Choosing which Realtor to work with you in the sale of your home is an important decision which should be based on many more factors than the number on the Market Analysis. Remember, you will be teaming up with this person to sell your home at the best possible price and terms. You need an honest, trusted advisor in who understands all the complexities of the process and can handle the inevitable bumps and challenges along the way with calm and composure. There are a few key things you should take into consideration before hiring an agent
1. Level of Experience
How long have they been in the business? Do they work full time? How many sales have they had in the past year? Real Estate can be a tricky business, especially in this economy, you need to make sure your agent is experienced in your market place, negotiating contracts and can close your deal. Not all agents work full time but make sure, if the agent you are interviewing does not work full time or is new to the business, they have access to a competent mentor or work with a team of people helping them service your needs. In my company, Weichert Realtor-Points East Yankee Trader, we all work as a team to assure the client’s needs are met with the highest level of customer service and make the buying process as smooth as possible.
2. Knowledge of both the Neighborhood and the Industry A real estate agent should have market knowledge of the area, and broader knowledge of the real estate industry as a whole. They should also know how to be honest with you about what is going on in your market and how to price your property. The agent who suggests an unrealistic price just to obtain the listing is going to waste valuable market time and cause much frustration.obtain your listing. It is important that an agent tell you what-you-need-to-know-vs-what-you-want-to-hear, and be able to support their recommendations with facts and legitimate, recent comparable sales.
A great agent :
has knowledge of properties that may be for sale but not being actively marketed, as well as having specific knowledge about neighborhoods and actively marketed properties.
will know the details about competitive properties and will be able to explain the pricing differences in order to get to the right price to market your property and get it sold.
is knowledgeable about local, current and pending code and zoning requirements.
monitors local and national market conditions, and can interpret and elaborate on news reports and help you make informed decisions.
3. Their Marketing Plan or Strategy for Selling Your Property.
Who are the likely buyers for your property, and how will the agent market to them?
How are they going to alert prospective buyers and other local agents that the property is on the market?
Will they hold open houses, and if so, how often?
What is their internet marketing strategy, and do they offer individual property web sites for each home?
The National Association of Realtors 2010 Profile of Home Buyer and Sellers shows why these are such important factors:
Where Buyers Begin their Search
On top of these vitally important things, there are a few other factors to consider when choosing your agent. Remember, this person is going to be your teammate and a trusted advisor in the sale of one of your biggest assets. You should also LIKE them!
What Separates A Great Agent From the Competition?
Honesty, trustworthiness and a great reputation among their peers
Responsiveness & effective communication –You and your agent need to discuss how, when and how often you want to communicate. A great agent willl do things your way, rather than ask you to adapt to theirs!
Strong negotiation skills – You want an agent that has the negotiation skills needed to get you the best price under the best terms. The agent needs to be trained, practiced and confident when it comes to negotiating !
Being pro-active rather than reactive when it comes to the inevitable glitches.
A sense of humor never hurts! The process can be frustrating at times, and an agent who maintains a positive attitude and composure will help keep things running smoothly.
At Weichert Realtors- Points East/Yankee Trader we take pride in our hand selected team of top-notch professionals dedicated to providing a consistently excellent client experience.
3650 W Devon Ave
(between Lawndale Ave & Monticello Ave)
Lincolnwood, IL 60712
Neighborhood: North Park
(847) 679-9434
Welcome to AllNewHampshire.com! You can find resource and information about real estate, shopping and service, art, computer, guide, travel, lodging, finance, technology and more throughout New Hampshire on this site.
Friday, January 6, 2012
How is the Seacoast Real Estate Market? Review
Just about every day people ask me: “So how long is this down real estate market going to last? Where’s the recovery?”
They’re surprised when I tell them that in some markets, the recovery is already under way. Consumer attitude often lags behind local market data.
You see, there were lots of market indicators as far back as 2005 that the bust was on its way. Despite the fact that inventory on the market was increasing, prices floated up well into 2007. But there came a point when the “market data came home to roost.”
And when it did, well… no need to rehash bad news.
In some markets (especially those where buyers have recognized the incredible values and low interest rates) we see several indicators which suggest rebounding market health: Shrinking inventory, multiple offers, and fewer days on market. This is especially true if you look at non-distressed properties.
If those indicators are in play, you’re not in a buyer’s market any more. It’s becoming a seller’s market.
