Category: Sellers

Happy Clients Realty Group - Ali Palacios > Sellers

Am I the best agent for you?

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

I’ll be beyond honored to help you buy or sell a home!

As long as I’m the best agent for you…which I probably am, since I have the guts to even say that.

Most agents get so excited when someone even breathes the words buy or sell (or even just breathes), that they cram people in their car to go see homes, or push you to list your house on the spot.

It’s like going in for a kiss when you’re asking someone out on a date…let alone on the first date!

I prefer setting a date…just to chat and get to know each other.

Hopefully we are as good of a match as I feel like we’ll be!

So, for now, let’s just set up a good time to chat and get a feel for what you want and need in an agent. This will help me get a feel for who I’m agreeing to go steady with…before we put a ring on the relationship.

I’m here when you are ready

 

Breath, read, then sign…

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

E-signatures have made it very simple for people to sign documents on the go. It’s made it too easy. At times the documents send deserve to be read.

I’m always amazed at how many people just sign these things without truly reading through it. After all, it is a contract to purchase your largest assets.

So please, take your time. I like seeing that, because it means I’m dealing with someone who’s careful and will take the time to make solid decisions as we move forward.

Kind of a side note…

So many agents push people to sign these things on the spot, and rush right into things. I think it’s probably because they’re afraid if they don’t walk away from the appointment with signatures, they won’t get the business.

To me, if you deserve to be hired, you don’t have to push.

Heck, I feel like if you do push, you don’t deserve to be getting the business. Agents should be pushy for clients and their best interests…not pushy with them.

Anyhow, take the time you need. Ask me any questions you have. I’m even glad to go over it line by line with you. I’m here when you are ready to move forward.

Want in on that list?

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

You wanna know one of my secrets to getting my clients the best deal when they buy a house?

Well, it’s not really a secret, everyone knows you need to do what I’m about to tell you.

However, a lot of buyers (and even some sloppy agents) think it’s fine to put it off…

It’s getting pre-approved for a mortgage. The secret in my sauce is that I make sure my buyers do it as early on in the process as possible!

I doesn’t matter if someone got the greatest deal on a house…too many buyers get hosed on their mortgage because they didn’t get pre-approved until they found the house they wanted.

Then they gotta go from pre-approval to the loan process faster than a Ferrari, and that’s where, why, and when they lose money. Those rates and fees are along for the ride for a lot of years later. And it adds up to tons of money.

But since my clients get pre-approved so early on, they get a chance to really look at what the lenders’ programs, fees, and rates are, and make the best choice.

Here’s another thing I’ll let you in on…

I’ve got a private list of lenders I know and trust. Want in on that list? Or do you have a list of ones you know and trust already?

 

To sign or not to sign…

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Why to real agents ask you to sign a buyer representation agreement?

In Texas all real estate agents represent the seller unless we have a buyer’s representation agreement with the buyer. What does that mean? It means that legally we are obligated to look out for the seller’s best interest unless we are contractually linked to the buyer.

But here’s the deal. (And the “deal” is as lopsided as a table with a short leg…)

You get to sign this agreement and cancel at any time if you aren’t happy with me.

Think about that—I literally have to make sure you’re happy throughout this entire process, or you can just cancel this contract. No strings attached. No cost to you.

Don’t get me wrong…I do this willingly.

I do it because it keeps me on my toes and ensures that I’m always doing the best job possible for my clients.

Just do me a favor…

If at any point you aren’t happy, give me a heads up, and a chance to make things right. I’m here when you are ready 🙂

 

In defense of a real estate agent

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Real estates agents get a very bad rap. We are right there with car salesmen.

I feel the rejection as soon as I greet an open house guest. I’m just trying to tell you more about the house! I promise that it’s not a sale pitch…You can’t force someone to love the home. It seems like a few bad apples in a group will give the entire group a bad reputation.

No one likes a pushy salesmen. I personally don’t like it. I feel a sales pitch coming my way and I RUN. I understand. In defense of my peeps, most real estate agents love what they do and truly have your best interest in mind.

I get asked a lot why real estate? This question is usually followed by pursed lips. ugh.

I absolutely love what I do. Let me tell you why:

  1. I feel like I make a difference in someones life. I’m there when someone purchases their first home; I’m there when the same family needs more space for their growing family; I’m there when the kids have left and they have an empty nest.
  2. Real estate is so much more than buying and selling a home. Typically when someone needs to buy or sell, there is an issue. Every issue is unique and every solution is unique. I’m present to console a surviving spouse or a divorcee during a trying time. I have helped many out of a financial burden when the mortgage payment is overwhelming. Not every situation is happy but I’m still there for my clients.
  3. I love working with buyers that are not qualified for a loan. With a few changes most people can qualify for a loan within a few months. Guiding someone through credit repair, down payment assistance programs and overall mortgage education can make their dream for home ownership a reality.
  4. I love to educate. Buying and selling a home is complicated. I want my clients to understand the process and not feel lost. I love collaborating with my clients to obtain their ultimate goal.
  5. I love building new friendships. I can honestly say that if it was up to me, I’d be BFFs with all my clients. I love to stay in touch and see how our lives unfold. The beauty of this profession is that I can work with those I want to work with. I refuse to work with as&$%les.
  6. We all strive for that work/life balance. This profession gives me flexibly. Because I love what I do, I find myself working all the time. If it doesn’t feel like work, you tend to over do it. That said, when I need to I can turn it off and enjoy life.

