The best brokers are a combination of Freud, Bob Villa, the Yellow Pages and your best-ever teacher.  Along with that, he or she should have some talents as an interpreter of your wishes and hopes, a facilitator and a good researcher.  Both information and support should be available to you through your broker.  Only a broker can speak to all parties involved in a deal and sometimes that ability is all that can break an impasse or keep a deal moving.

With a good broker working for you, your deal will go smoother and faster.  Any licensed real estate agent can sell an apartment.  Almost all NYC brokers share the same listings, exclusive or not.  So why not find someone who makes you feel comfortable, informed and well taken-care of.  Buying or selling a home is a major emotional and financial experience; it doesn’t have to be a major trauma.  You’ll be spending a lot of time with your broker; why not enjoy it?

At GimmeShelterNYC, these are my minimum job requirements.

What to look for
When you’re the buyer:

Your agent should have:

• immediate access to all current listings no matter what company they are from
• knowledge of the neighborhood where you’re looking
• familiarity with co-op boards and particular building requirements
• properly put together and advise you on preparing a winning board package
• prepare you to pass a co-op board interview
• problem-solving ability and be a source of referrals for lawyers, mortgage brokers, contractors, etc.
• full knowledge of recent sales and current availabilities
• ability and willingness to act immediately on new properties or offers
• loyalty to you; a broker should call you every few days with any new properties that come on the market, or simply to let you know there’s no action
• ability to interpret your “wish list” and show you the listings that really suit your tastes
• ability to counsel you on how to compete in this currently “hot” market and make successful bids

• provide a co-op’s financial statement and offering plan to your attorney
• prepare you with comparables of current and sold properties
• provide you with purchase-cost-analysis for each apartment
• search building financials
• represent and accompany you at open houses
• advise you properly in the negotiation process
• refer you to contractors for estimates when needed
• work with your mortgage broker to make sure all the information a bank will need is made available
• give your attorney information needed for the contract of sale and for him to complete his due diligence
• help you prepare a co-op board application that passes any board
• advise you on coordinating closing times; pre-closing inspections, etc.
• work closely with your attorney and mortgage broker
• have superior problem solving skills to get you through the entire process

One of the biggest advantages to you of working with an exclusive agent is that he or she is your representative and you can refer all questions or problems to him.  Your phone calls will all be with your exclusive agent; all appointments, negotiations and requests will come to you from him.  As your representative, the broker will

• provide information on sales of comparable properties to help set the proper asking price
• counsel you on how to present your property to bring in the best offer
• create professional floorplans and pictures for the internet
• pay for all advertising
• conduct open houses till sold
• co-operate with other brokers and their buyers to show the property
• get you listing out to ALL brokers and real estate firms within 24 hours
• make appointments and personally supervise all showings thereby freeing up your time
• check the qualifications of any potential buyer
• counsel you on the best way to handle the negotiations, multiple bids, etc. and choose a buyer who will satisfy the bank, the co-op board and management
• refer you to an experienced attorney
• provide information to your attorney which he needs to prepare the contract
• see that the buyer’s attorney has the financials and co-op information they need to do “due diligence”
• cooperate with the buyer’s broker and mortgage broker to see that necessary information is provided
• supervise the co-op board application so all information is provided completely and understandably and the application goes through smoothly
• advise you on coordinating closing times; pre-closing inspections, etc.
• stay on top of things to make sure the process is moving along smoothly
• work with you on solving problems that arise
• respect your privacy

Do you like answering the phone 40 times a day?
Are you ready to handle all agents inquiries and appointment schedules?
Do you have the patience to answer all questions no matter how foolish they may seem from buyers?
Are you available at all hours and on weekends to show someone your apartment?
Do you feel comfortable about letting strangers into your home?
How often can you bear questions on how negotiable your price is?
Have you had a lot of experience assembling and vetting board packages?
Do you know all the boards qualifications for buyers?
Can you put together a board package to satisfy any co-op board?
Can you prepare someone to pass a board interview?
Can you recommend a lawyer or mortgage broker who’s a deal-maker, not a stumbling block?
Have you seen enough apartments that compare with yours in size, condition, view and location to be confident about setting your asking price?
Do you know how to advise and make corrections when your buyer’s mortgage application runs into a problem?
Can you handle stumbling blocks that arise in order to keep the sale together
Can you market your property to hundreds of Manhattan real estate firms and thousands of agents making it available on an international website?
All within 24 hours including facts, pictures and floorplans?

I will do all of the above for you, and more, as your exclusive agent.

Contact me, Charles Laboz, today.
I'd be happy to hear from you.

Charles Laboz
President-GimmeShelterNYC


the corcoran group real estate
636 Sixth Ave, New York NY, 10011
m: 917.734.5570
Claboz@yahoo.com