Obviously, tight-fisted lenders and buyers facing shaky job prospects exert their influence on the market. People are wary, and that psychological uncertainty is a part of the pervading sense that “things are bad.” But if you have access to capital and stable income, now is no time to be holding back. We’re unlikely to see these buying conditions again for a long time.
Oh, and by the way: Don’t forget the relatively low amount of new construction during this time paired with the pending population boom in the U.S. over the next 40 years.
7759 S Harlem Ave
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 598-8580
They’re surprised when I tell them that in some markets, the recovery is already under way. Consumer attitude often lags behind local market data.
You see, there were lots of market indicators as far back as 2005 that the bust was on its way. Despite the fact that inventory on the market was increasing, prices floated up well into 2007. But there came a point when the “market data came home to roost.”
And when it did, well… no need to rehash bad news.
In some markets (especially those where buyers have recognized the incredible values and low interest rates) we see several indicators which suggest rebounding market health: Shrinking inventory, multiple offers, and fewer days on market. This is especially true if you look at non-distressed properties.
If those indicators are in play, you’re not in a buyer’s market any more. It’s becoming a seller’s market.
Obviously, tight-fisted lenders and buyers facing shaky job prospects exert their influence on the market. People are wary, and that psychological uncertainty is a part of the pervading sense that “things are bad.” But if you have access to capital and stable income, now is no time to be holding back. We’re unlikely to see these buying conditions again for a long time.
Oh, and by the way: Don’t forget the relatively low amount of new construction during this time paired with the pending population boom in the U.S. over the next 40 years.
7759 S Harlem Ave
Burbank, IL 60459
(708) 598-8580
Wednesday, January 4, 2012
Free New Hampshire Review
The UL has a pretty good article about wild pigs in New Hampshire. This is related to the Corbin Park Hunting Preserve I covered in another blog entry a while back.
New Hampshire has a documented wild boar population in the southwestern part of the state and wildlife biologists are becoming increasingly concerned.
Brought to America by Spanish settlers in the 1500s as a meat source and imported again in the 1800s to be hunted in gated, private parks, some have escaped over the years and are eating everything in sight, including threatened and endangered species, biologists say.
Nationally there are more than 20 million wild pigs. In the Granite State, feral and free-ranging swine number in the hundreds, but they have adapted well and reproduce quickly, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game Wildlife biologist Mark Ellingwood.
Many people are unaware of how amazingly destructive wild boars can be to native species and the land itself. They can do enormous amounts of damage and breed like flies. New Hampshire’s seem to be mostly in the southwestern part of the state…so far. But that may change as they breed and more and more of them are born.
Wild Boars in New Hampshire
Wild Boars in New Hampshire
Helenette Silver’s “A History of New Hampshire Game and Furbearers,” published by Fish and Game in 1957, and considered by many to be the authoritative source on animals in New Hampshire during the past century, states that perhaps 25 to 30 animals escaped from the park soon after Corbin imported the two types of boars. She wrote they established a range in the towns of Croydon, Plainfield, Grantham and Cornish.
“A few have been spotted as far as Alexandria in Grafton County,” she wrote. A large fire on Blue Mountain in the 1950s was also believed to have led to the escape of some animals.
Ellingwood said there have also been sightings along the Connecticut River Valley as far away as Littleton and Lancaster, but most of the nuisance and reported damage is centered near Grantham and Cornish. Bryant agrees.
“They (Blue Mountain) won’t claim ownership for obvious reasons, but it’s pretty coincidental that they populate that area,” he said.
Still, Ellingwood said he can understand the park’s contention that they should not be singled out as the sole source of the problem.
New Hampshire Fish and Game has not set up a hunting season for these critters due to the fear of encouraging people to introduce more of them to increase hunting potential. I don’t blame Fish and Game, the last thing they want to do is to have more of these things running around the state. If you want to hunt them you will have to ask for permission to do so.
Wild Boar Tracks in New Hampshire
Wild Boar Tracks in New Hampshire
In 1949, the legislature passed the boar damage law, requiring “persons responsible for their introduction with their ownership” to be responsible for all damage of escaped boars. Since then, the state considers New Hampshire boars as the property of the park. The park itself does not claim ownership. But because of the law related to ownership, there can be no regulated hunt, Bryant said.
The animals are considered escaped property of Blue Mountain Forest Association, also known as Corbin Park. Gerald Merrill, manager of the park, did not return calls for comment.
Bryant said hunters must ask for permission to shoot a boar. While park officials do not claim animals outside the fence are theirs, they readily give permission to those who want to shoot the animals. “You still have to call them for permission,” he said.
