homepage of www.dallasnews.com and there's a story that catches my eye: "Sales Agent Found Dead in McKinney Model Home."It draws my attention immediately as I'm a Realtor and I go to model homes all the time. I knew immediately who it was within the first couple of sentences. I had talked with Sarah Walker just 3-4 weeks earlier about her community for a potential client referral I received.I just sat here and said, WOW, what a small world.Here is the link to the article. You might need … (1 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Dallas Real Estate -Making a First Impression
- 07/08/06 09:12 AM
The most important thing you need to keep in mind when putting your house on the market is that you only have one chance to make a first impression. Many people think the first impression is the drive- up appeal in order to get the people from the car into the house. WRONG! The very first impression for over 80% of buyers is the way the house is presented on the internet. If the pictures do not look good, the buyers are going to eliminate the house so quickly, you won't get a chance to retake the photos! As a Real Estate professional, … (2 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Another Non-Qualified Buyer won't Learn...
- 07/07/06 06:25 AM
As I've said many times within and outside this blog, a buyer must be, at minimum, pre-approved for a loan before looking at houses. I got a call from one of my online ads to look at a house. I asked the questions I ask all prospects that call. The difference is, this buyer got irate that I was asking questions. I calmly told her that if she was a serious buyer wanting to actually buy a house and not just look at houses, that she should have no problem getting approved for a loan to make sure we're in the … (0 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Dallas Real Estate -Do I need a Realtor when I buy a Brand NEW home?
- 07/06/06 07:25 AM
Of Course You Do!!!Think of it this way... when you walk into a Builder's model home and you're greeted by the nice lady or man, he or she works for the Builder and works for the Builder's best interests, not yours! You are the buyer wanting to buy one of their products. They are there to get the highest possible price from you for the seller, the builder.Some people think they'll get a better deal if they don't have a Realtor in their corner with a Builder. It is against TREC rules (Texas Real Estate Commission) for a builder to charge … (0 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Dallas Real Estate -What is Earnest Money and How much is acceptable?
- 07/05/06 03:37 AM
I get asked two questions a lot:1. What is Earnest Money?2. How much Earnest Money is acceptable for an offer?The easiest answer to what earnest money is, is that it's "good faith" money. When you put up earnest money with your offer, you're offering good faith to the seller that you will do everything possible to obtain financing or come up with the cash to buy their home. In Texas, earnest money is not necessary within a contract/offer, but it is definitely customary as I don't know a single agent that would advise their sellers to accept an offer written without … (1 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Happy 4th of July!!
- 07/03/06 01:58 PM
For me, Real Estate is a 24/7 career, and I don't mind. But, around this time of year, I'll tend to take at least one personal day off to enjoy with my Husband and friends. This year, with the actual Holiday on a Tuesday, it seems as though the weekend is going to go on and on as no other Realtors are returning my calls... so I sit and wait for Wednesday.I love this Holiday for another reason also. Each year, it's a reminder that my own birthday is only a week away. This year, I will be celebrating my... hmmm, … (1 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Experienced Agent verse Newer Agent
- 06/29/06 11:32 AM
When I first got into real estate, I had just turned 24 and I looked about 18. It was no wonder people always asked my age and how long I was in the business. I always had to prove myself as to why they should use me as a newer agent...Now that I'm past the five year mark, and at the end of my sixth year, I love this new study that came out. Researchers followed 55,000 properties in the Dallas/Ft Worth area. The averages of these properties showed an average days on the market at 90 days and an average … (0 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Full Service Listing Verse Limited Service
- 06/29/06 11:14 AM
One of the things I have to explain to sellers when I'm on a listing appointment is why I can't take a reduced commission to sell their home. My first response is, weren't you paying attention to all the marketing I do for your house to get it sold and do you not understand how much time, energy, and money it costs to do that? Asking a Realtor to take a reduction is like asking you to work a full 8 hour day at the office, with your full duties, and then asking you to only work for 1/2 your salary … (1 comments)
collin county homes for sale: Understanding Your Credit
- 06/28/06 06:35 AM
There are many myths when it comes to your credit. I'm not a mortgage person, so I don't know everything that goes into what can be ignored on a report and what can't, but I've learned quite a bit over the years and here are some of the important things to remember. If you have several credit cards, do NOT close your accounts, even if you're not using them. Keeping these accounts open show a longer length of credit history which increases your scores. Also, your credit score is based off what you're allowed to borrow verse what you are borrowing. If … (0 comments)
This blog is to help educate Buyers, Sellers and even other Realtors across the country. Each market is different and the way Real Estate is done is different. Austin Real Estate is completely different than Dallas, California and Florida and everywhere else in between. Some times there will be other things besides real estate as I like to rant and rave as much as the next!! Come back often!
Recently, I've noticed some agents putting an alphabet of real estate classes after their name, CNS. This CNS stands for Certified Negotiations Specialist. They are receiving this designation after taking a class on negotiations. Does that make you a specialist? I would have to scream out the answer as NO!
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