Tuesday, June 10, 2008

Why use a Realtor?

Why it Pays to Work with a Local REALTOR®
By Rives Bailey, President Charlottesville Area Association of REALTORS®

In today's hot real estate market, some home sellers have decided they don't need a professional REALTOR® to sell their house. Most are finding out there is a lot more to selling a house than putting a sign in the yard and running an ad. If that's all there was to it, then everyone would sell their own home. Instead, a vast majority of homeowners use a professional REALTOR® when it is time to sell. Most homebuyers also use a professional REALTOR® when they want to buy a home. A typical family will purchase less than five homes in their entire life. Having a professional REALTOR® as an advisor is the best way to handle such an important and complicated transaction.

1. Time is money! REALTORS® take away the time consuming burden of buying and selling homes. You have a life, REALTORS® let you live it.

2. REALTORS® are in tune with recent changes in development and zoning issues, disclosures, agency and fair housing laws, regulatory issues, financing options, and much more.

3. REALTORS® use state of the art technology to assist their clients. REALTORS® invest millions of dollars every year in high-tech tools to make the buying and selling process efficient. REALTOR.com and CAAR.com empower REALTORS® and their clients to take advantage of the Internet.

4. Pricing a property correctly is the most important part of selling real estate. There is great value in a REALTOR'S® knowledge of the market and trends in the industry.

5. Professional REALTORS® are committed to ongoing education. Many REALTORS® have made the commitment to obtain professional designations to further their knowledge of the complex real estate industry.

6. It is not a good idea to let just anyone in to your home. REALTORS® know their clients and bring quality buyers to see your home.

7. Buying or selling a home is an emotional process. It is critical to have a REALTOR® coordinate the negotiations to make sure the transaction is handled professionally. When you take advantage of a REALTORS®' expertise, you can feel more confident in your decisions. Let's face it, real estate is what they do -- real estate is their life.

8. REALTORS® are specialists! There are many types of real estate - residential, commercial, land, farms, etc - and there are trained REALTORS® ready to fill every niche market.

9. REALTORS® have a strict ethical Code they must follow to ensure your interests are protected. Don't just use a real estate agent - use a REALTOR®.

10. REALTORS® have set up a secure lockbox system to protect your property while allowing other REALTORS® to show your home to potential buyers.

The term REALTOR® is a registered collective membership mark that may be used only by real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics.

Thursday, June 5, 2008

Home Warranties

What is home warranty and when should I consider having one?

A home is one of the single largest investments that we make. It is similar to having insurance on your home, except that it covers the operating systems. A home warranty plan protects you against potentially huge repair bills. It covers no matter how many breakdowns occur or how much it costs to fix or replace the covered item. You can feel comfortable knowing that in most cases, you'll pay only a nominal service fee per repair call. This warranty can be purchased on all types of homes. A basic plan covers things such central air, heating, plumbing, electrical, appliances, water heaters, sump pumps and exhaust fans. Other coverages can also be purchased to cover pools, wells, septic systems.

Each company has a different fee per repair call ranging from $50-$100, some plans have deductibles. It is best to speak with agent to determine what type of policy will work best for you. When making an offer to buy a house ask that the seller pay for the warranty. If you have a home to sell, offer a warranty.