Helen Obtains Senior Real Estate Specialist Designation
Helen Sztarkman, a member of the Schwebel & Associates team with Prudential Carolinas Realty has been awarded the Seniors Real Estate Specialist (SRES®) designation by the Seniors Real Estate Specialist Council of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® (NAR).
Helen Sztarkman joins more than 16,000 real estate professionals in North America who have earned the SRES® designation. All were required to successfully complete a comprehensive course in understanding the needs, considerations, and goals of real estate buyers and sellers aged 55 and older. The SRES Council, founded in 2007, is the world’s largest association of real estate professionals focusing specifically on representing senior clients in real estate transactions. There are more than 16,000 active members of the organization world-wide. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®, “The Voice for Real Estate,” is America’s largest trade association, representing more than 1.3 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries.
Real Estate Agents-What distinguishes the Great Ones?
The writer is a long time Realtor with Prudential Carolinas Realty in Charlotte, North Carolina. As a matter of fact I’ve been with them for 16 years, represented thousands of clients, and continue to be the number one agent in the Ballantyne Area office, the top 1% in the nation and the number two Prudential agent in all of the Charlotte market! So does that make me a great agent? What defines a great agent? Well you can ask my clients, visit my website or read the book "Good to Great" and you just might learn what makes a company just that: great. I have a business model that understands what our clients need and deserve.
Have you ever relocated from one city to another and purchased a home? In most cases you don’t know a soul, can’t find the best medical folks to help you or your family or know where the best schools are. I am the first Real Estate contact you make after your company relocation department assigns you. Sometimes the chemistry isn’t the best because your agent doesn’t always listen. The great agents (and there are many) listen more than they talk, make on target recommendations, but the most important element of a great Realtor is to tell their clients what not to buy rather than what to buy.
Do you want to know what makes a Great Agent? Call me or comment here and I’d be delighted to discuss it further.
Irv
Top Charlotte Agent . . . for a reason!
Recently I encountered a client that was more concerned with statistics than selecting the right Real Estate agent to represent he and his family in his relocation out of Charlotte. What a shame that we have come down to the only thing that matters is who will flinch first and lower their fee (salary) for the next 3-6 months. Are there any professionals out there that would cut their salary buy 1/3 for the next 6 months? Selecting the best agent is far more important than who will cut their fee’s/salary.
We’ve been the number 1 agent in this office and number 2 in the Charlotte market for Prudential for many years. How do we do it year in and out? We realize that what it takes. I just received a call from a client that has their estate home listed with me. She’s out of town and has left some papers out in the open. I’m going there now to take care of that for her. Being The Top Charlotte Agent didn’t come easy and staying number 1 is even harder. Being average has never and will never be good enough.
Tell me what you think you would expect from your top agent. I’d like to hear it from you.
Charlotte Relocation Information - Ready to Go!
It’s the time of year when we get our new "Living Here" magazines from the The Charlotte Observer. This comprehensive guide to Charlotte and the surrounding areas forms the centerpiece of our relocation packages that we send to our out-of-town clients. Here’s a picture of Irv hard at work trying to figure out where to store a year’s worth of magazines (if we can keep him busy he stays out of trouble!) If you’d like to learn more about Charlotte let us know and we’ll send you a package.
The Home Buying Process Made Easy!
Would you ever consider defending yourself in court? How about being your own doctor? I’m sure at one time or another we say, "I can sell my home," or, "I can find my home on my own. I don’t need the help of a Realtor." As a successful full time Realtor I can assure you that I earn my fees, just like any other professional. My job is to be an advocate for you as my client! In most cases I’ll tell you what not to do rather than what to do.
Being a good listener! I’m here to make sure you’re heard. I’m here to make sure that there isn’t any reason why you shouldn’t buy the home that you’re in love with.
Classic client doesn’t listen to his agent Story!
I was working with a client to find them a home. This home was just beautiful in most ways. My client was caught up in the setting as the home backed up to a pond and overlooked the 9th green. Upon checking the topo maps I noticed that the home in question sat directly over the FEMA flood line. Not just located within the flood plain but directly on the flood line. I told them to not purchase the home because of the flood line, sitting lower than the pond and lower than the golf course. In fact I told them 3 times. I even wrote them a letter objecting to them buying the home as their agent. So what did they do? They bought it any way and the first inch of rain the rear yard was completely under water!
Lesson to be learned? Always listen to your Realtor.
In need of a great Realtor? Contact our office - we’d be happy to speak with you about Charlotte Real Estate.
