As a real estate agent, what do you think is the most important thing to find in a lender?
A lender is his or her own brand. The moment I see a pre-approval letter, I know many things in one instance: Whether or not the deal will close; whether or not the deal will close on time; and whether it will close without hiccups—all because of the person behind the letter. It’s about trust and doing what it takes to get the job done and going above and beyond to be sure it happens!
To do what you say you are going to do is a very important aspect in a lender, especially in this economy where at times it’s hard to get a loan through. It’s about calls, emails, follow up, action- communicating the status of the loan to all parties in the transaction is very important! Also, always be loyal to your lender!
I’m preparing to sell a home, what do inspectors look for during their inspection?
For home sales, meaning listings, typically there are two inspections done concurrently. One is the Home Inspection by a licensed contractor and the second is the Wood Destroying “Pest” Inspection which is done by a termite company. Both reports complement each other.
The property inspection provides the seller with a punch list of items that are in need of repair and items to look forward to dealing with in the future. The pest report also shows the amount of dry rot and any wood destroying organisms in the structure. Typically, many lenders actually require the Section 1 items to be clear prior to close of escrow.
I encourage my sellers to do the reports upfront because often times many repairs are done prior to getting the house on the market. In fact, the home’s condition, and thus the reports, can affect the actual value of the home. Reports ahead save time and money. In fact ALL home owners should get both a contractors and pest inspection even when they do not plan to sell. It’s a good way to keep your home in tip-top condition.
In your opinion, what is the most common myth that home buyers or sellers think about real estate agents and how they operate?
Sellers and buyers often times think that a real estate agent is only trying to have a quick easy sale of their home. That there is nothing more to the transaction than the transaction itself! This couldn’t be further from the truth and agents know that this manner of working is the easiest way to choke off future business.
Real Estate agents depend on the referrals of their past clients. The clients’ happiness is paramount to the transaction and the future success of the agent is dependent on clients’ satisfaction! Happy customers who send their friends and relatives to an agent they’ve worked with is the easiest, cheapest way for the agent to enjoy a successful career.
Why should you hire a real estate agent when buying or selling a home, rather than trying to do it on your own?
This is one of those questions that is frequently asked, but despite the many great answers the attractiveness of saving some money I’m going to reiterate a few key points!
The first is, if your are a buyer, working with a buyers agent is always a good idea because they are someone who knows the area and will be able to find you the key things you’re looking for in a home. But, most of all, the commission of the agents is customarily paid by the seller so you don’t have to worry about the cost of working with the agent!
Sellers, since they do pay the commission of the agents need to hear these few key things agents do that increase your home sale! First, with the market the way it is and the excessive amount of ‘short sale’ and ‘foreclosure’ properties, you need to understand how to successfully price your home for your area.
These troubled properties have brought investors and opportunists out of the woodwork looking to “steal” a home. It’s hard for the buying public to recognize the difference between homes that are priced competitively and those that are put on the market at a steep discount to attract a lot of buyers. Those homes prices are then jacked up during the bidding process.
The main thing a seller needs to be sure of is that their home is priced competitively but not so competitively it is lumped into the same category as the troubled homes in the area. An agent also has the marketing skill to get your home in front of the right eyes, and show, negotiate, and close the transaction with the least amount of hassle to you!
What makes San Bruno a great place to live?
Having grown-up in San Bruno, I’m admittedly a little biased as to the fantastic things offered by living here. But, there are a few things I think other people should know when looking for an area in The Peninsula to live.
It’s true what they say, it’s all about “LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION!” San Bruno is minutes to San Francisco, so commuting is not a big hassle. It’s close to the ocean so you can enjoy time on the beach and driving along the coast. And, it’s minutes to San Francisco Internation Airport so it’s easy for friends to visit or for you to jet-off to anywhere in the world!
San Bruno also has a very diverse population and offers affordable housing including condos, townhomes, and single family homes. The weather in the area is fantastic, the schools are stellar, and there are outstanding park and recreation areas around to enjoy the natural beauty that surrounds you. We also have great Senior Services in the area!
No matter what you’re looking for specifically, I’m sure there’s some part of San Bruno that can meet your needs. I was raised here, love the area, and love introducing new people to what my city has to offer!
For more information contact me at stephan@stephanmarshall.com or 650.455.1528. I’m a San Bruno native and can give you the information you need about the area and show you around.
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