This career is not for all. We invest many many many hours with our clients. Don’t believe what you see on TV. Shocker! Reality TV is not reality.

A good agent is compassionate and patient.

So next time an agent approaches you, don’t run in the other direction. Give them a chance and get to know the agent, more than likely they will become your new BFF. 🙂

 

Don’t spend $1.00 on this before you list your home…

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Don’t do any home improvements. Don’t renovate. Don’t spend one cent on improving your home before you list your house for sale…

…at least not until you speak with me.

Too often, homeowners feel compelled to spruce up their home before putting it on the market. At face value, that makes sense. You want it to show as nicely as possible. And, it seems to make sense that if you improve the home, it will also improve the value.

However, many of the things homeowners spend money on do not raise the value as much as the cost of the project they completed.

The way I see it, my job is to make sure my clients net as much money as possible on the sale of their home.

And while that certainly entails getting a buyer to pay as much as we can for it, my job begins well before that…

Netting as much as possible is as much about not losing or wasting money, as it is getting as much money for your house as possible.

For instance, if someone spends even $1,000 on a renovation or improvement, and it doesn’t increase the value more than $1,000…it was probably a waste of time and money. Which means they didn’t net as much as possible.

There are exceptions, of course. If something needs fixing, and it will get in the way of the home selling at all…well, then it will make sense to spend the money even if it doesn’t actually raise the value.

There’s no one answer. Every home and situation is different. It takes analysis and thought before I can say whether it’s worth doing something or not.

So I recommend, and offer, to come by and assess whatever project you may be considering, before you just go ahead and do it. (As always…no obligation, and completely free.) It’s my pleasure. And, the way I see it, it’s my duty.

Give me a call and we can schedule a time for me to swing by and take a look.

Getting and keeping the highest price for your home

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

Pricing your home appropriately is super importance.

If you ask, almost every real estate agent will say that the most important thing in getting a home sold is “price”. And, that is true…

But, price alone doesn’t get a house sold for top dollar. And, even if you get the best offer possible, that doesn’t mean the deal won’t fall apart before you ever get to the closing table.

Many deals fall apart before closing. Especially if you have gotten the absolute highest price for your house. This is due to “buyer’s remorse”.

Buyers often regret buying almost anything, but especially something as expensive as a house. And, even more so if they feel they’re paying top dollar for the house. So, buyers often look for and find ways to back out of deals.

It takes experience, skill, and an understanding of how buyers think, act, and react to keep a deal together.

It also helps if your agent understands how the agent representing the buyer thinks, acts, and reacts.

Oh, and how the appraiser will think, and being ready and able to defend and justify the value the house is selling for.

That’s just to name a few of the moving parts that can squash a deal and put you back on the market…which should be avoided if at all possible. (It’s always hard to explain away why your deal fell apart. Buyers and agents notice when this happens, and it often leads to getting less for your house than you did in the first place.)

That’s why it is so important to not only get the highest amount possible for your house, but to also keep the deal together.

Much like pricing a home, doing all of this is as much an art, as it is a science.

It’s so important not to hire any old real estate agent. Hire one who knows the ins and outs of how all of the people involved in the sale tend to think and act.

Negotiating isn’t just one moment. It isn’t just about getting the buyer to pay the highest price possible. It’s about keeping the buyer in check throughout the process, as well as everyone else who has a say in whether the deal moves forward or not.

It’s pretty easy to get a real estate license. And, unfortunately that tends to make the public see all real estate agents as a dime a dozen. But it takes more than just having your license to get your clients the highest possible price AND keep it together all the way to the closing table.

When it comes time to list your home, I assure you, I am not a “dime a dozen” real estate agent. And, I am worth every penny…

Do you want to sell your home for top dollar?

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

That seems like a ridiculous question, doesn’t it? Who wouldn’t say yes?

But yet, so many people make one huge mistake that stops them from getting top dollar for their home.

What’s weird is that the reason they make the mistake in the first place, is because they think doing so will get them top dollar for their home. But it doesn’t. In fact, it typically causes them to get less than they should…

That mistake is overpricing their home.

The hazards of overpricing are too numerous, and detailed to get into in this email. (But if you’re interested, just let me know and I’m glad to chat with you at length about them.)

