The three most important criteria for selecting an agent are:
1. Level of service 
2. Selling quickly at an expected price 
3. Reputation of agent and company

 

 

Mike Harness and Keller/Williams Meet All Of These Requirements

14 Questions To Ask When Selecting An Agent
1. How long have you been in Real Estate? 
2. What is your average list price to sales ratio? 
3. What is your average days on the market (D.O.M.)? 
4. Do you have a marketing plan? 
5. Do you understand the corporate buy-out clause? 
6. Do you have a copy of your standard contract? 
7. Have you sold homes in my area? How many? 
8. What do you know about my area? 
9. What is your standard commission? 
10. Do I need repairs? 
11. What is your standard length of contract? 
12. At what asking price would you market my home? 
13. Do you have references? 
14. What national relocation company are you with? 

First and foremost, select an agent to represent you as your "Buyer's Agent"
• Commissions are generally paid by the seller even when you are represented by a buyer’s agent, so you are receiving a free service in hiring a qualified Realtor to serve your best interests. 
• Pledge your loyalty to your agent and you will be rewarded by his or her best effort to find you the perfect house at the best price. 
• Protect yourself by handing out your agent’s card whenever you visit open houses or builder model homes and inform the agent on site that your agent is representing you. This will insure that you have an agent looking out for your best interests, protecting your privacy and helping you to negotiate for your dream home. 

Have your agent recommend a professional loan officer for you to interview
• Have that person pre-qualify you immediately so that you and your Realtor know exactly what you can afford. 
• A prequalification letter from your lender will help you a lot in your negotiations. Sellers need to know their home is sold to someone who can afford it. 
• A pre-qualified buyer is always more attractive to a seller. 

Always have the home you are buying inspected by a licensed inspector
• Your Realtor can provide a list of qualified inspectors to you. This will insure that you move into a home in good repair (even if it is new) and not a “lemon”. 
• The inspector will identify any problem areas through observation of structural, mechanical, plumbing, electrical, and safety systems of the property. 
• They can also schedule to have your home inspected for termites and other wood destroying insects, which is required by mortgage lenders 

1. A Lasting First Impression 
• The front door and entry walkway greet your prospect. Make sure they look fresh and clean and free of eyesores. 
• Keep the lawn trimmed and edged, and the yard free of refuse. Walks, steps and driveways must be well-manicured and looking good. 
2. Decorate For A Quick Sale 
• Faded walls and worn woodwork reduce the appeal of your home. 
• Don’t sell your home on what it could look like. It doesn’t cost much and the result will be a quicker sale at a higher price. 
3. Let The Sun Shine In 
• Open draperies and curtains to show the prospect how cheerful your home can be. Dark rooms do not appeal to most buyers. 
4. Fix The Faucet 
• Dripping water discolors the sink and suggests faulty plumbing. It also makes the prospect wonder what else might be in need of repair. 
5. Repairs Can Make The Difference 
• Loose knobs, sticking doors and windows, warped cabinet drawers and other minor flaws detract from the value of your home. Have them fixed. 
6. From Top To Bottom 
• Display the full value of your attic, basement and other utility spaces by removing all unnecessary items. Brighten dark, dull spaces by painting them with light colored paint. 
7. Safety First 
• Keep stairways clear. Avoid the cluttered look and possible injuries. 
8. Make Closets Look Bigger 
• Neat, well-organized closets show that the space is ample. 
9. Bathrooms Well Homes 
• Check and repair caulking in bathtubs and showers. Have as little on top of the counters as you can manage. Make this room sparkle! 
10. Arrange Bedrooms Neatly 
• Remove excess furniture to a storage space. Use attractive bedspreads and freshly laundered curtains. 
11. Can You See The Light? 
• A clean, well-lit house is like a welcome sign. The prospect will feel a glowing warmth when you turn on all the lights for an inspection. 
12. Three’s A Crowd 
• Avoid having too many people present during showings. The prospect will feel more at ease and won’t rush through the showing. 
13. Music Is Mellow 
• Turn off the TV and play some soft music on the stereo or radio. Set the mood for an enjoyable showing. 
14. Silence Is Golden 
• Be courteous but don’t force conversation with the prospect. They are there to inspect your home, not pay a social call. 
15. Be It Ever So Humble 
• Never apologize for the appearance of your home. After all, it is lived in. Let your trained Realtor answer any objections. 
16. In The Background 
• The Realtor showing your home is best equipped to know the buyer’s requirements and to emphasize those features of your home. 
17. Home Sweet Home 
• Put cinnamon sticks in the oven on low heat or simmer vanilla on a low burner or light a scented candle to give your home an inviting aroma. 

