How to hire the right Realtor

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When looking for a realtor in the Greater Baton Rouge area, it is important to find someone who is knowledgeable about the local market and has a proven track record of success. Here are a few tips to help you find the right realtor for you:

  1. Look for a realtor with experience: Choose a realtor who has been in the business for a while and has a proven track record of helping buyers and sellers successfully navigate the Greater Baton Rouge real estate market. Look for a realtor who has experience in the neighborhoods and price ranges that are relevant to your search.
  2. Check for credentials: Make sure the realtor you choose is licensed and has the necessary credentials to work in the Greater Baton Rouge area. They should be a member of the National Association of Realtors and the Baton Rouge Board of Realtors. These organizations have strict standards for membership and require that realtors adhere to a code of ethics.
  3. Look for good communication skills: A good realtor will be able to communicate effectively with you throughout the buying or selling process. They should be responsive to your needs and be able to provide clear and timely information. The buying or selling process can be stressful, so it is important to work with a realtor who can provide clear and timely communication, and understand your needs.
  4. Check online reviews: Look at online reviews from past clients to get an idea of what their experience was like working with the realtor. Pay attention to both positive and negative reviews, and see if the realtor was able to resolve any issues that came up. This will give you an idea of how the realtor operates, and if their past clients have had a positive experience working with them.
  5. Ask for referrals: Ask friends, family, or colleagues for recommendations of realtors they have worked with in the past. Personal referrals can be a great way to find a realtor you can trust. Ask if they would recommend the realtor to someone else and why.
  6. Know their Market Knowledge: A good realtor should have a deep understanding of the Greater Baton Rouge area, including the different neighborhoods, schools, and amenities. They should also be able to provide you with valuable insights into the current market trends, and give you an accurate estimate of your property’s value.
  7. Understand their negotiation skills: A good realtor should have strong negotiation skills to help you get the best deal possible. They should be able to represent your interests and help you navigate the buying or selling process.

By following these tips, you can find a good realtor in the Greater Baton Rouge area who has the experience, credentials, communication skills, market knowledge and positive reputation you need to help you buy or sell your home successfully. It is important to do your research and find someone who is knowledgeable about the local market and has a track record of success to ensure that your buying or selling experience is a positive one.

 

How to Save Thousands When Buying a New Home

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When buying a new home, it’s easy to focus on the costs and forget about the ways you can save money. But with a little bit of planning and preparation, you can potentially save thousands of dollars on your home purchase. Here are four things you can do to help you save money when buying a new home:

  1. Hire a team of professionals: Hiring a team of professionals, such as a real estate agent, lender, and home inspector, can cost money up front, but it can save you a lot of money in the long run. These professionals can help you avoid red flags, know what’s standard for the local market, and negotiate the best deal for you.
  2. Do the prep work: Meeting with your lender early on in the process and assessing whether or not you need to do a few things to raise your credit score or pay off debt to get a better rate can save you a lot of money. Being a meticulous planner when buying a home can pay off in the long run.
  3. Home inspection: Paying for a home inspection can save you thousands of dollars. Home inspections can uncover major defects that either the seller can repair (on their dime) or you can make negotiations in your best interest. Ask your agent for reputable home inspectors and show up to the appointment to ask questions.
  4. File your homestead exemption: Filing your homestead exemption can save you thousands come tax time. Some title companies do this for you and others require you to do it, but either way, after you purchase a home, always call to be sure the homestead exemption was filed before the clock strikes 12 at the New Year.

By following these tips, you can save money on your home purchase and avoid buyer’s remorse and financial distress as a homeowner. Remember to save this post for future reference and don’t hesitate to reach out to a professional for guidance.

How To Hire The Right Realtor For You

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3 questions to ask when interviewing a REALTOR to determine if they’re a good match:

1. Do they offer a complimentary consultation before starting the process? Agents who require you to meet prior to diving into the process are doing so for a good reason. They want to learn everything they need to know about you and your real estate goals while also educating you on the information that you are going to need to successfully buy or sell a home. This is a sign of professionalism and also an easy way to know whether or not they are a good fit before actually getting started.

