Ever go on Zillow or Trulia and think, “Wow. I don’t need a realtor, I got this!” Well, friends, DYP is here to correct that thinking because purchasing a home goes well beyond just viewing pretty pictures of your dream house and filling out a “contact us” form. We’d like to think of a realtor as a coach of sorts, guiding you to residential victory, and given the way house buying in Detroit has turned into somewhat of a sport, you’re going to need a good one if you plan on winning. As part of our home buying series, Home School 101, we caught up with local realtor, Ashley Mann, of Hall & Hunter, which is the same agency that’s listing Ndamukong Suh’s former Birmingham abode, to give us 5 reasons why you absolutely cannot go it alone.
1. They know what they’re doing.
I would like first time home buyers to know that my role is to not only facilitate every last detail of their purchase but also to educate them. There are so many different facets to purchasing a home and there is a lot of due diligence to be done. If you do not have an educated agent on your side you may end up like one of those people from the HGTV flipping shows, who don’t have all of the proper inspections done and end up $10,000 over their budget for a new sewer line because they didn’t spend $150 on a sewer scope. With experience and training I am able to identify various “tells” that may be evidence of a problem that I can help you find the best solution to BEFORE it becomes a catastrophe.
2. They may be able to save you money.
I keep myself up-to-date on different loan programs and options for buyers. For example: Did you know that there are lending programs that require a down payment for as little as 3.5% of the purchase price? Did you know that you can ask the seller to pay up to 6% towards your closing costs? Did you know that mortgage interest is tax deductible? These things can make the difference between being able vs. not being able to purchase a home.
3. They have the resources to put you ahead of the competition.
I like to sit down with my buyers and have a comfortable, laid back conversation about their lifestyle. I want to learn about you and what your needs are so that you aren’t just finding a place to stay at, you’re finding a home that matches your lifestyle. They say home is where the heart is and I want to make sure that your home holds a special place in your heart. I strive to ensure my customers are completely comfortable, whether that means exploring multiple cities or setting up meetings with school districts or connecting someone with one of my many contractor resources. Being a part of a well-known and reputable real estate office like Hall and Hunter Realtors exposes me to a network of seasoned and ethical agents. The Spring/Summer real estate market is a competitive one and being in the right office may give you that edge on finding out about upcoming listings which can make ALL THE DIFFERENCE for your buyers.
4. Your realtor has done this before.
Upon graduating from Western Michigan University and entering Real Estate I earned a job with two of the leaders in the Michigan Real Estate business. I was exposed to houses and industry leaders that I otherwise would not have been. Being trained by the best of the best lead me to earning, what I like to call, my Masters of Real Estate. Facilitating and being a very hands on participant in over 300 Real Estate transactions has given me more exposure to a multitude of different scenarios that as a whole allow me to give my customers the very best possible service and for them to be placed in the very best possible home for them.
5. Your realtor wants you to win just as much as you do.
Buying a home for most people is the biggest purchase they will make in their lifetime. It is the place that you make your memories at, the place that after a long hard day you look forward to escaping to. It is my passion to make my customers happy. I will go above and beyond in every single way that I can, not to further my career or to make another sale but because I want every person that I sell a home to to get home after work, walk through their front door and smile. I want to put out all fires before someone gets burned, and I can. When purchasing a home make sure you do ALL of your homework, no cheating in this class ;)