Five Reasons Why You Should Hire Me, Not Them

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In a sea of agents, trust me – you want to hire someone who can keep your deals afloat and get you the best deal on the home of your dreams.  But I’m not suggesting you hire me based only on this one statement, in fact, I can provide you a list of reasons why we are a cut above the rest.  

Whether you are considering a new home so you can move up and into something better, or you want to invest in some property to avail the fantastic low rates out there right now, I'm asking you to hire me.  Here are the top five reasons why hiring me for your real estate buying dreams will end up in you getting your dream home and us having a fruitful relationship with years of professional friendship to come.  But don’t take my word for it – the reasons listed below have come from my actual clients, who after years of being asked why they chose myself over others, collectively answered with these consistent responses:

I Listen To You

You wouldn’t believe the nightmare stories I have heard about other agents trying to impose their own preferences on buyers. Well, where I'm concerned, I understand and value the importance of your needs and the first step to implementing them is to foster solid communication – both ways.  That way, you can count on me going after the things that are most important to you and I can count on you trusting me.

I Follow Through 

Nothing is more frustrating than to send an email or leave a voicemail for your agent and then spend hours, days or even weeks waiting for a response. My mantra is to follow through with everything and that means that every communication I get or every item that needs to be discussed, relayed or investigated – no matter what it might be – I get it done.  If I said I would do it, you can count on it getting done.  

I Know Our Market

Anyone can become an agent and often there are agents who “handle” markets all over the place, regardless of whether they’ve ever stepped foot in the town or not.  Inside information on the little nuances of a place can only come from a person or a team that knows the area well.  When you’re looking at buying a property, this inside knowledge is paramount and one that I pass on to my clients by way of my knowledge of the industry and our markets.

Todd Martin Is Solid and Strong

With careful consideration and years of cultivated relationships, I have created a strong organization that keeps its promises, while delivering everything according to plan. That, too, is not by accident.  I have personally developed a system for every aspect of my organization so that I can carefully measure my progress and provide my clients with optimum service.  

Honesty and Integrity Is My Priority 

Finally, my priority remains honesty and integrity.  I realize that in a business such as this there can be lots of ups and downs – and there is no better demonstration of that than the current state of our real estate market and overall economy.  My clients know that I will always be honest with them about what to expect, whether or not their expectations are realistic and anything else that may come up in the myriad transactions that take place for real estate.  I take our relationship with my clients and their needs very seriously and work very hard not to jeopardize that trust.  Poor representation can cost thousands of dollars – excellent representation is priceless.

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With these five aspects of my business, I am confident that my clients understand my priorities and have rewarded me with their business in exchange.  I invite you to come visit us to see if there is anything I can do to help you get into your next dream home. I won’t let you walk away disappointed.

6 Buyer Trends Shaping the Market

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Compared to just a couple decades ago the amount of interest buyers (and sellers) take in the real estate process has blossomed into a multi-million dollar industry.   With media, retail and of course technological trends continuously shaping the industry, it is no surprise that buyers (and sellers) are more savvy than ever when it comes to property-related transactions.  So when the time arrives for buyers to begin searching for their new home, they are already armed with loads of advance information about what’s out there.  Here are six top current trends that buyers are into these days, some which have been around for ages and others, seemingly new.

Updated Kitchens and Bathrooms

One of the first things many buyers look for is updated kitchens and bathrooms with plenty of space, modern cabinetry, lots of storage, granite counters and stainless steel or modern appliances.  Savvy buyers of today not only want to be able to enjoy these amenities, they also know that later on down the line these features will add significant seller value to their home, making the purchase a solid investment.

Open Floor Plans

Closed off rooms that are scattered throughout the house are no longer in style.  The more sought after choice is homes that feature large great rooms, with open spaces looking out into multiple rooms that have a clear view from one end of the space to the other. Huge vaulted ceilings, tray ceilings and other architectural details that add to the openness of the space are also important to buyers these days.

Larger Master Bedrooms with an En Suite

With the influx of HGTV shows depicting the latest available designs and styles out there, more and more buyers are seeking master bedrooms with an En suite rather than traditional community bathrooms just a few feet away from the master.  Not only that, buyers want large open spaces within the attached bath, sometimes going as far as expecting double vanity sinks, garden tub and shower stalls plus plenty of storage room.

Use of Extra Space – Outdoors, Basement

Less is not more when it comes to space in a home and no buyer these days wants to see a potential home with underutilized space.  One of the most promising uses of extra space is the basement, where finished basements are the hot trend to fulfill anything from work out room requirements to desires for a media room, a “man cave” or extra family space.  Similarly, future homeowners are seeking more outdoor living space as well.  Whether through enclosed patios, larger yards, fenced in and private play areas or decks; exterior space is an important consideration for almost everyone these days.

Green Living

The emphasis on eco-friendly living has shot up in recent years.  What once used to be novelties such as furniture made of recycled materials or solar panels to produce solar energy throughout the home have now become far more prevalent in many properties. When buyers see bamboo flooring, eco-friendly materials used in the home’s construction, energy efficient windows or other green alternatives, they are likely to take a closer look. 

Character

Gone are the days when a simple, cookie cutter home would fly off the market.  Buyers are savvier than ever before and one of the most frequent things on their wish list is to find a home that has some character.   Character can be anything from an exposed brick wall in the main living space, to ceiling-high columns, wainscoting and crown molding in a formal dining space, or even original wood floors that have been restored.  If you see the potential in your home be sure to tap it to the fullest and highlight the feature.

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If you are putting your home on the market and there seems to be conversion potential in the space to incorporate some of the concepts mentioned above, be sure to consult with your Realtor for a walk-through of your home.  Given the constant exposure to the market and their in-depth knowledge of the specific area, Realtors will likely be able to shed valuable insight on whether you should make any changes, offer pricing discounts to allow potential buyers to renovate themselves or leave it as is.