F.A.Q.’s - Frequently Asked Questions
Why should we list our home for sale with you?
You should hire us for the same reason that other sellers do. They know that they can count on us to take the time to gain a clear understanding of their goals and then put a plan in action to help them achieve it. Typically it is to get them the most money, in the shortest amount of time, with the fewest hassles and the least amount of risk.
Our Smart Sellers Program offers benefits that the ordinary agent does not. Our program offers flexible commissions to put more money in your pocket, the right to sell the home yourself and a cancellation guarantee.
We have helped hundreds of people buy and sell. The average agent handles around seven sales a year. When hiring anyone to perform a job for you, experience should weigh heavily in that decision. Who really wants to be the surgeon's first patient?
Let's examine one of our program benefits; we offer a cancellation guarantee. Most agents will not give the consumer this right. You might ask yourself why agents need to "lock you up" for six to twelve months. Why would they be afraid to give you the right to cancel? Our philosophy is that we would rather strive to earn your business every day. We are confident that we can provide a superior level of service and care. If we don't, we don't deserve your business. It is that simple.
What about the discount brokerages with limited service agents who charge less. Why shouldn’t I hire the cheapest agent?
Everyone wants to get as good a deal as possible and net as much money as possible when selling. But if you save 1%-2% (which is typically what a discount broker will save you) on selling costs and then sell your home for 5%-10% less, obviously you haven’t saved anything. Hiring the right agent is not an expense but an investment; just remember to focus on the net.
Selling real estate is all about getting as much exposure as possible. The fact of the matter is we can sell your home for more. We have the track record we do because we are experts at pricing the property (using a specific supply-demand analysis prior to even looking for “comps”) and experts at creating the greatest amount of exposure of your property.
Sadly, there are many agents who need the deal more than you do. We are in the fortunate position of having enough clients that any one deal won’t make us or break us. Therefore the negotiations are really about getting you the most money for your home. Period.
Why do you sell so many homes?
Additionally, experience, product knowledge, doing the little things right, effective marketing programs, and our skilled team all add up to positive results. Every field has people who, through their drive and passion, manage to excel.
Our Smart Sellers Program offers benefits that the ordinary agent does not. Our program offers flexible commissions to put more money in your pocket, the right to sell the home yourself and a cancellation guarantee.
We have helped hundreds of people buy and sell. The average agent handles around seven sales a year. When hiring anyone to perform a job for you, experience should weigh heavily in that decision. Who really wants to be the surgeon's first patient?
Let's examine one of our program benefits; we offer a cancellation guarantee. Most agents will not give the consumer this right. You might ask yourself why agents need to "lock you up" for six to twelve months. Why would they be afraid to give you the right to cancel? Our philosophy is that we would rather strive to earn your business every day. We are confident that we can provide a superior level of service and care. If we don't, we don't deserve your business. It is that simple.
What about the discount brokerages with limited service agents who charge less. Why shouldn’t I hire the cheapest agent?
Everyone wants to get as good a deal as possible and net as much money as possible when selling. But if you save 1%-2% (which is typically what a discount broker will save you) on selling costs and then sell your home for 5%-10% less, obviously you haven’t saved anything. Hiring the right agent is not an expense but an investment; just remember to focus on the net.
Selling real estate is all about getting as much exposure as possible. The fact of the matter is we can sell your home for more. We have the track record we do because we are experts at pricing the property (using a specific supply-demand analysis prior to even looking for “comps”) and experts at creating the greatest amount of exposure of your property.
Sadly, there are many agents who need the deal more than you do. We are in the fortunate position of having enough clients that any one deal won’t make us or break us. Therefore the negotiations are really about getting you the most money for your home. Period.
Why do you sell so many homes?
Additionally, experience, product knowledge, doing the little things right, effective marketing programs, and our skilled team all add up to positive results. Every field has people who, through their drive and passion, manage to excel.
Why do your homes sell so fast? Do you price them too low?
