How to Find the Best Real Estate Agent for You

Finding the right real estate agent for you is one of the most vital parts of the home buying or selling process. A great real estate agent will make the experience smooth, enjoyable and help you meet your real estate goals. Despite being one of the most important parts of the process, a lot of people don't put a lot of time or thought into choosing an agent. On today's show, Robert and Dave talk about how you can find the right agent for you and make sure you have an enjoyable experience! Read the short list below and listen to the show for more details.

1. Ask your friends and family for any suggestions.
2. Check online to verify that the agent has great reviews and at least 25 sales in the last year. Experience matters when it comes to problem solving during each unique home buying or selling experience.
3. Interview the agent in person to get a feel for their personality, work style and communication techniques. You won't be a personality match with every agent. Find one that you like and trust your gut!
4. Make sure the agent is responsive and quick to answer your questions. This will make a huge difference in how you experience the home buying or selling process.

What should you expect from your real estate agent?

Today we’re getting into the details! What exactly is the role of a real estate agent in helping buy or sell your home?

A lot of people really don’t know what a real estate agent should be doing for them. And because they don’t know the role of a real estate agent, they often miss out on some of the benefits of having an agent that does their job well.

Maybe you just hire any agent because you think they all do the same thing, but really you miss out on some bonuses because you simply don’t know that they should be doing certain things for you? It’s hard to ask questions if you don’t know what questions to ask!

The road to homeownership—or getting your home sold—can be bumpy, and it’s often filled with unexpected turns and detours. That’s why it makes sense to have a great real estate to help guide the way for you.

A Great Agent Should:

1. Save you time!
2. Be very knowledgeable of your area.
3. Be an expert guide for your market and for the process itself.
4. Find the right price for your home.
5. Effectively promote and market your home.
6. Have a strong network of professionals and agents around them.
7. Advocate for you as a buyer or seller.
8. Assist you with negotiations.
9. Take care of your paperwork down to the finest detail.

Housing Market Predictions for 2017

What does the housing market look like for 2017? Robert and Dave discuss expert predictions for the upcoming year. Hear their thoughts on the predictions below by listening to this week's show.

1. Homeowners' net-worth will continue to increase. The average homeowner's equity has increased by $11,000 over the last year.

2. Revised mortgage regulations will continue to make mortgages easier to secure.

3. Rental costs will level off.

4. The number of cash buyers will go from above average to average.

5. New construction homes are getting smaller to accommodate market demand.

6. Inventory will remain tight. 

7. The market will continue to get easier for first-time home buyers.

8. Baby boomers will have a big impact on the market and they look to downsize or move closer to family.

15 Design Features of a Dream Kitchen

Whether you're looking to do a complete overhaul, or add a few key features that will create a big impact, listen to this week's show for ideas and tips on how to create your dream kitchen!

The Real Estate Report: Tips for Selling Your Home in the Fall

On this week's show Dave and Robert discuss Grand Valley market trends and why there are some hidden gems about selling your home in the fall.

10 Steps to Building a Budget

This Week, Dave Kimbrough walks us through the 10 Steps to Building a Budget.  Let us know what you think below. We would love to hear from you!