GimmeshelterNYC
How
to Find a Real Estate Agent Who’s Right for You
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
In addition to finding the
right apartment for you, your broker will also:
- 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
What to look for
When you’re the seller:
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
EXCLUSIVE AGENT OR DIRECT SALE?
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