Absolutely not. We make it our business to know the market, so we can ensure we get the highest possible price for our sellers. Our homes typically sell for more money and in significantly less time than the average agent because of the effective marketing we do. We accomplish this by first doing a supply/demand analysis in the immediate area for any home we consider marketing. All agents have access to the same market information. It is the evaluation of what that information means to the marketing of a home that matters. Knowing what the market is doing in any area affects both the marketing time and value. Factors like area, demand, condition, pricing, accessibility, and agent choice all affect a home's time on market.
Absolutely not. We make it our business to know the market, so we can ensure we get the highest possible price for our sellers. Our homes typically sell for more money and in significantly less time than the average agent because of the effective marketing we do. We accomplish this by first doing a supply/demand analysis in the immediate area for any home we consider marketing. All agents have access to the same market information. It is the evaluation of what that information means to the marketing of a home that matters. Knowing what the market is doing in any area affects both the marketing time and value. Factors like area, demand, condition, pricing, accessibility, and agent choice all affect a home's time on market.
Tell me about your marketing plan.
The exposure your home gets while listed with us is second to none. Additionally, our unique "Trade Up" program dramatically broadens the spectrum of buyers we can sell your home to and alleviates the problem of having to accept a contingent offer. Our ads and signs also reference our website, resulting in additional contact. Here buyers can view our "featured homes" in addition to shopping the broader market. Our presence on Realtor.ca insures maximum property exposure to buyers throughout the country, as well as the dozen or so other websites we own. Professional photography and video also increase the attention we attract to our homes.
What is your “Guaranteed Sale Program”?
Once you are out of the first time buyer price range, everyone is faced with the dilemma of whether to buy first or sell first. . Either way is tricky, because you could end up owning 2 homes or none at all. In addition, most sellers will not take a contingent offer. Our Guaranteed Sale Program solves this problem. We guarantee your home sold, in less than 60 days, or we’ll buy it ourselves. That way our clients can go out and shop for their next home without worrying about whether their home will sell or not. Call for details on this exciting program.
If we list with you, will my home be on the internet?
Absolutely! Your home will also be syndicated to several different websites including Realtor.ca, RE/MAX.net, and HartReatyGroup.ca. We also utilize social networking such as Facebook, Twitter and YouTube. According to the National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, over 90% of home buyers used the internet when starting their home search process.
If we list with you, will we be on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?
MLS provides the greatest exposure with over 10,000 agents in the Lower mainland, it is important to tap in to that agent base of buyers. Also, if you are not on MLS you cannot appear on Realtor.ca, the number one real estate site on the internet.
Why should I use a team vs. a single agent?
Because times have changed. No one agent can be everywhere at the same time. Let's suppose an agent has a relocation buyer in town. For three or four days they have to be with just that one buyer, a dream scenario for the agent, but not so for you. They are unavailable to show your home, they are unavailable to get feedback on showings, they are unavailable to negotiate contracts or inspection reports, and so on. Also, most agents are either great at people skills or great at paperwork. Rarely will they excel at both. Unfortunately, today's real estate marketplace demands that the agent possess all of these skills. Under a team scenario such as ours, we have specialists. We have Buyer’s Agents who just work with buyers. We have a Marketing Manager who designs and tracks all of our marketing pieces. We have a full-time Customer Care Manager to handle all the details of the transaction. We have a Team Stager who prepares all of our homes for sale prior to photos and video. Each is an expert at that specific job. Simply, we can and do provide a higher level of service to our clients than most agents can even conceive of providing. Imagine that you're a quarterback of a football team. Would you rather have 1 player on your team or the power of 12 that you have with our team?
Shouldn’t I pick an “area specialist” to sell my home?
There are agents who focus primarily in one geographic area or neighborhood. But buyers come from all over the lower mainland and even other parts of the country, not just from that small neighborhood. So an area specialist usually really means "listing agent" in the area. Many years ago the real estate business was successfully composed of lots of small "boutique" offices - where companies did specialize in a certain area or part of town. But computers, the internet, and cell phones have changed that aspect of the real estate business. Now the important points in selecting an agent are experience, track record, and marketing skills.