Sadly, it happens more often than not.

How and why???

Here are 3 main reasons:

  • Because it’s natural for a homeowner to believe their home is worth more than an agent suggests.
  • Because many agents aren’t very good at explaining the data to clients, or illustrating how much damage overpricing can do.
  • Because many agents will agree to list someone’s home for too much, simply in order to avoid a tough conversation…or to get the business, and convince the owner to reduce the price over time.

So, it leads to many people selling for less than they should, and taking a longer time to get it sold.

Now, this isn’t to suggest that you should price your home too low, or “give your house away”. You need to price it perfectly. And that can be a fine line.

Pricing is as much an art, as it is a science. And, I take great pride in making sure I help my clients find the perfect pricing and positioning within the market in order for them to achieve the highest market value.

As experts in your neighborhood, my team and I have the knowledge and experience to choose the best list price for your property. Our goal is to maximize your proceeds while minimizing the time it takes to sell your property.

Thinking about selling?

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

So you are thinking about selling a home? The truth is that most home owner move every 5-8 years.

Here are the top reasons why people sell and move:

  1. Home is too small. Home owners often outgrow their first home. Increased family size is the main reason home owners say they need a larger home.
  2. Upgrade. People often seek new and energy efficient homes. Or they simply want what they don’t have and long for a bigger, more expensive and grander, upscale home.
  3. Fix. Owners might believe they made a mistake in purchasing their present home. Maybe they thought they could get by without a back yard but now want a garden or a pool. At times the small things that bothered you from the beginning, become a bigger issue later.
  4. Job transfer. Relocation makes it necessary for many to pull up roots and move. If the commuting distance exceeds an hour, most people would prefer not to spend two hours in traffic every day.
  5. Bring on the new. Sometimes you just need a change
  6. Personal Relationships. Marriage can mean one of the parties will need to sell, especially if both owned homes prior to the commitment. On the other hand, break-ups/divorce cause owners to sell as well. Death in the family will also cause financial issues that might cause the family to sell.
  7.  Neighborhood changes. The neighborhood might have changed for the worse, economically, socially or physically.
  8. Neighbors. Unfortunately you won’t always click with people and sometimes these are your neighbors.
  9. Health problems. Physical ailments in aging might make it difficult to climb stairs in a two-story, so a one-story home may be more practical. At times home owner will need to transition to an assistance living facility.
  10. Climate. Sometimes seller simply seek warmer or cooler temperatures.
  11. Empty nest. The kids have grown up and moved out. The owners want a smaller home. The older you get, the harder it is to keep a big house clean.
  12. Deferred maintenance. Some people don’t want to put on a new roof, replace the siding or buy a new furnace, so it’s easier to buy a newer home.
  13. Closer or further from family. Home owner at times would like to spent more or less time with family members.
  14. Schools. Changed in school can cause home owner to move. Maybe they’d like to be zone to a particular school or they no longer feel safe in their current school zoning?
  15. Retirement. Active-adult communities are attracting many buyers over the age of 55. These planned communities have golf courses, club houses, workout facilities, week-end social gatherings, back-yard barbecue parties and more, all designed for people over 55.
  16. Home improvement perfection. A small segment enjoys fixing up and selling, spending time, money and effort on remodeling, and once the work is completed, these people become restless because there is nothing left to do.
  17. Cash in equity. Some home owners can’t stand the fact their home is worth all that money because that money is not in their pocket.
  18. Lifestyle change. Others are simply tired of owning a home and would prefer to travel, pursue a hobby or be less responsible. The goal is to sell the home and travel the world.
  19. Cost of running a house. Changes in job or position can cause financial strain and the home is no longer affordable.
  20. Moving to study. Academic goal will sometime force a seller to sell sooner than expected. Proximity to the school might be a consideration.

What ever the reason, we are here to help when you are ready.

 

We are hiring smiling faces

Posted on by Ali Palacios - Broker

 

Are you looking for change? Are you a new agent that would like to be part of a group that supports and helps each other prosper?

We are a group of agents that strive to share knowledge and help each other grow. Education is key.

We are seeking like minded agents that would like to be part of our team.

For more information contact Ali Palacios, Broker/Owner at ali@happyclientsrealtygroup.com, 832-418-0670.

Our  VISION

At Happy Clients Realty Group our goal is to serve each client with utmost professionalism, integrity, and outstanding customer service. Our fiduciary relationship with our clients is the highest priority. We work diligently to help them achieve their dreams. We educate and simplify the many challenges of buying and/or selling a home. We provide consistent communication and prompt follow-thru from the beginning of the transaction to the end, and beyond. We utilize our outstanding negotiating skills and vast knowledge of the Houston metro area to the benefit of our clients. We are a team of talented professionals devoted to clients.