How do I help accelerate my transaction?
A: Buyer and seller misconceptions are usually based on not being aware of the level of detail involved. Some sellers think that all we do is put up a for sale sign and turn up at the open houses, and that’s pretty much the job.
In reality, that’s the tip of the iceberg.
We may spend months working with sellers, helping them to figure out how best to present and price their home and helping them to do it. Also, we don’t control the price and decide which offer the seller should accept. We present pricing strategies and data to the seller, and they must decide what’s right for them.
Buyers and sellers can help the process by having honest discussions with their agent and listening to what they are saying. Read disclosures carefully before you make an offer. Ask questions to clarify any concerns.
Buyers should be fully preapproved with underwriting review by a proper lender before they go house hunting. Nobody wants closing delayed because the lender did not fully vet you ahead of time.
Zanna Knight, Coldwell Banker, (510) 459-7198, zanna@zannaknight.com A: The most common misconception about being a Realtor in San Francisco is that our job is easy. Successful Realtors often work 60-plus hours per week and income is strictly based on commission.
If the property does not sell or the buyer does not find a home, that agent does not get paid. Most buyers and sellers in the Bay Area are tech savvy and communicate through their smart phones.
Most communication these days happens in real time which means that as Realtors we are on call 24/7. We are very fortunate to work with amazing clients, but in order to streamline the process our clients are asked to do their homework.
Whether getting preapproved or reading through a disclosure package, the more our clients invest in the process the better the overall results. San Francisco real estate is complicated, and having Bernie and Mike on your side can simplify the process immensely.
Bernie Katzmann, Vanguard Properties, (415) 655-5610,
bernie@vanguardsf.com; Mike Shaw, Vanguard Properties, (415) 308-4281, mikeshaw@vanguardsf.com. A: What I hear most often about my profession is that it’s primarily about “driving a nice car and looking at pretty houses.” Being a truly good Realtor requires so much more.
Important for the highest and best representation of my clients is my understanding and interpretation of local market conditions (from my years of experience), the specific needs of my sellers or buyers, and how to most effectively merge the two.
Putting my clients’ needs before my own always allows me to be their best advocate.
Working effectively with clients involves mutual trust, and a willingness to be flexible, gathering data along the way and plugging in course corrections as needed.
Partnership in the process is crucial. So hire the agent who you feel is best suited to your style, and follow their advice.
Karen Starr, the Grubb Co., (510) 414-6000, starr@grubbco.com.