(Bob and his
team at a recent seminar)Robert Chiarito - Continually Thinking Out-of-the-Box!
If we only take one thing from the current market, it should be that the status quo just won't do. You need someone with energy and creativity, backed with solid fundamentals and a fantastic knowledge of the market. That's where I come in.
When working for a client, I pride myself on not only covering all the bases but going the extra mile as well. Whether you are buying, selling or both, I am equally proficient. If you're selling your home, I go far beyond putting up a lawn sign, doing mailings and a few open houses. Don't get me wrong I embrace these fundamental practices, but consider them mere starting points. If you're buying, most Realtors will accompany you on showings but do they have the knowledge and skill to get you the most for your money? Do they know how to keep a deal together?
Below are just three examples of how I have been able to stand out from the rest of the pack in this market.
1) BECOME THE EXPERT VOICE ON THE MARKET
I write two blogs with original articles on real-estate and neighborhood issues. Because I have a great pulse of the goings on in the area, some of the articles have been republished in local newspapers. There is great information for you to learn from in both these blogs and best of all because they are blogs, you have the ability to interact and start a discussion on topics I write about or any other questions you may have!
I invite you to go to my blogs and subscribe to receive updates via email. Click here to go to my general real-estate blog. In addition, you can click here to go to my blog focused on Norridge-area happenings.
2) SHARE YOUR KNOWLEDGE WITH YOUR FRIENDS & NEIGHBORS
I am proud to have hosted seminars on home-buying and first-time home-buying. These events are always very interactive and filled with great content. Whether you are brand new to the market or a seasoned veteran, you'll come away having learned something valuable.
I have assembled a team consisting of myself, a mortgage banker, real estate attorney, tax professional and a home inspector to cover every base at our seminars. Click here for more information on my next seminar!
(Bob and his
team at a recent seminar)
3) BRING A NEW APPROACH TO A TRADITIONAL PRACTICE
Many Realtors create "virtual tours" for your listings. I have done many over the years as well. The problem is, they all look and sound the same. Recently, I created a new-type of virtual tour, one in which a fictional couple talks about their home along with the normal things people talk about. It provided a little information about the home, but not too much to keep potential buyers from inquiring for more and also provided a little entertainment. Feedback was terrific and a definite buzz was created. In the current market, this is essential to getting your home noticed. After all, the more who see your home, the faster it will sell!
Here is one example of what I did (and I'm working on more ideas regarding future videos right now!)
4) ADJUST TO THE TIMES
One thing that has always bothered me about the commission structure of real estate is the lack of incentive for Realtors to go above and beyond. For example, if your home is listed by a real-estate agent and is sold for $300,000, a typical commission of 6 percent is worth $18,000. Typically, the listing broker gets 3 percent and gives the remaining 3 percent to the selling broker. The listing agent gets a percentage of the 3 percent. For argument sake, let’s say the listing agent’s split with his broker is 70/30. So in this case, the listing broker is getting 3 percent, or $9,000 and the listing agent will be getting seventy percent of that — or $6300.
What if your home was actually worth more - say $310,000? After the commission, you’d get an extra $9,400 in your pocket — but the listing agent’s additional share would only be increased $210 for a new total of $6510. If the listing agent only makes $210 to get you an extra $9400 something is wrong! Listing agents are human and not many are going to do the extra work for a mere $210.
To combat this, I’ve developed a system that will be around in both bull and bear markets. Frankly, I think my system will revolutionize the industry! For more details on this, click here!
WATCH JUST ONE OF MANY SUCCESS STORIES FROM A SATISFIED CLIENT!
Finnis was a first-time buyer who found me on the Internet. Along the way, we overcame some hurdles but were successful in getting her to close! For the full story on our experience, click here