Why hire a Rockstar Realtor in Jacksonville NC

Before the Internet became widespread, real estate listings were not available freely online. Instead, local offices of real estate agents would subscribe to thick books replete with the latest listings, weekly or fortnightly. Agents would go over the properties listed in the books to find a fit for their buyers. They would then contact their clients and ask them to drive by the house to look at it. They might even fax the listings. The bottom line is, the power was in the hands of real estate agents. This information was not available publicly and freely and real estate agents had the upper hand.

However, today, this information is available easily online. Buyers can even look at the history of the listings to obtain information about the purchase of the property and how long it has been listed on the market. They can even compare properties to gain an idea of the approximate value of homes in the local market. In this scenario, one might question the very need to even have a realty agent.

Below are three reasons why agents are still important in the new scenario.

The Agent Will Know the Market

Dealing in realty business requires a fair deal of effort and time. Real estate agents treat it as a full time job and are required to know the condition of the local market. They are well aware of the market conditions in the past five years. They repeat the process of buying and selling property again and again as it is their livelihood.

This alone gives the agent a special and unique insight into the real estate of the area. They learn what kind of inspectors to avoid, how to navigate through delicate situations at crucial points of the deal and how to put a good price on a house. They can immediately spot a good deal when they see one, yet they are also insightful enough to smell something fishy when they think they have a deal that is much too good to be true.

Interpretation of the Information

While the Internet offers a bevy of information, it would be of no use, or of even harm if one didn’t know how it would affect the investment.

For example, if a buyer found a property they really liked. They might find a comparison with another similar property that sold for a significantly lower amount. They might be tempted to wait or to lowball, in the hopes that they might get a better deal. However, a real estate agent would know that the second property actually had a whole deal of problems with carpeting and paint that the new owner would have to pay for. A buyer who did not consult a real estate agent might then miss out on his dream home, not knowing why the other home sold for less.

An agent gives confidence and advice about real estate decisions.

No Room for Mistakes

The past few years have shown just how unpredictable and unstable the real estate market is. While earlier, realty business was on a steady, slow growth, today it has become unpredictable. The loss of job security and a change in values also makes real estate a risky investment.

In such volatile conditions, an agent can help buyers to avoid mistakes that they might regret later. He can help them to make a responsible and well-informed purchase.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
www.KatieJonesHomes.com
Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.

Helpful Tips for Seller having an Open House or Showings...Jacksonville NC Realtor Katie Jones

One of the biggest blunders home sellers make is showing their house to the potential buyers without preparing it. To make the buyers fall in love with your house at the very first sight is not a cinch. For this, you must know how to prepare your property for open houses. Home showings are an important part of the selling process and cannot be overlooked. Listed below are some handy tips on how you can do up the exteriors and interiors of your house to make it spectacular during the open houses.

* To boost up the curb appeal of your house, mow the lawn and tidy up the flower beds before the buyers come over. Clean the gutters. Also, make sure that there are no little plants or shrubbery peeking from the roofline.

* Not everyone loves animals. Even the pet lovers might not like to have a cat or dog greet them when they visit the place. However, shutting the pet in any room of the house and asking the potential buyer not to enter into that room does not sound a wise move. Every buyer wants to check out the entire house, no matter what. So, the best would be to either crate them or drop them at a close friend’s place for some time. In addition, it is also important to corral their playthings, empty the bowls in which they eat and ensure all litter boxes and containers are clean.

* There is not any house where creepy things like insects are not present. However, as a seller, giving the illusion that there are no insects or bugs in your house should be one of your major goals. You can place an insect bail trap below the stairs, under the refrigerator and behind the cabinets. If you still fail to get rid of bugs, then call a good pest control firm to deal with the problem.

* A dark, clammy and damp basement can give an impression of a leaking foundation. While the reason for this could be just that the foundation is sopping up rainwater which must have been deflected elsewhere, the buyer is most likely to take it as a leakage in the foundation. So, next time when it rains, just go outside to make sure the gutters are unclogged, downspouts are running in the right direction and underground drains or pipes are open.

* If you have preschoolers, toddlers or a newborn, it is obvious to have a good number of baby paraphernalia and toys piled up in the house. If you wish to sell your house, stash away all this before the showing. You can use a large chest or closet to hoard the stuff.

In addition to all these things, be ready to make some alterations in the house as well. For instance, if you have dim bulbs, replace them with the bright ones so that your house can give an impression of a brighter and bigger space.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
www.KatieJonesHomes.com

Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.

Is there a fungus among us?....Mold in Real Estate

Until recently, mold rarely factored into real estate transactions. Thanks to a growing awareness of the different types of mold and how they can contribute to ill health, this has changed. Although mold occurs around us naturally, leaks, poor flooring and other structural issues have contributed to a growing awareness of mold in the home. As a result, it has begun to have a negative impact on real estate transactions.