2. Do they use social media to market their business? Why should you care if an agent uses social media? While Facebook isn’t an app that is designed to sell homes, it is a platform with over 2 billion active monthly users. Along with a variety of other social media platforms, it is crucial for agents to be utilizing social media when it comes to marketing your house or helping you find your house. Ask them how they use these tools to stay ahead of the curve and how that can in turn help you with your real estate needs.

3. How do they communicate? How often can you expect to hear from them and in what form? Will you mainly be talking to them or their admin? Are easy to get ahold of? Make sure they let you know how and when they will be communicating with you so you’re never left in the dark wondering why they haven’t returned your call or gotten back to you. Sounds pretty simple but the real estate industry doesn’t sleep so having someone that is going to stay on top of things is so important.

What are your thoughts? Did you know to be asking these questions before reading this post?

You Can Work With Any Realtor You Want But None Of Them Will Be Me

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REAL TALK: There are a LOT of Real Estate Agents you can choose from to to help you sell or buy a home or investment property.
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Everywhere you go, you’ll probably talk to someone who’s cousin, brother, spouse, uncle, or friend is in real estate.
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Here’s the truth though, every single one of them will provide a totally unique experience.
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Whether it’s in how they communicate, how they negotiate, how they navigate a transaction or how they educate you on the market. How they strategically market their listings, how they help make your home look it’s best through staging, professional photography, or maybe not… there are so many moving parts that make up the experience you’ll have throughout the buying or selling process that you don’t always think about.
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What I can tell you for sure is that none of them will give the exact experience I provide. Maybe that’s not for you and that’s totally okay. I strive to use this platform to show up as my authentic self so that you can get a peek behind the curtain and see what it’s like to work with me. So you can decide (well before you need a REALTOR) if I’m the right fit or not.
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I want you to learn how I communicate with my clients, what the buying process looks like with me, how I educate my clients about the market, what I offer in terms of my listing marketing plan… I want to share it all here so that you can make the best decision possible when it comes time to hire a REALTOR!
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Stay tuned because in 2021, I’ll be sharing a lot more details about “The CW Home Method” which will include a lot of behind the scenes content of how I run my business 🥂

Is Now A Good Time To Buy?

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The question I am getting on repeat: Is now a good time to buy?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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Let me break it down because my answer varies depending on where you’re at!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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For starters, interest rates are at historic lows which makes locking in a great rate on your mortgage super appealing – if you’re ready. It’s also important to be prepared before you dive into the process, especially with the lack of inventory we’re experiencing, so let’s chat! Here are a few questions I would consider before taking your next step!⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉 Do you know your current credit score and approximately what you’d be comfortable spending monthly (for mortgage & taxes)?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉 Do you have an emergency fund (this will be essential to make sure you’re prepared for home maintenance, repairs and other costs of homeownership)?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉 Do you currently renting? If the answer is yes, do you know if the terms of your lease are flexible (do they offer month to month or allow you to sublet if you find a home prior to your lease being up)?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉 Are you prepared for the expenses associated with the home buying process? (home inspection, appraisal, closing costs, down payment, earnest money)⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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👉 Have you talked to a lender to determine if you qualify for any down payment assistance programs?⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
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If you want to talk about these questions more in depth and what specific costs you should be prepared for, I’m only a zoom call away! Send me a message and let’s get your buyer consult on the books.

Housewarming Gift Ideas

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My go to housewarming gift ideas:

Step 1 – Head to Target

Step 2 – Find a decorative basket that can be used on a shelf or somewhere in their home

Step 3 – Always include champagne (don’t worry, I included more than the one can – this is just for photos)

Step 4 – Throw in a cute dish towel because you can never have too many and is something that is probably buried in a kitchen box on moving day!

Step 5 – Add some greenery – it always adds life to a space

Step 6 – Search the aisles (most likely Hearth & Hand Magnolia) for a cute decorative item – This “Welcome Home” sign is perfect!

Step 7 – Add in an “extra” – in this basket I chose the Homebody book by Joanna Gaines which makes a gorgeous coffee table book (with or without the cover)!

PS: If you need a friend who is going to be needing a housewarming gift, don’t forget to tell them I can help (and create an Instagrammable basket for them on closing day)!

Christen Ward

225-505-7583|Contact Christen