HAVE YOU CHANGED YOUR LOCKS? © 2014 by Wayne D. Lewis, Realtor

 

Have you changed the locks on your home since you bought it?  How long has it been?  1 week?  1 year?  Nothing has happened?  Fantastic!  Hopefully, nothing ever will.  But, why chance it?  Yes, the last owner gave you all of the keys that they had at closing, but were they all of the keys that were given out to your new home?  What are the odds that someone from the previous owners’ past (a son, granddaughter, or tenant), may come out of the blue and enter your home?  Perhaps slim, but again, why chance it? 

If it is about cost, then we know the cost can be measured very easily.  Let’s take a look:

Weigh the cost of someone who enters your home without permission, but with a key, who then proceeds to take your valuables compared to replacing a lock or locks to all of your external doors  What do you think the difference in cost is?

If for example, someone removes expensive dishes, jewelry, laptops and/or computers, tv’s or appliances, what is the cost of anyone of these items to replacing a lock or having the locks changed?

The probability factor is probably greater that someone will break into your home without a key before someone will come back with a key.  But, for the sake of peace of mind, safety and reducing the risk of losing valuable possessions, a locksmith can possibly come to your home and change the locks for between $25 and $50, depending on the type of locks that you have, or the type of locks and number of keys that you may request.

Isn't it worth the peace of mind to change your locks or have your locks rekeyed?

Speaker:  If you are looking for a speaker to speak to your community group or school, please contact Wayne Lewis at waynelewissoldit@gmail.com

 

Disclaimer:  Not to be considered as legal advice.  Not intended to solicit the business or clients of another broker.  Information here is believed to be from reliable sources but not guaranteed.

HEY MISTER! SHOW ME SOMETHING![1]© 2014 By Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

5 Questions Buyers Maybe Asked

 When Calling a Real Estate Agent

By Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

 

As the home buying season gets ready to kick into full gear, agents are waiting to hear from buyers.  Whether the buyers are standing in front of homes with FOR SALE signs, or from the various real estate websites on their laptops, tablets or cell phones, buyers are going to call their local real estate offices and agents.  Their main objective:  “Come show me this house!”  For agents on the other end, nothing would be more welcoming than to receive such a call, and then rush out to meet a perspective buyer at the home of the potential buyer’s choice.  Only…….

This approach to buying a home has many drawbacks, both for buyers and agents, and while it would be exciting for each agent to run out and meet a perspective buyer at a home that maybe the purchaser’s desired home, it would be important for a real estate professional to take important steps to help the buyer to choose a home that is right for them.

Even after the showing, buyers may find that the house needs more work than they intend to do, or that the price of the house is way more than they expected to pay for the small bedrooms, or the galley-size kitchen.  So, for the real estate agent, it may help both the buyer, as well as the seller, if a few questions were asked (by the agent), and answered (by the buyer).  The intent is to save time and frustration that may ultimately discourage the buyer right off the bat if they are either a first-time home buyer or, are looking at their next home to move up to, move down to or, are relocating to a new area.

Below, are just five important questions that buyers and agents should be able to discuss before meeting for the first time at a home that is FOR SALE.  These questions are not designed to discourage the buyer from seeing, nor the agent from showing the property.  But, these questions are in an effort for both buyer and agent to have a reasonable idea of what the buyer’s expectations are, and how the agent can help the buyer achieve his or her goal.  Here are five basic questions with a few sub-questions that may need to be asked in order for the agent to be well informed about the direction the buyer is intending to go in the home buying process (Questions are in no set order):

1. How long have you been looking at homes?
    
2. What are you hoping to see as you look at this home? For example:
   1. Is it important to you that the master bedroom is only 11’ X 10’?
   2. Are you aware this home only has 1 bathroom?
   3. Does it matter to you that the property is occupied?
       
3. Are you looking at other homes in this neighborhood?
   1. How does this home compare to other homes you have looked at before
   2. How did you preview the other homes?
   3. What do you like about this neighborhood/home?
       
4. How did you come across this home?
   1. Did you find it driving by?
   2. Did you find it using the internet?
   3. Are you working with an agent?
       
5. I may need to give the seller 24 hour notice before showing their home, can you give me another time option for tomorrow, if necessary?
   1. What is your name?
   2. What is your contact number if I need to call you back if something changes?
   3. Do I have permission to bring information on other properties in the area?
   4. Will you be needing any information on financing, or have your secured financing already?
       