Tips on Packing
• A substantial amount of money can be saved by packing your household goods. To insure safety for your belongings, care should be undertaken to pack properly. 
• Use strong containers, in good condition, that can be sealed with strapping tape. These can be purchased locally from moving companies. 
• Keep in mind what the box will weigh after it is loaded. 40 to 50 pounds is considered the maximum. Empty spaces in boxes should be filled with crumpled newspaper or bubble wrap to keep things from shifting in transit. 
• Books should be stacked on end and generally in smaller boxes than other things due to their weight. Label each box after packing, first, so that the movers will know which room to put it in and secondly, to help you to prioritize which ones need to be opened first. 
• Remove all breakables from drawers before moving furniture. 
• Don't pack valuables such as jewelry, collections, checks or savings books. 

Packing takes longer than you expect so allow plenty of time. Pack items that aren't frequently used first and unpack them last. 
• Organization in packing will save you hours of time and frustration in the long run. Items that are no longer wanted can be donated to charity and you may be eligible for a tax deduction. 

Video Tape Your Personal Belongings
• In recent years the price of video cameras has come down so low that many households have one. Even if you haven't gotten around to buying one yet, you probably know someone who has one or you can rent one for a very reasonable price. 
• Most are very simple to operate and don't require any skilled training. The microphone is built into most of the cameras and some don't even require additional lighting. 
• Why not use this technology to make a video record of all of the personal possessions in your home just in case you have a burglary or fire? If a picture is worth a thousand words, a video with sound has to be worth ten thousand. 
• Have someone help you with this simple project. One of you can man the camera and the other can identify different objects in each room. Describe each item as you go along and if it has a serial number or other identifying mark, be sure to mention it. 
• Open all closet doors to show what the contents are and briefly mention different things. You can't believe how helpful this can be after a loss because many times you don't miss something for months after a claim is filed because you might not use an item very often. 
• Once the video tape has been made, you might want to even make a duplicate of it and put one copy either in a safety deposit box or at work or give it to a friend or relative for safe keeping. 
• Don't worry about being Steven Spielberg. You aren't trying to win an Oscar for this tape but just protect your possessions from loss. However, do have fun doing it. 

• Show the children the new home and their new room prior to moving. If this is not possible, pictures or videos will help them visualize where they are going. 
• Assure children that you won't forget their friends. 
• Make a scrap book of the old home and neighborhood. 
• Throw a good-bye party. At the party have their friends sign a tee shirt. 
• Have your children write good-bye letters and enclose their new address. You may wish to call the other children's parents so they will encourage return letters. 
• When packing, give them their own box. They can decorate it so they know which one it is. 
• If you move far away buy postcards when you stop so they can remember the trip. 
• When unpacking, allow them to unpack their treasures then, have them play with the boxes while you unpack. 
• Start a scrap book for their new home. Include a diary of My first... 
• Visit their new school, park, church etc... Take a camera. 
• Help your children invite new friends over to the house. 
• Let them choose a new favorite restaurant. This will help them feel in control of their new world. 
• Encourage them to send letters about their new home, to their friends. 
• Involve your children in groups, sports, and activities like the ones they used to participate in. 
• Remember even if you only lived in a home a few years to a young child it is nearly their entire lifetime! 

For Sale By Owner Headaches
1. Window - Shoppers 
2. Lookers stopping at all hours of the day & night 
3. Mis-pricing home 
4. Inability to qualify buyer 
5. Letting strangers in the home 
6. Negotiating with buyer 
7. Knowing everything that needs to be done 
8. Missed opportunities when far away from home 
9. Buyers wanting the commission savings 

1. Call the newspaper 
2. Call the exterminator 
3. Call the inspector 
4. Call the appraiser 
5. Call the mortgage banker 
6. Call the painter 
7. Call the plumber 
8. Call the neighbors 
9. Call your friends 
10. Call your insurance agent 

A substantial amount of money can be saved by packing your household goods. To insure safety for your belongings, care should be undertaken to pack properly.
• Use strong containers, in good condition, that can be sealed with strapping tape. These can be purchased locally from moving companies. 
• Keep in mind what the box will weigh after it is loaded. 40 to 50 pounds is considered the maximum. 
• Empty spaces in boxes should be filled with crumpled newspaper or bubble wrap to keep things from shifting in transit. 
• Books should be stacked on end and generally in smaller boxes than other things due to their weight. 
• Label each box after packing, first, so that the movers will know which room to put it in and secondly, to help you to prioritize which ones need to be opened first. 
• Remove all breakables from drawers before moving furniture. 
• Don't pack valuables such as jewelry, collections, checks or savings books. 
• Packing takes longer than you expect so allow plenty of time. Pack items that aren't frequently used first and unpack them last. 
• Organization in packing will save you hours of time and frustration in the long run. 
• Items that are no longer wanted can be donated to charity and you may be eligible for a tax deduction. 

I am not judged by the
number of times I fail,

but by the number of times
I succeed 

And the number of times I succeed
is in direct proportion to
the number of times
I can fail