Last Train to Clarksville

Ready, Set…Start Your Search!

What are the ways that Buyers are searching for homes?  According to the National Association of Realtors, Buyers used a variety of resources to start their search. In August of this year, NAR mailed an 8 page questionnaire to 133,000 consumers who purchased a home between July 2007 and June 2008.  The survey results reveal

that the Internet and Real Estate Professionals were their most popular resources. 87% used the Internet, while 85% used a Real Estate Agent.  When it comes to where buyers found the home that they purchased, more than one-third found it through a Realtor. Why only one-third?  Alot of buyers are afraid, due to misconceptions, to “hire” an Agent to represent them.  I believe that the public is not aware what our job as a Real Estate Professional entails.

To become a Realtor, we have to go to a Real Estate School that is approved by NAR. We become educated on the law, ethics and much more that is required to being a Real Estate Agent.  The test we take to prove we understand what we have learned and receive our license is 3 hours long, at least that is what they give you to take the test. The school can be anywhere from 2 weeks to 6 weeks long.  It’s the pace you decide to make.  Alot of Realtors do not pass the test the first time. Either because of their fear of tests, maybe a language barrier or they just didn’t understand what they were taught.  To become a Realtor we have to have 90 hours of education.  We have to continue our education every year.  So, the time, the money, the education and the pride we put on our title as a Real Estate Professional is real.  We aren’t someone that a company just interviews off the street and hires on the spot.  We are our own business. Hence why you see marketing at different levels. Our marketing is with Last Train To Clarksville and the Monkeys. Realtors work under the umbrella of the Real Estate Company because that is the law. We can only be paid by the Brokerage, not directly.  So, we find the company that we are comfortable working with and helps our business with training, advertising, guidance and much more. To be the best morally and ethically for all customers who in turn become our clients.

Why are Buyers afraid to call on a Realtor when the search begins?  Could it be that they are afraid the Realtor will bring pressure?  Each Realtor is different and have their own uniqueness.  Some are very busy and come across that if your aren’t ready, don’t waste my time.

With Team Agnew, we are working with customers that are still a year out to moving to Clarksville.  We keep in touch and anything they want to view on their computer, we can get it to them in less time it takes for them to search through all the sites that aren’t always up to date.  I have had customers say they want to see a home they found on realtracs.com and I check the MLS number to find out it closed 4 months ago.  So, working with us, we have the market conditions in real time.  Some Realtors don’t want to work with someone that far out, they want to work with them when they are within 3 months.  Team Agnew wants to build the trust and loyalty of our customers who will in turn become our clients and have a smooth transition with their relocation.

Another reason why a Buyer might not call a Realtor to begin their search is because they might like to be in control.  Some want to say; we found the home ourselves, we didn’t need anyone.  That is how I was when we started out search over 10 years ago with our first home.  Our Realtor was very busy. We knew what we were looking for but the agent didn’t really ask us what our criteria was.  She just knew our price range and sent us homes to look at on the internet. When we would ask about a certain subdivision our answer was that is out of your price range.  I took it upon myself to get out and go look at the homes to see if they are what we might want and if there were any in this subdivision in our price range. I found the home we bought in that subdivision that was out of our price range but it was because our Realtor didn’t communicate with us. She was busy. I am the type of person that I want to be your top priority. Buying a home is an important step and it’s not something to take lightly. Our Realtor might have been relaxed and not seen that we were nervous and wanted this to be right.

From our experiences as Buyers, we know how we would want to be serviced.  Each one on of us on Team Agnew has had the experience of working with a Realtor when purchasing our home.  Each one of us knows that the Realtor YOU choose will either make the deal pleasurable or stressful.  The key to working with anyone is the communication.  Team Agnew communicates and is upfront.  We give you the black and white, no gray! So, if you have decided to start your search for a new or existing home and you have a criteria that needs to be met or you really don’t have any stipulations, then we are the Team for you.  We can be your last stop, the Last Train To Clarksville.

How much are our services as Licensed Professionals dealing with legal issues?

Our services are not free but they are to YOU.  We get paid from our Brokerage, who gets the commission for the seller of the home.  So our Buyers don’t have to pay us any money up front or later.  Our goal is to get you the home you are wanting, with the terms you are wanting and getting it closed.  We work for our commission that will come within 48 hours after the home is closed.  So our time that we spend with you, sometimes a year out, will all be paid for at closing when you are moving into your dream home!

So, my next question is:

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