It happens more often than I care to repeat, but there are people out there that I really don’t want to work with.  I’m sure those of you who are reading this article are not part of this bunch, but if you are no worries.  My Christian natures pretty much require that I love you as a brother or sister, but I don’t have to work with you, nor you me, for that matter.

I’m all for being blunt and honest and frankly I’ve lost a few clients that way.  I’m not eloquent.   However, what I am talking about today is a guy named Steve.  He could be named Joe, Bob, or even Samuel, but we’ll call him Steve.

Steve Doesn’t Get It.

Here’s the scenario: Steve calls last minute and would like me to show him some homes.  He’s going to buy a home for his daughter, he may want one for himself, and he even has other "family" thinking of moving.  He’s sounds like a nice guy and I’m sure he is.  He certainly doesn’t want to put me out, but he’ll really only be available tomorrow.  He’d like to see something tomorrow and come back and BUY something a little later.

Bare with me it gets better.

I inform Steve that I COULD cancel or move appointments for him , but if I am going to do that, that I would require a Buyer Brokerage, or a Fiduciary Agreement with him so that I could be his Realtor of choice .

NOPE! Out of the question.  Steve says he knows Real Estate and whoever shows him the home wins and if he finds it on his own, the listing agent wins.. big time. I ask him more about his situation, but people like this are all the same.  It’s not that they are just plain stupid, I just think they don’t use their brains.

Let me get this straight…

You are turning down:

1. A Free Service
2. A Service that will save you more then you could possibly save by yourself
3. A Service that will save you time and hassle and protect your earnest money (deposit)
4. A Service that may very well save you from litigation

Basically, he doesn’t see the value in the service that is provided, he just wants someone to let him in the homes.

That’s a smart plan, Steve.  Good luck with that one.  I prefer to work with and for clients who want to work with me and understand that my job was never to find or show them a home.  ANYONE CAN SHOW A HOME.  I get paid to negotiate.

If I (or should I say my Seller) get really lucky, Steve will buy one of my listings in Alpharetta or Gwinnett County and I will be able to demonstrate this skill to Steve up close and personal.

For Sellers out there in Alpharetta. If you want someone who can take advantage of people like Steve, please give me a call, he should be buying in 3 to 6 months.

As you start looking for a new home, you probably aren’t even considering your NEXT move . You probably just want to get this one taken care of! But it is always prudent to shop for a new home with an eye on potential resale value down the road. No one can predict what the future will bring , but here are some simple things you can look for:

• Lot Size and Shape: Larger Lots are beginning to add a premium to the price. This is especially true of new construction. And as a buyer, do not pay a premium for someone else’s landscaping efforts. Landscaping can typically decrease the time on the market but not increase the overall price by much.
• Neighborhoods: Pay special attention to the yard upkeep, neighborly involvement and the amenities. The best strategy is always to buy the smallest or lowest priced home in the best neighborhood. You can get community reports from me here or search all the communities in Georgia on my website .
• Kitchens and Baths: A spacious, updated kitchen is among the most important features in a home. Updated baths are also important.
• Basements: Although most in Georgia remain unfinished they can increase the resale value and decrease the time on the market. A finished basement can add an additional $50k to $100K depending on the neighborhood and the level of finishing work (i.e. Theatre Room with equipment staying, full kitchen, extra bathrooms). In a down market, Basements may only be worth $10K, but they can definitely speed up the sale!
• Backyard Features: Decks and patios generally yield almost a dollar-for-dollar return. But swimming pools are not generally great investments, however, they will decrease the selling time significantly. Typically buyers put a $10K - $20K premium on in ground pools, far less than what it cost to put in. Above ground pools actually decrease the home’s value in some areas as well.

As you can tell most items may not add directly to the value, but all these items will help the home sell much, much quicker. You’ve got to be the best of the best in a down market.

I’d be happy to answer any questions you have and show you properties that meet your needs. Please call (770-374-4667) or email me when you are ready to look for a new home.

Real Estate across the country is different.  In some state, it may take 90 days to close while in others, like Georgia, 30 days is the norm.  Additionally, in some states you can close at a title company’s office, in other states you may get an attorney to help coordinate the closing while still in other states (Georgia) your Realtor is the one who coordinates for you. In Georgia, a Realtor has a fiduciary responsibility to look out for your best interest.

So what does fiduciary mean? Wikipedia defines it as,

A fiduciary duty is the highest standard of care imposed at either equity or law. A fiduciary is expected to be extremely loyal to the person they owe the duty (the "principal"): they must not put their personal interests before the duty, and must not profit from their position as a fiduciary, unless the principal consents. The fiduciary relationship is highlighted by good faith, loyalty and trust, and the word itself originally comes from the Latin fides, meaning faith, and fiducia.

This agreement is set by a contract known as the, "Buyer’s Brokerage Agreement."  If an agent does not go over this relationship with you AND asks you to sign it before helping you, they are not looking out for your best interest. It only with honesty, loyalty and integrity that someone can represent you in the biggest transaction of your lifetime.

It’s more than just searching for homes, it’s knowing the market and identifying good investments, negotiating the best price, protecting your investment of earnest money, looking out for your family in their move and it’s about telling you that you might consider waiting to purchase or not purchase at all in certain situations.

On July 30th Pres. Bush signed a major housing bill (HR 3221) into law.  As part of the bill, Congress created a new, temporary tax credit to provide some incentive to buy a home.  Here’s a quick check list to see if you qualify:

• Bought and CLOSED after April 9th, 2008
• YOU MUST CLOSE BEFORE JULY 1st, 2009
• Must be your first home (or you must be an individual who has not owned a principal residence in 3 years)
• You must make under $75,000 or have a joint income of less than $150,000 (you still get partial credit if you are over)
• The credit is 10% of the purchase price of the home, with a cap at $7,500
• Obviously, this property must be in the US
• Finally, you must have use Joshua Jarvis as your Realtor (ok, so I am kidding about that one)