Consider a Realtor’s experience in the local marketplace when deciding who you want to work with. Do you want to work with someone who does real estate on the side of their other full time job? Or do you want to work with a full time agent who can give you the attention you need when making one of the biggest purchases of your life? There are thousands of agents in the OKC metro area, but not all agents are the same. Below are a few things to remember when choosing a Realtor that is going to work FOR YOU. I am an experienced full time agent dedicated to providing top notch service. My business thrives on referrals, so it’s extremely important to me that you have a positive experience when purchasing your home. Hopefully you’ll send your friends and family my way.
Your Realtor is your neighborhood expert
A busy Realtor like me is out selling homes every day all over the Oklahoma City metro area. We see hundreds of homes each year in a variety of price ranges and conditions, and help people buy homes every day. We understand the local market conditions better than anyone. Need to know if prices are trending upwards or downwards? We can help. Need advice on local schools or popular hot-spots around the city? We have you covered. We can provide advice on taxes, activities, planned future developments, and an entire host of neighborhood knowledge.
Your Realtor is your negotiator
Your Realtor also helps when negotiating the purchase of your home. A good Realtor is trained in negotiations, and skilled in understanding both parties so they can arrive at the best possible outcome. I have helped hundreds of families with buying their home. I act as an intermediary so that you can detach the emotion from the process and look at offers objectively.
Access to resources
I have an extensive network of lenders, home inspectors, repairmen and other service providers that can help you in your home purchase. My close relationship with various title companies can help smooth transactions when they become tricky. I can recommend experienced home inspectors that can help you understand any flaws that might exist in the prospective home. Even after your purchase, I can recommend handymen for repairs, companies to help with flooring, and plumbers or electricians if you need additions or remodeling.
Everything you need to know
Our website is the most comprehensive real estate resource in Oklahoma. Not only do we offer valuable guidance, we also have the most up-to-date listing information in the industry. Our listings are pulled daily straight from the OKC Metro MLS, which means my site is updated with new listings and eliminates the ones that are under contract or sold, so you’re not looking at out-dated info. You can even create an account on my web site to set up a custom search for your specific needs. A custom search will automatically email listings to you as soon as they hit the market. This allows you (and me) to know immediately when a home meets your needs, and make appointments quickly.
Tech savvy
We Sell Oklahoma is one of the most tech savvy real estate teams in central Oklahoma. We are nearly 100% paperless, and use technologies such as Authentisign for electronic signatures, and Google Drivefor file management. Our programs help to increase productivity and reduce down time when every step is time-sensitive. We often work with out-of-town clients, and with electronic signatures there’s no need for a printer or scanner. Simply open your email from a laptop or phone and click to sign. Don’t worry though, if you don’t feel comfortable using our programs, we’re happy to do paperwork the old fashioned way. We’re here to accommodate YOU.
Smart Phones are currently the most popular mobile device. We offer VIRTUAL SHOWINGS to our out-of-town clients through FaceTime or video conferencing. This is especially helpful if you’re out of town and a hot property hits the market with no time to waste. We’re available to do virtual showings so you never have to miss out on your potential dream home!
What is a REALTOR?
Not all real estate agents are Realtors. Realtor is a trademark of the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and only NAR members can call themselves Realtors. As a NAR member, we are bound by a Code of Ethics that help protect clients and ensure that Realtors practice in a highly ethical manner. NAR also requires periodic training of members and provides many educational opportunities. Any complaints from clients are taken seriously and NAR provides a formal process for complaint handling and member discipline. All this helps ensure that you, our client, are working with a highly skilled professional that takes ethics and customer service seriously.
Do not call the listing agent
Inexperienced buyers will often drive around a neighborhood and call the number on a sign if they see a home they like. This is not a productive or efficient way to go about finding your next home. It is important to realize that the agent listed on the sign is working for the seller – not you. They are bound contractually to help the home seller get the maximum price for their home. In Oklahoma they can legally work for both sides, but this means they cannot advise on pricing, repairs, negotiations, etc.
Your best bet is to form a relationship with a Realtor who has your best interests at heart. If we decide to start a working relationship, I would work to protect your investment in the transaction. The listing agent would represent the seller. My job is to work for YOU, to look out for your investment, protect you from legal issues during the transaction, and make sure you get the best deal for your home purchase.
How do I get paid?
When a real estate agent lists a property, they sign a listing agreement with the seller. Under that agreement they negotiate the fee for selling the property. In nearly every case, that fee is split between the listing agent and the buyer’s agent (me in this case). Hence, as a buyer’s agent my fee is paid by the seller, but I am contractually obligated to represent the best interests of my buyer while the listing agent is contractually obligated to represent the seller. This works well so that each party is represented equally in the transaction. As always, the goal for any real estate transaction is a win-win for everyone involved.