How long does it take to get my home on the market?
Once we have a signed listing agreement and a spare key, we can have your home on the market within 3-5 business days depending on how busy the Real Estate Board is. However, it usually takes a two or three days for the sign company to professionally install the sign.
Can I save more money if I buy and sell through you?
Absolutely! If you are selling more than one house or plan to both sell and buy (new or resale) ask for a copy of our Client Rewards Program. We will email it to you immediately!
How do you set the price for my home?
We will meet with you to review a complete market analysis of your home, evaluate supply and demand for the area, and examine property condition. At that point, we can guide you to the correct range of pricing.
I'm out of town. Can you handle the transaction for me or will I need to come back to town?
We can take care of all the details from start to finish without you needing to come to town. We simply need a key and way to communicate via phone, fax and email.
I need to sell my home right away. Will you buy it?
We offer, in addition to our traditional home selling service and Trade Up Program, a Immediate Purchase Program. If your property qualifies, we can purchase it and close it in less than 30 days. However, it is rarely in your best interest financially to select that path. We typically can obtain up to 25% more value for your home if we put it on the open market. So the guarantee buyout is really for people for whom time is more important than money. Just contact us and we will show you the best path for your particular circumstances.
My home needs some repairs. Do you know any service people that can help?
We have a number of service people whom we have used in the past and are happy to recommend to you.
I don't have any money to fix up my home. Can you still sell it in its current condition?
Absolutely! Just like any home, we will simply evaluate the condition issues, supply/demand in the neighborhood, and pricing relative to those factors
How long is your listing agreement for?
For ease of paperwork, we typically use a six month period. But remember, unlike most agents, you are free to cancel anytime.
For ease of paperwork, we typically use a six month period. But remember, unlike most agents, you are free to cancel anytime.
I am currently listed with another agent and want to cancel. Can you get me out of my listing agreement with them?
Unfortunately, if you signed a listing agreement with another agent, you are bound by that agreement. You certainly can approach the broker or agent to address your unresolved issues, and some agents may let you out of your agreement early. However, our "cancellation” policy towards listings does not give us the authority to cancel other agents listings.
What if my plans change and I don't need to sell my house?
You may cancel your listing at anytime.
Will you be representing me or the buyer?
We always represent the seller on any home we have listed for sale, which means our objective is to get you the most amount of money and the best terms possible. The real question is whether we will be representing the buyer as well. In the event that we have a buyer for your home, it would fall in the category of "Dual Agency". In that scenario, unless you have instructed us in writing otherwise, The Hart Realty Group would represent both parties.
What is “Staging”?
Staging is preparing your home for sale so that it shows well to potential buyers. We have a professional Interior Design Stager on staff so that we can make your home look as appealing as possible to a buyer. Studies show that a staged home sells for significantly more and a shorter time period than one that has not been staged.
Is there a charge for Staging?
As part of our marketing service we offer an initial consultation, from there the Stager will make recommendations on a case by case basis.
Who will take the pictures of my home?
Our marketing package includes professional photographs. Buyers and agents will decide whether to view your home in many cases based on the pictures. No matter what you are selling – and real estate is no different – you want the product presented in the best light possible.
Will you make a feature sheet for my house?
Yes. We prepare a high quality, multiple photos, and full color feature sheet on your home. However, unlike most agents, we do not place flyers outside the home in a "take one" box. Statistically, flyers out front discourage buyers from calling. If we cannot directly speak to the buyer, it is nearly impossible to sell them your home. We always place the flyer inside the home to highlight the home's unique features and as a visual reminder for the buyer.
Will you do a video of my home?
Yes, in addition to the professionally shot still photos that we use, we also do a custom video of all of our listings that we then post on the MLS for agents to see and on the internet for buyers to see.
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