      Now, if we count, there are actually 18 questions here.  But note how the additional questions are related to the prime question.  These questions are necessary not only to the agent, but to the buyer, as well as to the seller’s agent, and the seller.   The seller’s agent and seller need to be aware of who is being shown their home?  They need to know how often the house is being shown, or how often someone calls in on their home.  The agent needs to have an idea of the buyer’s determination, and readiness to buy a home.  The process of buying a home is strongly related to selling a home, and there are many aspects to the process that requires not only that questions be asked, but what questions are also answered. 
       
      Additionally, the questions that a real estate agent may ask, helps them sell themselves as a professional.  Granted, many of these questions could be asked at the house when the buyer and agent meet, asking some of the questions before hand, also helps set the stage for how the real estate professional acquires information, and how that information is processed well enough between the initial call and the initial showing.  As a buyer, you may want your real estate professional prepared and informed when they meet with you, even if on a drive by showing that started with just a FOR SALE sign in the front yard.
       
      The questions above are just a snapshot of the types of questions that your real estate professional may ask.  Your questions, and answers, may vary.  But as a buyer, you should be prepared to answer any number of questions leading up to, and including, showing a given home for the first time.  As always, regardless of which home you choose, be sure to Make Your Best Offer![2]
       

SPEAKER: If interested in having Wayne Lewis speak before your community group, please email him at waynelewissoldit@gmail.com

 

DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IS DEEMED TO BE FROM RELIABLE SOURCES, BUT NOT GUARANTEED.  NOT AN INTENT TO SOLICIT THE AGENTS, CUSTOMERS OR BUSINESS OF ANY OTHER AGENT OR BROKER. NO INFORMATION PROVIDED THROUGH ANY OF THE POSTS ON THIS BLOG SHOULD BE CONSIDERED AS LEGAL OR FINANCIAL ADVICE.  PLEASE CONSULT YOUR ATTORNEY, FINANCIAL ADVISOR OR RELATED PROFESSIONAL REGARDING INFORMATION PERTAINING TO YOUR CASE.

 

 

 

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[1] The title of this post is taken from the famous phrase: “Hey Mister, throw me something!”  Many of us know this phrase all too well, as it comes from the throngs of parade goers at Mardi Gras here in New Orleans.   While the title is “Hey Mister, Show Me Something,” this in no way seeks to diminish or discriminate against our female real estate professionals throughout the real estate industry.

 

[2] Make Your Best Offer! ©2014 by Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

DO NOT TEXT AND BUY (REAL ESTATE) © 2014 By Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

4 Concerns Why You Should Be Careful

When Texting in the Sale of Real Estate

By Wayne D. Lewis, Sr.

 

 

The challenges of buying and selling real estate have become integrally meshed with technology.  Being from the old school, I remember the big old books that we would have to order each quarter, if we wanted to stay in the loop in order to help our clients with the latest on properties on the market.  Today not only allows us as agents to access the most recent of information regarding buying and selling properties in our respective areas, but, technology also allows buyers and sellers to have access to virtually the same information.  To that end, we as real estate professionals need to be just as informed in order to know where that divide exists between the most informed buyer and seller, and those who are waiting to be informed.

Among the many things that technology allows buyers and sellers to do, is to email, video tape, digitally sign, or text their questions and responses throughout the buying process.  For example, a potential buyer may ask an agent a question about a home via text, along with a picture, that requires an informed answer, and quickly.  If the agent doesn’t reply quickly, that buyer maybe off to find a real estate professional who is more likely to respond, and, more quickly.  Texting obviously provides an opportunity for buyers in particular to inquire about prices, how many bedrooms, or baths.  Texting also allows for the agent to send photos, or in some cases attachments that the tech-savy buyer can pull up right away on their cellular device, or a Smartphone[1], thus, helping the buyer to make a very important decision as to whether to buy, or put off buying a particular property.  But texting, as good as it is, should not be fully relied upon during the home buying process.  Below, I’ll explain four (4) reasons why shortly.

