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.

Tips for Finding Your Perfect Neighborhood

Figuring out which neighborhood you want to move to is probably one of the first steps in the home buying process. Today on the show we’re going to help you figure out which neighborhood is right for you!

If you’ve already started the home buying process, and found a house you think you love—we’re also going to give you some tips for figuring out if you’ll get along with the neighbors before you buy that perfect house. See the short list below and listen to the show for more details!

Questions to Ask Yourself

1. Do you have kids or are you planning on having kids anytime soon? You'll want to research schools, parks, open spaces
2. How far do you want to commute to work?
3. Do you want to be in a new neighborhood or an older neighborhood?
4. What do you want in a neighborhood? Close to restaurants, quite community, etc.
5. How much house can you afford?

Is a neighborhood right for you?

1. Remember your first impression of the neighborhood. 
2. Try to visualize your daily life in that neighborhood.
3. Check out the neighborhood at different times of the day and different days of the week.
4. Did the neighbors come out and talk to you during the showing? This can be a good thing or a bad thing depending on if you're an introvert or an extrovert.
5. Talk to the neighbors to get the skinny on the neighborhood.
6. Is the neighborhood absolutely immaculate? Maybe not a good fit if keeping your property in perfect condition is not your thing.
7. Are there a bunch of high powered flood lights? Is this a sign of crime around the area.
8. Are there no cars in sight? Probably not the best if you use your garage as a shop or extra storage. Make sure you understand the neighborhood HOA rules.

9 Common Pricing Beliefs that Just Aren't True

When it comes down to it, the most important advice a real estate agent can give sellers is how to price their home. On today's show Robert and Dave discuss common pricing beliefs that just aren't true! No matter how beautiful, well maintained or great at showings, if a home isn't price well it just won't sell. See our short list below and listen to the show for more details!

1. Belief: "Better to price the home on the high side and buyers will negotiate."
   Fact: You could be missing out on buyers who are not willing to stretch their budget.
    
2. Belief: "A home that's priced just right, risks leaving money on the table."
   Fact: A well priced will generate strong interest and likely multiple offers--which actually drives the price up and sets you up to get more money!
    
3. Belief: "A quick offer means their home was priced too low."
   Fact: A quick offer is an indication your home is priced right--see above for why that's a good thing!
    
4. Belief: "I'll get a better price over time."
   Fact: The longer your home is on the market, the less likely you are to get what you want for it.
    
5. Belief: "X price is as low as the seller will go." 
   Fact: If you want to sell your home quickly, you have to be flexible.
    
6. Belief: "Offers should always come in a asking price."
   Fact: No buyer is going to be willing to offer more than they have to, especially on their first pass. They use the first offer to determine the seller's willingness to negotiate.
    
7. Belief: "Outdated features shouldn't affect my selling price."
   Fact: If you have outdated features in your home, you need to keep in mind that buyers will only purchase it for a price that allows them to room to make updates after purchasing.
    
8. Belief: "I'll get all the money back that I've spent renovating my home."
   Fact: The reality is that while you may get some of your money back, you will not get a 100% return on your money. The average home renovation return rate is 63%.
    
9. Belief: "A buyer's offer is too far of asking price to even counter."
   Fact: If you've got a low offer, don't kick it to the curb--counter the buyers and show you are willing to negotiate.

Common Real Estate Myths BUSTED!

The Grand Junction Real Estate Report

There is a lot of information out there about the real estate process, but often times it's confusing to sort through it all and understand how the process really works. On today's show, Robert and Dave clear up the myths that most people believe about buying or selling a home. See the short list of myths below and listen to the show to hear the myths BUSTED!

COMMON REAL ESTATE MYTHS

1. All agents are created the same.

2. Real estate agents are paid a salary.

3. You must have 20% for a down payment.

4. You have to have perfect credit to buy a home.

5. Agents keep all the commission on the sale of a home.

6. Typical commission is 6% of the home sale.

7. An agents mileage and operating expenses are reimbursed.

8. Marketing expenses are paid for by the brokerage, not the agent.

9. A home will "pass" or "fail" an inspection.

10. Fall and winter are a bad time to sell.

11. Only real buyers shop on the weekends.

Must-Do September Home Improvement & Maintenance Projects

Today on the show Dave and Robert talk about some crucial home improvement and maintenance tasks to get done this fall and save yourself major money down the road! These are easy tasks to check off your list that will ensure you won't have major repairs in the future. As always see the short list below and listen to the show for added tips from Robert and Dave.

Home Maintenance Projects to Complete in September

1. Check your walkways for cracks and concrete damage.
2. Clean and repair the siding on your home.
3. Examine and repair any leaking faucets.
4. Make sure all windows are sealed correctly.
5. Change your air filters and check your furnace.
6. Go out to the shed and service your yard maintenance equiptment

Home improvements that are perfect to do in September

1. Redo your back decking--now is actually the perfect time of year!
2. Install a pool--you might get a great discount this time of year! We recommend giving Chad at Rimrock Pools a call.

Why Selling Your Home in the Fall Might Be Great for You!

Waiting to sell your home until the fall? This week we'll talk about how selling in the fall might be a great idea for you! Dave and Robert go outside the box on this show, busting the myth that spring and summer are the only time of year you should put your home on the market.

Why Selling Your Home in the Fall Might Be Great for You!

1. People who don't have kids in school don't coordinate home buying or selling with summer break and school schedules. There's still a lot of potential buyers looking for homes!
2. A lot of home shopping happens online now, so it doesn't matter what the weather is like outside. People are looking for homes 24/7.
3. You can leverage low inventory in the fall to your advantage. Less competition increases your odds of finding a buyer for your home.
4. A lot of home buyers are slowing down after summer break and have time to start looking for homes.
5. Take advantage of beautiful fall landscaping and decor to attract buyers. The cozy feeling that fall often brings allows buyers to easily picture themselves living in the home.
6. Serious home buyers will continue to look for a home no matter what time of year it is, meaning a lot of serious buyers stick it out into the fall season.
    

Budget Friendly Ways to Improve Your Home Value

We've rounded up some budget friendly ways to improve your home value for this week's show. Get the short list below, then listen to the show for all the details with Robert & Dave + some upcoming football season banter and real estate market updates for the end of summer. Don't miss James from Fidelity Mortgage & Barbara Traylor Smith from Retirement Outfitters who also weigh in on improving home value.

Budget Friendly Ways to Improve Your Home Value

1. Tune up home systems
2. Power wash your home's siding
3. Update your curb appeal
4. Prune your trees and bushes
5. Give your house a fresh coat of paint--inside and out
6. Replace your front door with a steel entry door
7. Update your kitchen cabinets with a coat of paint or new knobs

Do's and Don'ts for Getting Started in Real Estate Investing

Are you interesting in investing in real estate? This show is a must listen! See the short list of tips below, but don't miss out on Dave's added advice and tips throughout the show.

1. Do consider investing in real estate as a diversification tool.
2. Don't over-concentrate your assets in real estate.
3. Do purchase properties in different areas of town.
4. Don't purchase multiple homes in the same neighborhood.
5. Do invest in real estate if your cash flow is already strong.
6. Don't rush through your cash flow projections!
7. Do research different cash flow models to calculate an accurate cash flow for your properties.
8. Do compare your potential real estate cash flow to different investment avenues.
9. Do talk to someone who already owns investment properties.
10. Do continue to research and learn about investing!