Why is an experienced, local real estate agent so important?
With the overwhelming amount of services, apps, and tools to help you buy or sell real estate on your own, you may have asked yourself if you need to hire a realtor. Why is a realtor important? What are the benefits of having one? Buying or selling a home is a major undertaking – both financially and emotionally so it is important to make an informed decision.
While you can certainly teach yourself how to buy or sell your home on your own, wouldn’t it be nice to have someone else in your corner who has the knowledge and experience to do it for you?
As an experienced Whistler real estate agent, here are 8 things that I bring to the table to help make your buying or selling process easier – all reasons why you should consider hiring a real estate agent instead of going alone.
1 – Experience
The purchase and sale of real estate is a complex transaction and hiring an agent will help you avoid potential financial and legal pitfalls. With over a decade and a half of experience under my belt. I have seen it all, and if I haven’t, someone I know has – so I am ready for anything and everything. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an experienced investor, I take pride in my ability to walk you through the buying or selling process in a way that makes it as easy and stress-free as possible.
2 – Local Knowledge
I have been working in the real estate industry in the Sea to Sky since 2006 and have acquired extensive experience in the local real estate market. My long-term knowledge means that I am familiar with all the ins and outs of Whistler’s unique marketplace – from zoning to property usage rules to traffic patterns.
What could be worse than finding your perfect dream weekend getaway and then finding out after it is too late that you can only use it for 56 nights of the year? I’ll make sure this won’t happen to you.
3 – Extensive Market Knowledge
As a successful realtor, I have a strong understanding of the real estate market conditions. Years of experience and my day-in-day-out exposure to Whistler’s marketplace mean that I have an intimate understanding of the market conditions and trends. This knowledge is crucial to correctly price a property and coming out successful in negotiations.
4 – Pricing Expertise
Related to the point above, when trying to narrow in on a list or offer price for a property, I have access to comparable home sales data going back years. This, combined with in-depth market knowledge, is invaluable when it comes to helping a seller decide on a list price or a buyer decide on an offer amount.
Without this knowledge, plus the added emotion of buying or selling, selecting a price is like throwing a dart in the dark. An experienced realtor can provide neutral advice that is often difficult to see on your own when you get caught up in the emotion of saying goodbye to your family home or falling in love with the property of your dreams.
5 – Save Time & Energy
You are at work and you get a call – a potential buyer wants to see your home but they are leaving town in half an hour. Can you leave work to let them in? Do you want to spend every available moment combing through website after website searching for your dream home?
Your personal and professional responsibilities don’t disappear when you decide to buy or sell a home. So instead of dedicating hours of your day to searching for properties or answering questions from potential buyers, why not let someone else do it for you?
While you carry on with life, let me take care of fielding questions, arranging showings, sending you narrowed lists of properties that meet your criteria, doing all the background work on the properties you are interested in.
6 – Paperwork Management
From reviewing contracts to reading strata documents – the paperwork that comes with buying or selling a property can be stressful and daunting. I have years of experience dealing with real estate contracts and all the other associated paperwork. I know what conditions should be used, how to use the contract to protect your best interests, and what to look out for in strata documents.
And, once the paperwork is complete, we seamlessly coordinate with the lawyers for both the buyer and the seller to hand off the paperwork for closing so you don’t have to worry about a thing.
7 – Negotiating on your Behalf
Whether you are a buyer or a seller, as your realtor I am legally obligated to put your best interests first. This fiduciary responsibility means that it is my job to get you the best price for your home, or the best deal on the property you want to buy.
My years of negotiating experience mean that I know how to guide you through all the critical decisions that need to be made. I know what normally works, and what doesn’t. And, most important of all, I can be a neutral voice of reason when emotions start to run high, helping you avoid the problems that come with emotional reactions. I work with you and speak for you in tough transactions and help to make sure that you stay in the best negotiating position possible.
8 – A Professional Network
After years living and working in the Sea to Sky, I have an extensive network of professionals ready to help you before, during, and after your sale. Need a mortgage broker? A lawyer? A painter? A babysitter? For anything you could need, I have a recommendation.
To successfully buy or sell real estate, you need to work with a variety of professionals – from a mortgage broker to a lawyer to a home inspector. Working with a realtor means tapping into my network of qualified and experienced professionals.
On the other side of the coin, a realtor’s relationships with other agents as well as my contacts bring a vast pool of potential buyers or listings within your grasp.
So Why is a Realtor Imporant?
While you can certainly try to learn how to buy or sell real estate, having me in your corner will get you broader exposure for your property, help you negotiate a better deal, dedicate more time to your purchase or sell, and give you the advantage of years of experience and expertise that is sure to make the process easier and likely to get you a better deal in the end.
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If you have any questions or are thinking of buying with family or friends in Whistler, contact me anytime. I would be happy to help you decide what properties would be your best fit and answer any questions you may have.