Why is mold in the home a problem?

Mold in the home has the potential to cause health problems. It is usually the case that these issues are restricted to those who suffer from respiratory conditions, but certain types of mold have reputedly contributed to health complaints in individuals who are otherwise healthy. This has become a particularly big concern for parents, who worry that their children could suffer as a result of mold exposure in the home. The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recognized these issues, and now provides advice to homeowners as a result.

How does mold impact real estate transactions?

Aside from the human health risks, mold is also an indication that a home may not be healthy. The EPA states that the key to mold control is moisture control, and appraisers are beginning to assume that the presence of mold means that a house is not well constructed. The most common source of mold is water problems, such as leaking pipes and poor ventilation in bathrooms, laundry rooms and kitchens. If mold continues to grow unchecked and gets out of control, it has the potential to cause damage to a house that can be expensive to repair.

As more buyers, lawyers, appraisers, and home inspectors are aware of the implications of mold, its presence has begun to impact sales transactions. Mold litigation is now on the rise, which means more people know that there are health risks associated with it. Buyers are also aware of the fact that mold in a new home could mean it is not as well-built as it looks, and they also know that they may have to shoulder the burden of cleaning it up when they move into their new home. These things combined mean that the presence of mold acts as a deterrent when it comes to purchasing a home. This problem has now grown to the extent that some realtors are requesting that home owners declare mold to potential buyers.

The key issue surrounding mold in real estate transactions is the way it will affect financing. If an appraiser or home inspector detects the presence of mold and declares it, a bank will not finance the purchase. This is to the detriment of the buyer as well as the seller, but will ultimately place more pressure on the person selling the home. A bank will only consider financing the house once the mold has been removed by a professional mold remediation company. In addition to this, the bank will want to know that the appraiser is satisfied that the moisture causing the mold has been addressed.
How can the mold issue be addressed?

To an extent, it is not possible to avoid the growth of mold. However, there are problem areas that could be addressed to make sure it does not impact a real estate transaction. If rooms that experience water flow and condensation are not well-ventilated, they are at risk of mold. Addressing ventilation issues with adequate systems and extractor fans can prevent mold from becoming endemic across the house. Clearing heating ducts and maintaining HVAC systems on a regular basis can also address mold issues. Getting to the root of mold sources while using products designed to remove it can help prevent it from impacting areal estate transaction.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
www.KatieJonesHomes.com

Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.

Don't go at it alone...Hire a Professional

Home buying is a wonderful experience. To make this journey of home buyers as smooth as possible, real estate agents play a crucial role. However, most first timers treat it as nothing more than a needless expense. This often leads them to make wrong decisions, while purchasing their dream home. To clear this misconception, listed below are some major benefits you can have by enlisting professional services of a realtor.

* Avoid being tricked by the seller – Every seller wants to sell his property at a price as high as possible. For this, he may highlight only the good aspects of his property and completely hide the problematic issues. He may not reveal it to you that the roof of the house leaks, whenever it rains. It is very much possible for you to miss the telltale signs indicating seepage and leakage, if the seller keeps you engaged in something else. For instance, you may remain busy in appreciating the color of house walls and miss to note the roof leakage signs. The seller can even recommend a home inspector or a lender toassist you in finalizing the deal quickly. This, however, does no good to the home buyer. The experts you choose on the recommendation of the seller often may not offer you impartial advice and can drive you towards a wrong decision. It is only a professional real estate agent, who can save you from all this. These professionals work in the best interest of their clients by providing independent advice.

* Comprehend your own requirements properly – Usually, first time home buyers are not clear about what they exactly want. Some of them even go wrong while making correlation between all their needs and their current financial capacity. Professional realtors deal with a number of home buyers everyday and therefore, they can fully comprehend the needs of a first time buyer, better than himself. They can assist you regarding whether the kind of house you want would suit your budget or not. If not, then they would provide you with other similar options, but with a lower price tag.

* Enjoy an extensive range of options – For most first time home buyers the idea of seeking a house is restricted to just talking to a few friends, relatives, colleagues and spreading the word, so that all your acquaintances get to know that you want to buy a new house. On the contrary, a professional realtor would have an extensive database of houses available for rent and sale. Rather than searching for houses at random, it is best to adopt a smarter approach and enlist the services of a professional real estate agent. A professional would focus on your budget, specific localities and features that you want to have in your new home.

Above all, a realtor can help you put intelligent reasons in front of the seller, for reducing the property price. Working with a good professional would also help you in learning various nuances of evaluating a property. This would be particularly good for those who would like to buy a house again in the future.

Katie Jones
Broker/REALTOR®
Keller Williams Realty
Direct 910.650.9598
Email Katie.Jones01@yahoo.com
www.KatieJonesHomes.com

Jacksonville, NC real estate areas I specialize in: Carolina Plantations, Towne Point, Peyton’s Ridge Richlands & Jacksonville.