What your Real Estate Agent Wants to Say, but Probably Won't
The current real estate market is a challenge to say the least. Home prices continue to rise throughout most of the country, interest rates are rising, and inventory is still tight. It’s a great market for sellers and not so much for buyers. Buyers and their agents are experiencing anxiety and frustration because of all of these things. Regardless of which end of the transaction you might be on—buyer or seller—working with an agent who’s knowledgeable and experienced is one of the best things you can do to navigate this complex market. As frustrated as you, as a buyer, could be about the current market, there are likely things your agent wish you knew, or they could tell you. Don’t Contact Any Other Agents Once You’ve Started Working with Someone Once you start working with an agent to buy a home or sell yours, you usually enter into a contract with them. It’s an exclusive buyer or seller representation agreement. Don’t call the real estate agent on the sign if you see a house you like. Call your agent and tell them. Your realtor is your representative for any purchase or sale. They’re there to carry you through the legal and financial steps of buying or selling. While you’re concerned with your needs, it’s good to think about things from the perspective of your agent too. If you go to another agent and end up writing a contract, let’s say, then your agent doesn’t receive any money for the time or effort they spent working with you. If you decide that you aren’t ready to buy or sell or if something changes, let your agent know right away. If You’re a Seller, Make It Easy to Sell Your Home Even the best agent isn’t going to have an easy time selling your home if you’re not upholding your end of things. That means keeping your home presentable and clean while it’s on the market. You should be accommodating and work with the buyers’ agent schedules as much as possible. Try to avoid being onsite during showings, it makes potential buyers uncomfortable. If they have questions, their agent will call yours. If you have pets, please make sure they are put away or even better removed before a showing. Your Expectations Might Be Unreasonable If you were in a buyer’s market, you could get away with having higher standards, but in the current environment, you’re very likely to have to lower your standards. Things may gradually change over the next couple of years, but for the time being, your agent probably wishes they could directly tell you that it’s time to take some things off your wish list and be a little less picky. If you want a home that needs zero work, you’re going to pay a premium. Even fixer-uppers may not be extremely cheap right now. Real Estate Agents Aren’t Experts in Everything There are a lot of things your agent is going to be great at helping you with, the market, and things like pricing and negotiations. You must realize there are limitations to their expertise. For example, your agent probably can’t tell you if something is built to code or what it might cost you to take on a large-scale project. Rather than thinking your agent will have every answer, you can expect that they can refer you to great experts in the areas where you need help. Don’t Say You’re a Motivated Buyer If You Aren’t If you talk to any real estate agent, they’re going to have at least one and often many more stories about situations where they’ve worked with buyers and then ultimately, they had no intention of making a purchase. There are legitimate reasons you might take a long time to buy a home or things can change, but if you’re just killing time by looking at houses, it’s disrespectful to the agent who’s taking their time to work with you. Stop Lowballing Just Because Finally, some buyers are deadest on not paying the listing price. If this is you, then you might want to take a step back from buying a home right now. No one wants to feel that they overpaid and that’s normal. In the current market, you must understand and realize that sometimes you have to pay the market value of a home if you want it.
2022 New Year’s Eve Events in Roanoke
Need party ideas for New Years' Eve 2022? Here are a few things happening in the Roanoke Valley on December 31st, 2022. Market Square Downtown Roanoke 8:00 pm -12:20 am 9th Annual Big Lick Downtown Countdown is offering several bands and a DJ, cocktails, craft beer, food, and the signature Roanoke Star Rise at midnight. Find out more! Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs New Year's Eve game Puck Drops at 6:05 Join the Rail Yard Dawgs for the final game of 2022. The Rail Yard Dawgs are on a 9-game win streak! The puck drops early so make sure you're on time. Ticket info here. Elmwood on Ice 11:00 am - 10:00 pm Do some outdoor ice skating on New Years' Eve in Downtown Roanoke! Skate rentals are available or bring your own. More info here! Fincastle Tinsel Trail 5:30 pm - 8:00 pm It’ll be the final night to experience the 2022 Tinsel Trail in Fincastle, You can see the trees on display. To make it a night head to 1772 Rooftop on Main for a cocktail before making your way to the courthouse for the ringing of the bells at midnight. Tinsel Trail Details Fincastle Ringing of the Bells 11:30 p.m. - 12:30 a.m The ringing of the bells in Fincastle is a classic holiday tradition that has taken place for over 150 years, the town pays its respects to the end of the dying year and celebrates the arrival of the new year. Get more details.
Roanoke Valley Real Estate Market Analysis for November 2022
The real estate market in the Roanoke Valley has shifted. Here are a few numbers to illustrate how things have changed. Year to date through November the amount of homes sold is down 13%. In 2021 6054 homes had changed hands by the end of November, this year it is only 5281. We are seeing homes staying on the market longer and price reductions are starting to be more frequent. If you are curious about your home please feel free to call or text 540-537-9281.
Categories
Recent Posts
