arealestateofmind

[arealestateofmind]

Real Estate For Newbies - "Know Your Negotiating Power!"

Okay I'm not sure who exactly poisoned the well for Realtors but it has become apparent as I meet a lot of young potential clients, some of whom have become my own clients, that they are being sold this misnomer that Realtors are evil!  Mostly they have simply been told to avoid using a Realtor to locate a new rental or to buy their first home because we are only out for a commission...

NEWS FLASH!  This can be true...

Though Realtors are forced to live by their commissions there's another piece to that news, a good Realtor will always put his client's needs ahead of "our insatiable desire to make money!"  I mean seriously we have to make money somehow in this profession and if you give a good Realtor a chance you will actually come to understand how important a professional Realtor can be who knows their stuff.  We have the knowledge and tools to show you your own purchasing power and how to make the best decisions when choosing your next abode. 

Realtors are like shepherds in a way.  We guide the sheep home.  Okay now that just sounds really bad so lets try another analogy altogether.  Realtors are like tailors!  Yes we're more like tailors.  In the sense that if we really know our stuff and how to measure our clients needs we create the perfect fitting.  Our job is to put together an ensemble of details that not only find you your new home but find you the best home that fits your budget and criteria all while making the process easy and understandable.  We as Realtors are here to provide you with all the information you need to complete a successful real estate transaction whether it be buying your first home, selling your old home or renting a lease.  And in most instances, by law, you will need a Realtor to represent you to be able to preview homes that have contract with other Realtors that are marketed via our database system the Multiple Listing Service.  So choosing the best Realtor is as important as picking the right tailor to create your "wedding ensemble"... because you will be "married" to your next home so make sure you look your best!

Once you have settled on the fact that using a good Realtor is the smartest choice you can make you will also come to understand your own negotiating power.  I suppose before I was a Realtor I didn't know either that you could make offers for rentals for less then the landlords asking price but its alarming how many of my clients and potential clients also did not know.  YES you can negotiate terms to suit your needs and YES landlords and their Realtors are more then happy to hear your offers.  The tricky part is having a good Realtor behind you that understands the market and current value trends enough to educate you on making the best offer without insulting the other side and killing further negotiations. An educated offer that highlights good credit, strong employment and excellent references from previous landlords is key to starting any rental negotiation.  Even when buying a new home a Realtor only earns a right to a commission based on a buyer and seller coming to a sales agreement so its our duty to best represent our clients strength as a consumer.

The power of negotiating starts with your need to find a new home and ends with a Realtors ability to successfully employ their knowledge and skills on your behalf.  Coming together with a Realtor who understands your wants and needs will greatly increase your chances of finding the right home.  Asking a Realtor for advice is free and obtaining their guidance starts with a conversation.  Everyone has questions and concerns when it comes to making a real estate transaction and understanding the job of a Realtor, and choosing the right one, is where your negotiating power begins.

-Drew Trudeau

#real estate #realtor #home #new home #rental #renting #rent #sales #house #leasing #lease #married #commission #help #how to #newbies #connecticut #fairfield #mls #property #investment #landlord #buyer #seller #tenant #news #drew #trudeau #higgins #higgins group

[arealestateofmind]

Our team just reached a whole new level of commitment... helping you find your new home as we build ours.  Thanks to everyone who shared in this wonderful day.  We had a fantastic honeymoon and now we're home and ready to work our Realtor butts off!!

#just married #realtors #realtor #real estate #arealestateofmind #Higginsgroup #wedding #married #happycouple #team #teamwork #love #work

[arealestateofmind]

OPEN HOUSE!!!  Eli Manning can throw a football across the living room its that big!  With amazing cathedral ceilings, wine cellar, gated entry and Clive Christian designed kitchen this 5 Bedroom / 5 Bathroom is a statement home not to be missed. Come and preview this Sunday July 28th as we host our Open House!  Bring your checkbooks!

#open house #real estate #Realtor #Property #house #home #Clive Christian #wine #window #cathedral ceiling #Stamford #connecticut #connecticut homes #realestateofmind #kitchen #living room #decor #furniture #eli manning #for sale

[arealestateofmind]

Please join us this Sunday July 14th from 2-4 as Drew hosts this amazing North Stamford property for sale!  This home features a stunning interior that boasts cathedral ceilings that allow an amazing amount of light to pour across its dramatic spaces and hardwood floors... the two hearth fireplaces and state-of-the-art wine cellar are nice touches as well....

#Stamford #house #home #real estate #realestate #mansion #north stamford #wine cellar #kitchen #bathroom #for sale #clive christian #bosch #viking #appliances #connecticut #new york

[arealestateofmind]

Please come and visit this great property for sale in Newfield area of Stamford, CT.  Open House this Sunday June 30th from 1-4pm!! Hosted by Drew Trudeau and Jenny Booth

#open house #real estate #Realtor #realestate #realestateofmind #property #for sale #forsale #Higginsgroup #Stamford #connecticut homes #homes #House

[arealestateofmind]

Please stop by our very special SATURDAY open house and kickstart your tour early this Father's Day weekend!!  Public OPEN HOUSE at this beautiful Westover area home at 285 Westover Road.  We will be hosting this open house from 1-4pm.  -Jenny and Drew

#real estate #realtor #property #open house #higginsgroup #home #house #stamford #west over #west hill

[arealestateofmind]

Jenny & I love watching Bob Massi on the morning news as he gives great Real Estate tips. Subscribe to his youtube channel to keep up with all of his great advice on homeownership and the process of buying and selling property. Or follow our blog for other great tips and news on Real Estate! -Drew

#bobmassi #massi #real estate #bob massi #property #home #house #realtor #buying #selling #mortgage #cash #foreclosure #short sale #for sale

[arealestateofmind]

This will not last long! It has your name written all over it! Don't let it get rented by someone else! Call me!

