In our town approximately 75% of the properties are listed by local agents and approximately 88% of the clients who buy in our town worked with a local agent. We have both Sellers Agents and Buyers Agents yet there are some sellers and some buyers who choose to work with out of town agents.
If you are a Seller and you list with a local agent your agent or one of their office colleagues is almost always available to service your listing by:
- Being available when required at showings to answer questions about property boundaries, the well, the septic system, Seller's disclosures, permits, zoning, CC&Rs, schools, medical services, shopping, local issues, etc.
- Marketing in their local sphere of influence, regional sphere of influence, affiliated brokerages, MLS systems, National websites, brokerage websites, personal websites, syndicated websites, social networks, & blogs.
- Sharing their knowledge and experience of developments, builders, infrastructure issues, pending changes in rates including new assessments, flood zones, high wind zones, and areas with a history of geologic instability.
- Making first contact with buyers who come to town before selecting an agent
- Making first contact with tourists who want to know more about the local market.
If you are a Buyer and you work with a local agent your agent will know more about:
- Property boundaries, Seller's disclosures, permits, zoning, CC&Rs, schools, medical services, shopping, local issues, etc.
- The listed property including the history of the property, previous owners and what upgrades or modifications were made
- Water issues including well water, ground water, storm water, flood water.
- Any history of geologic instability, or erosion problems, or high wind zones.
- Developments, builders, infrastructure issues, pending changes in rates including new assessments
- The Sellers needs and how to negotiate with the seller and/or the sellers agent.
I have heard some Sellers say that they wanted a greater degree of privacy and that they were going with an out of town broker to address their personal needs for privacy. But beyond the need for extra privacy and perhaps some personality conflicts what are the benefits of listing with an out of town brokerage?
I have heard some Buyers say that they were personal friends with the out of town broker or the out of town broker was a family friend but other than that what are the benefits of making your home purchase with an out of town realtor>
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