He added that boars can be taken by hunters with a valid hunting license; the hours for hunting during daylight hours also apply.
Here’s what the NH Fish and Game FAQ page has to say about hunting them in New Hampshire:
Can I hunt feral wild boar in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, feral wild boar are considered private property. In southwest New Hampshire, where the vast majority of our feral boar exist, they are considered property of Blue Mountain Forest Association, a privately owned preserve located in Croydon, N.H. Permission is required to hunt free-ranging wild boar that escape from their property. If granted permission (which typically is granted), you need to have a current regular N.H. hunting license, and you must hunt within legal hunting hours. Note that feral wild boar are limited in number and are difficult to locate without local knowledge.
Let’s hope that the problem does not become significantly worse over time. If you want to contact Corbin Park for permission to hunt wild boar in New Hampshire, here’s the contact information:
Blue Mountain Forest Association
PO Box 487,
Newport, NH 03773
(603) 526-4379
I suspect that we are going to see the number of wild pigs grow in New Hampshire over time. Texas and other states have had a horrendously difficult time controlling their population. They are not easy to hunt and they are quite formidable if you are on the ground with them. They are not to be taken lightly.
There’s also a feral swine page on Fish and Game’s site for additional information:
Since their introduction to North America, wild pigs have become one of the more serious wildlife problems in the United States. A confirmed feral swine population in New Hampshire, primarily in Grafton, Sullivan and Cheshire Counties, presents a unique management challenge.
Natural range expansion and illegal introductions, coupled with the extreme adaptability of feral swine, fuel the continued spread of this destructive animal.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture/APHIS-Wildlife Services (WS) is a good resource for landowners who may be experiencing property and or agricultural damage. WS provides partnership-based Federal leadership to help resolve wildlife conflicts through an integrated wildlife damage management (IWDM) approach. The WS New Hampshire Program also participates in the WS National Wildlife Disease Program’s feral swine disease surveillance and monitoring efforts.
Feral swine have no legal game status in New Hampshire, but are considered escaped private property and may only be hunted with permission of the property owner.
Feral Swine in New Hampshire
Feral Swine in New Hampshire
What’s your take on wild boar in New Hampshire? Should there be a hunting season? Would you hunt them? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 424-8912
New Hampshire has a documented wild boar population in the southwestern part of the state and wildlife biologists are becoming increasingly concerned.
Brought to America by Spanish settlers in the 1500s as a meat source and imported again in the 1800s to be hunted in gated, private parks, some have escaped over the years and are eating everything in sight, including threatened and endangered species, biologists say.
Nationally there are more than 20 million wild pigs. In the Granite State, feral and free-ranging swine number in the hundreds, but they have adapted well and reproduce quickly, according to New Hampshire Fish and Game Wildlife biologist Mark Ellingwood.
Many people are unaware of how amazingly destructive wild boars can be to native species and the land itself. They can do enormous amounts of damage and breed like flies. New Hampshire’s seem to be mostly in the southwestern part of the state…so far. But that may change as they breed and more and more of them are born.
Wild Boars in New Hampshire
Wild Boars in New Hampshire
Helenette Silver’s “A History of New Hampshire Game and Furbearers,” published by Fish and Game in 1957, and considered by many to be the authoritative source on animals in New Hampshire during the past century, states that perhaps 25 to 30 animals escaped from the park soon after Corbin imported the two types of boars. She wrote they established a range in the towns of Croydon, Plainfield, Grantham and Cornish.
“A few have been spotted as far as Alexandria in Grafton County,” she wrote. A large fire on Blue Mountain in the 1950s was also believed to have led to the escape of some animals.
Ellingwood said there have also been sightings along the Connecticut River Valley as far away as Littleton and Lancaster, but most of the nuisance and reported damage is centered near Grantham and Cornish. Bryant agrees.
“They (Blue Mountain) won’t claim ownership for obvious reasons, but it’s pretty coincidental that they populate that area,” he said.
Still, Ellingwood said he can understand the park’s contention that they should not be singled out as the sole source of the problem.
New Hampshire Fish and Game has not set up a hunting season for these critters due to the fear of encouraging people to introduce more of them to increase hunting potential. I don’t blame Fish and Game, the last thing they want to do is to have more of these things running around the state. If you want to hunt them you will have to ask for permission to do so.
