How to Get the Best Deal from a Local Expert
The best of Miramar houses for sale agents are just a needle in a heap of hay. You are probably thinking, “Do I really need someone local?” Short answer: absolutely. Trying to navigate an unfamiliar city without Google Maps-that’s what buying and selling property is, without local expertise.
Let me paint this for you: A friend of mine, Jane, once tried to sell her house through a recommended agent, but he lived miles away from her neighborhood. Long story short, he didn’t know about that great little park two blocks down, or how the school district had just gotten top marks. He underpriced her home, and she lost thousands.
They are, so to say, your GPS in this crazy layout of the market. Living there, they would know the twists and turns. They will know which streets have noisy traffic at rush hour and where new development may raise the value of properties any time soon.
Take my other friend, Tom, for example; he wanted to buy his first house last year. He found this old hand right from his hometown, Sarah, who knew homes were listed even before any other human being in the world did! She knew Mrs. Henderson from next door baked cookies for new neighbors-sweetening the deal. Because she knew stuff, he got his perfect house well within his budget when other buyers were refreshing their Zillos.
You see, local agents bring in so much more than just the numbers; they bring in the stories, the connections-what outsiders could never compete against. It is in these little yet big details that all the difference between getting a deal and getting the best deal lies!
Now, let’s talk negotiations, for that’s where things get spicy! Put yourself in an auction-you wouldn’t want some virgin bidder handling your paddle now, would you? Much like that, price negotiations take a certain street smarts that only locals can possess, having dealt with similar properties day in and day out within those same four walls that constitute ‘your community.’
So, when the bidding wars start to rise or that one seller tries to play hardball, your local agent is three steps ahead, knowing what prices are reasonable and which offers will fly or flop. They have their finger on the pulse of now, rather than some out-of-date snapshot of the area.
And let’s not forget those unpublicized jewels that never come online. More often than not, local agents have first dibs on properties well before they hit the market listing. Just imagine being able to view a house that nobody else knows is for sale-the equivalent of being upfront at a concert with VIP passes, no pushing and shoving required.
And another might be that community connections can be goldmines. Chances are a local agent has friends in low places-those trusted contractors, inspectors, and other pros you’ll need along the way. Need a quick home repair? Your agent knows someone that can get it done yesterday!
Of course, locals generally know what to expect in terms of zoning laws and future development–such as a new strip mall going up the street, or how that beautiful view is going to be obstructed in a few years by some apartment complex.
Why Knowing Your Neighborhood is Important
The best real estate agents are selected according to their qualification and experience but most importantly according to the vast amount of information they possess regarding the area you are particularly interested in. Choosing a real estate agent is like taking a tour guide for some bizarre vacation-you’d want one who knows the secret spots and not just the landmarks and stops.
But then it’s about buying your very first home and having this picture of what that neighborhood will look like in your head: tree-lined streets, friendly neighbors that wave at you as you drive by. Unless the agent really knows this community, you can find yourself along a noisy highway instead of those peaceful trees.
It is the knowledge of the locals that makes all the difference in house hunting. The nook-and-cranny-know?ng agent is able to tell which are the streets that take in water during heavy rain or where you can find that quirky coffee shop everybody raves about that isn’t yet on Google Maps.
Take my friend Sarah, for instance. She had been browsing through the houses online and fell in love with one after viewing the photos. That is, until her inside-knowledge agent threw in that said house was next to a proposed commercial development site. A bullet dodged because of inside information.
But it’s not all about avoiding pitfalls, but rather also finding the gems others might not know exist. An established local would know whether there’s a rezoning on its way for schools that will drastically hike up property values or a whisper of new public transportation links that will make commutes easier-and homes more desirable.
For neighborhoods have personalities too, some being busy beehives full of action, while others are quiet retreats aptly suited for unwinding after work. It all depends on what vibe fits your lifestyle best, which can only be judged by a person deeply rooted in the area.
Think of the more ‘delicate’ changes in a neighborhood that only someone really set can tell. Perhaps there is an annual street festival where people come together or a small park locals go through to discuss life with others. These are types of ‘details you simply can’t get through any internet listing’ that mean the world when it comes to settling.
Of course, there are schools; so many times, single-biggest factors for families making decisions about where they want to live. That’s in a nutshell: a local agent is going to know which ones have great reputations and which might not. They even know little things, such as waiting lists, extracurriculars offered, and how parent participation goes.
And then, of course, there is safety-scared of being hurt, really, by anyone that might be entering into one’s life. Crime statistics tell part of the story but not all of it. A good agent will know which streets feel safe after dark because they’ve walked them themselves or have heard from trusted neighbors.
In addition, local agents have working relationships with other professionals in the community: contractors, inspectors, mortgage brokers-you name it. This network of contacts will be able to provide valuable support throughout your buying journey. Think of it this way: you would not hire a person who does not speak French as a translator on your trip to France because they have taken trips there; you would want someone fluent in the language and culture. Likewise, the choosing of an agent with a deep embedding into your locale of desire simply means you are receiving more than surface-level facts.