THE BENEFITS OF TEXTING- There is no question about it, texting is an extremely beneficial tool of communicating.  As many of us have come to know, we will most likely see someone texting a friend across the room, rather than talk to them face-to-face.  Not that there’s anything wrong with that! (In my Jerry Seinfeld voice)[2].  The benefits have no doubt been far reaching.  From school activities where parents can keep tabs on their kids for extra-curricular activities. Or, where families can communicate at a shopping mall or a large amusement park, texting has become very important to many of us.  But, as important as texting is, there are times when texting should be used sparingly.   One area is buying and selling Real Estate.  Here are four reasons why:

LIMITED COMMUNICATIONS

1.  Deadlines-Whenever discussing time and deadlines, neither a buyer nor seller, should rely solely on texting their commitments.  An improper text message with respect to time could cause the loss of an investment.  For example, if in texting, a buyer agrees to submit a deposit by 12 without indicating noon or midnight, a deal could be lost.  Additionally, in response to a deadline, texting a response does not necessarily commit a seller or buyer with respect to a contract deadline.  If for example, a seller has until 9a.m. Feb 25^th, to accept a counter offer, a texted message may not be a sufficient response to the buyer who has taken the time to submit a formal counter offer.  Unless so stipulated as acceptable in advance, submitting a text message should only be used to confirm that the formal response was received, on time.
    
2. Auto Correction-If any of us have had our misfortune with auto-correction and text messages, we know that we need to be very careful in sending specific information.  Whether it has to do with a reimbursement on a repair for a (fight) light; or paying $3000 for closing (cots) costs, or a dome (home) warranty (exaggerated examples), if a textual response has terms in it that causes the respondent to wonder if you are a serious buyer, it is possible that the respondent could start taking evasive action by not responding at all to any of your text messages.  When texting about something as important as buying and selling a house, you will want to seem attentive in detail to the recipient.  So, try to avoid texting large volumes of important details, where the possibility of sending misspelled words, left out words or words that may send a totally different message than intended.
    
3. Backup to Other Sources-Texting in the buying and selling of real estate should only be used as an alternative to other sources.  One of the most reliable sources for transferring information electronically is emailing, and second to that, is faxing.  Whatever other sources are included, it must at least reference what was texted so that it reduces confusion between the intent of the message sent and the perception of the message received.  What we are trying to avoid is getting to the closing table where someone pulls out a text message that, for all practical purposes, contradicts, or seems to present an altogether different message than what the HUD or Settlement Statement is revealing.   
    
4. Group Texting-The idea of group texting should be very limited, if not avoided altogether.  The backlash of group texting is that someone in response may reveal coveted information that may compromise your position as a buyer or seller.  If you must group text, include the term group text in the initial text message.  But the best thing to do is avoid group texting when it comes to negotiating or relaying any information in the purchase or sale of your home or investment.
    
   As valuable as it is in our daily communications, texting in any aspect of the home buying process should serve as a back up to email, phone calls and formal documents.  Particularly, where any acknowledgement requires a written approval or concession between buyer and seller.  While it is fast becoming a wonder as to what or how we functioned before texting, texting should be seen in the context that it offers:  a brief message, that addresses social, and in many cases, pertinent issues.  However, because of what is often on the table when we are talking about buying and selling real estate, the need to ensure that which we intend to convey, is not left to texting as a primary source of making an offer, counter offer, accepting an offer, or even rejecting an offer.   Texting should be extremely limited, and backed up by confirmation, including, but not limited to a face-to-face conversation, or by (cell) phone.

In Conclusion-  The above are just four of several concerns we should all share in when it comes to buying and selling real estate.  There are other concerns when it comes to the use of social media, but if nothing else, they should be some concerns of your own as you sit with your device in hand, and prepare to respond to, or initiate information in a textual form as it relates to buying and selling your home, or real estate investment.  It will be easy to send that text, but be sure that what is sent is what is understood.  These four areas should be considered along with the overall importance of buying and selling real property.  The time and effort involved in buying and selling real property should not be risked with the latest gadgets and devices of social media that it risks the loss of a property, or perhaps even, thousands, if not millions of dollars by a buyer or seller.  To answer the impending question:  Yes, it’s that serious.  My advice: Do not text and buy (real estate).

SPEAKER: If interested in having Wayne Lewis speak before your community group, please email him at waynelewissoldit@yahoo.com

 

DISCLAIMER: ALL INFORMATION PROVIDED IS DEEMED TO BE FROM RELIABLE SOURCES, BUT NOT GUARANTEED.  NOT AN INTENT TO SOLICIT THE AGENTS, CUSTOMERS OR BUSINESS OF ANY OTHER AGENT OR BROKER.

 

 

 

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[1] Smartphone- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Smartphone

[2] Jerry Seinfeld- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Oj3VphK9AMk