Wild Boar Tracks in New Hampshire
Wild Boar Tracks in New Hampshire
In 1949, the legislature passed the boar damage law, requiring “persons responsible for their introduction with their ownership” to be responsible for all damage of escaped boars. Since then, the state considers New Hampshire boars as the property of the park. The park itself does not claim ownership. But because of the law related to ownership, there can be no regulated hunt, Bryant said.
The animals are considered escaped property of Blue Mountain Forest Association, also known as Corbin Park. Gerald Merrill, manager of the park, did not return calls for comment.
Bryant said hunters must ask for permission to shoot a boar. While park officials do not claim animals outside the fence are theirs, they readily give permission to those who want to shoot the animals. “You still have to call them for permission,” he said.
He added that boars can be taken by hunters with a valid hunting license; the hours for hunting during daylight hours also apply.
Here’s what the NH Fish and Game FAQ page has to say about hunting them in New Hampshire:
Can I hunt feral wild boar in New Hampshire?
In New Hampshire, feral wild boar are considered private property. In southwest New Hampshire, where the vast majority of our feral boar exist, they are considered property of Blue Mountain Forest Association, a privately owned preserve located in Croydon, N.H. Permission is required to hunt free-ranging wild boar that escape from their property. If granted permission (which typically is granted), you need to have a current regular N.H. hunting license, and you must hunt within legal hunting hours. Note that feral wild boar are limited in number and are difficult to locate without local knowledge.
Let’s hope that the problem does not become significantly worse over time. If you want to contact Corbin Park for permission to hunt wild boar in New Hampshire, here’s the contact information:
Blue Mountain Forest Association
PO Box 487,
Newport, NH 03773
(603) 526-4379
I suspect that we are going to see the number of wild pigs grow in New Hampshire over time. Texas and other states have had a horrendously difficult time controlling their population. They are not easy to hunt and they are quite formidable if you are on the ground with them. They are not to be taken lightly.
There’s also a feral swine page on Fish and Game’s site for additional information:
Since their introduction to North America, wild pigs have become one of the more serious wildlife problems in the United States. A confirmed feral swine population in New Hampshire, primarily in Grafton, Sullivan and Cheshire Counties, presents a unique management challenge.
Natural range expansion and illegal introductions, coupled with the extreme adaptability of feral swine, fuel the continued spread of this destructive animal.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture/APHIS-Wildlife Services (WS) is a good resource for landowners who may be experiencing property and or agricultural damage. WS provides partnership-based Federal leadership to help resolve wildlife conflicts through an integrated wildlife damage management (IWDM) approach. The WS New Hampshire Program also participates in the WS National Wildlife Disease Program’s feral swine disease surveillance and monitoring efforts.
Feral swine have no legal game status in New Hampshire, but are considered escaped private property and may only be hunted with permission of the property owner.
Feral Swine in New Hampshire
Feral Swine in New Hampshire
What’s your take on wild boar in New Hampshire? Should there be a hunting season? Would you hunt them? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
San Francisco, CA 94114
(415) 424-8912
Crystal Shanks - ActionCOACH Business Coaching Review
I've just started working with Crystal for the last month or so. I own a bakery in SF, and I found myself working endless hours, and not feeling like I'm getting somewhere. Business was growing, slowly but surely, but there were all these stumbling blocks, and I really needed to smooth the course!
In comes Crystal from Action Coach, and talks to me a bit about her business, and how she might be able to help. I'm someone who really responds to teaching and coaching, so I thought this would be the perfect fit. Turns out, I was right!
I used a metaphor a few days ago about my business...
I used to feel like I was jumping off a cliff owning a business, and I was just hoping that I would land on pillows. Now I know I'm on a rollercoaster - there will still be ups and downs, but at least I know I'm on a track.
Crystal has made a HUGE difference in such a short period of time - I can't wait for the next year!!
2379 Bryant St
(between 21st St & 22nd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 902-2389
In comes Crystal from Action Coach, and talks to me a bit about her business, and how she might be able to help. I'm someone who really responds to teaching and coaching, so I thought this would be the perfect fit. Turns out, I was right!
I used a metaphor a few days ago about my business...
I used to feel like I was jumping off a cliff owning a business, and I was just hoping that I would land on pillows. Now I know I'm on a rollercoaster - there will still be ups and downs, but at least I know I'm on a track.
Crystal has made a HUGE difference in such a short period of time - I can't wait for the next year!!
2379 Bryant St
(between 21st St & 22nd St)
San Francisco, CA 94110
Neighborhood: Mission
(415) 902-2389
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