Who you choose to hire as a real estate professional will have a significant impact on your buying or selling experience, be that positive or negative. Not only is it important to connect with a real estate professional on a personal level, but it’s also extremely beneficial to work with a real estate professional who is local to the area you’re buying or selling in. Here’s why:
Firstly, a local real estate professional knows the local market inside out. If you are buying a home, this gives the real estate professional a greater chance of finding you a property that is tailored to your specific needs. A house is one thing, but the lifestyle and community that accompanies it can be equally important.
A deep understanding of the micro market benefits the seller too: a good real estate professional will have toured all the recent sales, giving them detailed knowledge of the comparative properties. They will know how to price a home and understand that there is a lot more than just price per square footage.
Secondly, a local real estate professional has an established network in that area, and we all know that it’s not necessarily what you know, but who you know. In fact, a local real estate professional might even be able to show buyers properties that are not yet listed on the market. Because of their connections, they’ll also have a better chance of getting offers accepted.
As a seller, your real estate professional’s local network is equally important. I’m not just talking about the transaction process, but also all the work that gets put in before your house is listed: i.e., the home stagers, gardeners, plumbers, electricians, and all the other local experts who are going to help prepare your home for sale.
If a client contacted me saying they wanted to relocate from San Diego to Long Beach, I would help sell their home, but for the buying process, I would refer them to a real estate professional who operates in Long Beach.
Even though I work with both buyers and sellers, if a client of mine wants to purchase in an area I’m not familiar with, it’s in my client’s best interests to refer them to a local real estate professional, because they’ll be better able to find that client their dream home – and that’s what all of this is about: helping people find their place in this world.
Until next time,
Wendy