[arealestateofmind]

http://matrix.ct-mls.com/matrix/shared/5w2JxC5qvPDd/59LibertyStreet

Call me today to see this! Won't last long!!

#realestate #higginsgroup #luxury #townhouse #garage #loft #hometheater #rent #stamford

[arealestateofmind]

http://matrix.ct-mls.com/matrix/shared/wJbVDjmWtPDd/32VanBuskirkAvenue

Check out this GREAT 2 Bedroom Apartment by Cove and Cummings Beaches! Just on the market today! Everything has been renovated- brand new appliances, Custom cabinets, storage, shelving and Laundry! Won't last! $1,600!

#rent #cove #cummings #realestate #higginsgroup #2bedrooms #remodelled #custom #brandnew

[arealestateofmind]

The Higgins Group posted a great video on How To Buy a House. Great info for first time buyers or those returning to the rebounding market.

#realestate #Higginsgroup #firsttimebuyer #homeowner #cnn #property #mortgage #investment #market

[arealestateofmind]

Realtors in the Rental Market

As a Realtor specializing in rentals, I get many questions and comments about why one would use a Realtor when leasing property. From both a tenant and landlord perspective, not having a Realtor means lots of work and uncertainty. Being represented by a Realtor means you can feel confident about the transaction through a relatively simple process.

Many people, myself included, figure we can simply and easily find something on the “rent sites”, such as Craig’s List and Realtor.com. But actually, it isn’t so simple. Before becoming a Realtor, I was working in an office from 8am-5pm, combing the internet in between tasks, and when my boss wasn’t looking. Having no personal access to email at work made it more difficult to communicate with people advertising apartments. Many people stop responding to their ads after 5pm, as they get ready for their evenings.

Most apartments never returned my calls. Or, after qualifying for income and credit, no one wanted to take my cat. I had to work around the schedules of friends, because I was afraid to meet many prospects by myself, for safety sake. I’m even afraid to admit that I possibly answered some scam ads, giving a little more information than I feel comfortable with.

It just doesn’t need to be so difficult, and that’s why having a good Realtor working on your behalf is so important. Your Realtor will listen to what your needs are, and help you define a criteria for your new home search. They can preview properties and drive you to see them. They know the markets, and can tell you if the rent is a good price. On your behalf, they help negotiate good rates for rent, deposit, and lease terms. They help prepare the leases, perform credit checks, and expedite the deliveries of checks to the appropriate parties. Most of the time, the tenant isn’t responsible for the commission, and so can simply move right in.  

Some unrepresented landlords don’t know how much their rental is really worth, and could price themselves out of the market. They have to be available for the phone calls and emails which will eventually flood. Most of those are unserious inquiries. They have to be available to allow virtual strangers from the internet into their homes. It would also fall on the individual landlord to prepare leases, perform their own credit checks, background checks, verifications of income.  

For landlords, working with Realtors gives even more peace of mind. Again, the Realtor knows the markets inside and out, and can tell you the best price to get for your rental. They can market the property to multiple websites, far beyond Craig��s List. They handle staging and pictures. They screen all applicants for you, and conduct credit checks. They answer all the questions about the property for you, and show the property to prospective tenants. They help prepare leases and receive deposit checks. Many times, commission is contingent on a successful transaction.

My job as a Realtor is to help people in and out of the real estate market, which includes leasing. For a tenant or a landlord, the choice is simple.  Like your own assistant, you employ me to either find you the best home for your money, or to find the best tenants looking to rent. And because I don’t get paid until I produce, the incentive for me to get the job done well is even greater. Most Realtors that you’ll deal with love their jobs, and we are happy to work on your behalf. The only thing left to do is call me, and talk about how I can help you.  

Posted by Jenny

#forrent #rent #realestate #realtor #stamfordctrentals

[arealestateofmind]

HELLO! Please FOLLOW us! :) We look forward in sharing in our adventures in Real Estate as young agents/bloggers in one of the hottest markets, in lower Fairfield County.  We will give you the REAL side of real estate with this insightful and fun blog!  Thanks for following.... -Jenny & Drew

#realestate #realestateofmind #homes #rentals #properties #property #Higginsgroup #drewandjenny #blog #bloggers

[arealestateofmind]

Hi, this is Jenny Booth, and Welcome to the Blog! My fiance Drew Trudeau and I will be blogging about our adventures in Real Estate, while working with The Higgins Group here in Stamford, CT! We love our jobs as Realtors and can't wait for the opportunity to find your new home!

#realestate #Higginsgroup #realestateofmind #homes #stamford