Nothing like a client selling our services for us! We just love loyal customers that keep spreading the good word about the way we handle Miami Beach Real Estate. Looking back at difficult transactions and the obstacles we have to go through to get things accomplished is all worth while when you get an email like this:
I’ve copied real estate agent Rick Garcia who was a tremendous help with my condo. He’s effective and unlike most Realtors who will tell you anything just to get the listing, he is realistic and straightforward. I know the Miami market is still depressed, but if you are open to his ideas and pricing, then he will make every effort to get it sold or leased.
THAT’s what I’m talking about!! We tell you time and time again that we don’t sugar-coat information, we don’t paint pretty pictures of current real estate conditions and we tell it like it is. It’s the number one reason our clients recommend us and come back again and again.
We are dedicated to your success, whether buying or selling Miami Beach homes or condos and will go above and beyond so you keep coming back for more.
Thanks Chris for the awesome referral, totally made our day!
As a tribute to the way my kids feel about going back to school, I decided to share this amazing capture by Diego Quiros (dkeros on Flickr). Although I feel the total opposite… it’s great to see the energy in Miami change when schools start – from traffic patterns to shopping establishments.
About the photo: If you are not familiar with Coral Gables’ entrances, you should be. Conceptualized by Merrick when developing Coral Gables as entrances to The City Beautiful – with old Spanish Mediterranean theme in mind, to welcome you to his world. This photo was taken by Diego at Granada Entrance.
….another Miamism !!
** Here at Miamism we love to post your Miami Photos. If you have a shot you want to share please join the Miamism Group at Flickr.com – or you can e-mail the photos directly to us at info@miamism.com *
When choosing a Miami Beach Realtor you do research, you ask around and you look at real estate sales and movement in your area – but do you know what to ask a Miami Realtor once they are in front of you? Here are some basic questions you should ask to help you make an informed decision when choosing a Realtor.
1. Are they in Real Estate Full Time?
This is huge since a lot in the industry have had to take second jobs to supplement their income. You want to make sure that the professional you choose can handle and is focused in handling your real estate needs at a moment’s notice.
2. Do they know sign language?
Communication is key between parties and that’s the number one objection we hear from our customers about the real estate industry. Ask how your Realtor will communicate with you during the process – regular e-mails, phone calls, smoke signals, snail-mail, telex (I’m dating myself here).
3. How will they promote, push and plug your property?
The word “marketing” can be very broad. Make sure the agent details their marketing plan with specifics – Social Media, Print advertising, Internet and Traditional methods. Placing a property in the MLS and putting a sign in front of a property is not enough in today’s market.
4. Who will do the honors?
Ask who will show your property – will they have an assistant available or will they use the legendary lock-box? If this is important to you, make sure you ask. I would also make sure to ask who will have the keys to your property and how will access be granted if they are not the ones showing the property.
5. Do they answer their phone?
I know this seems trivial, but you would be surprised how few agents answer their phone and actually return messages in a prompt manner.
6. Do they have paparazzi qualities?
This is the number one complaint from buyers today – when looking for properties they skip the ones without photos or the ones with bad or few photos. Make sure you ask your agent how quickly they will photograph the property and include those photos in all marketing and who will take the photos. (there’s an inside joke in the industry about agents who photograph toilets). Sometimes a creative eye that discriminates a particular property feature will attract traffic to the listing.
7. Can they dance?
Once your property is under contract – how do they manage the transaction? Are they experienced in dealing with all the problems and objections of today’s real estate market. Many contracts that fall through due to poor transaction management.
8. Do they sleep around?
Will they look out for your best interest or theirs? This is a difficult question to ask and you need to be able to discriminate against true and honest answers.
9. What’s their annoyance factor?
It is customary for agents to keep in touch with you so you remember them and refer them business. It’s never a bad idea to ask how they plan to do this. This is very personal since you may not mind drip campaigns for the rest of your life made up of postcards and recipes, phone calls and inquiries. But this is also a great way to learn about the agent’s business practice.
**one of my faves – originally written on January 24th, 2009**
Seth Godin does it again asking “Where have all the agents gone“? – In this world of intermediation and educated consumers it is an excellent question to ask. If the middleman brings no value to a transaction, then there is no need for him.
With regards to Miami Beach real estate we deal with many types of consumers – the consumer that believes that buying real estate is only about finding the property and making an offer (obviously that consumer has little use for a Realtor) – and the consumer that finds an agent that brings so much more and represents their best interest without a doubt. There’s also the real estate seller that believes they can do it on their own by putting a couple of ads on-line and a sign in front of their house (again….that seller does not need an “intermediator”)….although a lot of these “do-it-themselfers” come to us for help after they give it a try.
But a lot of people, because of Internet Marketing and this age of Social Media, believe that some of us do bring value to a transaction and do think it is worth paying a commission and trusting the sale and purchase of their Miami real estate to knowledgeable Realtors who will take care of every aspect of the transaction and will go above and beyond the call of duty.
Think about how anonymous the typical real estate broker is. He will sell almost any house or represent almost any buyer. When selling a house, he has a fiduciary responsibility to represent that house to the best of his ability. Just like every other broker. The great real estate brokers do far more than this.
We do not criticize those that don’t need our services and want to do it on their own – on the contrary, we give them credit for their willingness to take risk – but we give our undivided attention to those that trust us with their investments and value our services.
Love this quote by seth:
When markets change, agents can lead the way, not follow along grudgingly.
So ask yourself the next time you buy or sell Miami Real Estate – will my Realtor add value to a transaction?
**originally written and posted on March 17th, 2009**
When choosing a Miami Beach Realtor you do research, you ask around and you look at real estate sales and movement in your area – but do you know what to ask a Miami Realtor once they are in front of you? Here are some basic questions you should ask to help you make an informed decision when choosing a Realtor.
