In Real Estate, Expertise Matters

What is my home worth?

There are several factors that figure into the dollar figure you can expect when you sell your home. I always start with recent sales in your neighborhood of homes that are similar to yours. I pull homes with similar square footage, bedrooms and bathroom counts, lot size, and updates. We want to compare apples to apples and deal in hard facts. That will help you reach a much better decision about how to price your home.

What services do you provide?

Ideally, I like to enter the process early, about a month before we put your home on the market. I can also work with a shorter timeline. I walk through your home with you and develop a game plan to prep your home for showings. We might discuss decluttering, rearranging furniture, or touching up paint. That gives you time to address those things. I work with a professional stager to help your home look more like a model so that buyers can see themselves living there. It’s also important to use a professional photographer and videographer. Potential buyers will look online first and you only have one chance to make a good first impression. I also leverage social media, print marketing, and e-marketing.

How long will it take to sell my house?

Most of the time factor rests on the price point you choose. If a house is priced too high or needs work in this high-interest-rate market, buyers will wait for a price reduction and negotiate further down from there. If it’s priced well and turnkey, it’s not unusual for us to receive multiple offers in the first weekend.

What do first-time homebuyers need to know?

I work with a lot of first-time buyers. We generally start with pre-approval for a home loan. That sets our budget and saves a lot of time. Then I talk about funds to have on hand such as earnest money, option, inspection, and appraisal fees. Once all those pieces are lined up, the fun begins with home shopping. I used to call myself “Negative Nelly,” but a client said, “No, you’re Protective Patterson.” I want my clients to purchase a great house in a prime location. I’m there every step until the keys are in their hands.

What should I look for in a Realtor?

Often homebuyers or sellers feel pressured to use a family member. Buying a home is one of the biggest expenses of your life, so you need to make sure you’re relying on an extremely knowledgeable professional. When you are considering surgery, you want a surgeon who has performed the procedure numerous times. It’s the same with your Realtor. Rely on someone who does this every day and knows how to navigate you successfully through a contract.