Relocating to Charlotte? What Does It Take?
It hasn’t changed much! Having moved my family here 25 years ago, I know. First of all there wasn’t an internet as we know it today. The process was loaded with unknowns but the concerns were still the same. "Where are the best schools" was the most often asked questions and "will I fit" in came second. Let me tell you nothing has changed in 25 years. The questions are still the same, the concerns are still there. The best way to take care of those issues are to work with a professional Realtor®. The internet has made the process of finding a home and schools much easier.
Are you looking to relocate? Do you need the guidance of a professional?
Sending me your questions and we’ll respond.
Enjoying learning about the greater Charlotte area!
Irv
Does Your Realtor Have Your Best Interests In Mind?
With the recent Charlotte Observer articles regarding irregularities with builders and their lenders being accused of not keeping the buyers best interest in mind, one may ask: Where does the role of a Buyer’s Agent come in to this equation? Would Realtor® representation have prevented some of those foreclosures? Possibly.
We feel that our number one role especially when dealing with first time homebuyers is to act as their advocate and protector. What Irv and I often tell our clients is that, “We will more likely tell you what NOT to do, rather than what TO do.” We can bring our experience to bear and keep an eye out for things that are potentially not in the best interest of our client. These can include suspicious lender practices, deals that are “too good to be true”, or even a seller or their agent trying to cut corners at the expense of our client. There are times when our buyers choose not to heed our advice, and ultimately, it is their decision, but we at least want to point out the potential downside of any decision.
When I first got into the practice of real estate, I was told that if you take care of the client’s best interests, your business will grow. In the five years since I’ve joined Schwebel & Associates, this has proven to be absolutely 100% true. By following this golden rule, our business has grown by leaps and bounds without having to sacrifice our integrity, or compromise our clients well being in any way.
It is not only important to be represented by a buyer’s agent, it is equally important to be sure that that agent has your best interests in mind. Whether you choose to work with our group or another, make sure that you are represented by someone who’s in your corner.
Home Ownership: A Right or A Privilege?
Should everyone own a home no matter what their credit history is like? Does past performance dictate future performance? Every time I think I’ve heard or seen it all some new twist happens that makes me wonder what is going on. Do lenders and my colleagues (yes I said colleagues) represent their clients for the right reason or for the "what’s in it for them"? Do they really think about the client and what’s best for them? I don’t think so. If we really cared for the client, lenders and some Realtors wouldn’t push to get them in way above their head only to have the buyer feel that they are drowning in debt! Foreclosures will reach an all time high because lenders allow 125% refinance mortgages on homes that aren’t worth what the buyer paid for initially.
I would rather have my clients wait a while until they save some money, have something vested in their home so they would be less likely to walk away when the times get tough. To this Realtor home ownership is a privilege and one that is earned by saving your money, paying your bills on time and being prepared for what comes with owning a home which is responsibility. We make it too easy to buy a home, way too easy! So I ask you - is home ownership a right or privilege? You be the judge. Let’s hear it out there. How about some voices other than mine…
Picking The Right Builder or “Cheaper isn’t always better”
Building a home is not painful if you plan, select and research! Do you homework. Would you marry someone if they weren’t the right mate? If the two of you aren’t compatible would you get married? Well the same goes for selecting a builder.
Your first line of defense is a qualified Realtor®. A qualified Realtor® who knows this aspect of the industry is worth their weight in gold. Does a builder’s reputation go a long way? You bet it does! Just ask me who the better builders are and my experiences with them.
Have I had horror stories? Rarely do I have them and that’s because my clients listen to my recommendations. Yes they do listen to me. When they don’t they listen problems occur. Call me some time if you want to hear about them.
Is cheaper always better? In the housing industry, cheaper isn’t always better. Remember price is what you pay and value is what you get! I’ve said it before and will continue to say it. There are reason’ why a builder has a fine well respected following. Contact our office today - let’s talk about about the better builders!
Laughing Instead of Grumbling
Making our clients happy is our goal here with Schwebel & Associates. We can talk all day long about how good we think our service is, but the best recommendations come directly from satisfied clients. Case in point - recent buyers who purchased an older home in Charlotte that seemed to have one obstacle after another throughout the entire process. The entire transaction was a classic example of why you should use a licensed REALTOR. But in the end, they were completely happy with their home and they have nothing but kind words for us:
"We want you to know how highly we think of you, Deb and, especially Keith. Keith is a college friend and fraternity brother of Chris’ and working with friends does not always go as well as our experience did with Keith. He handled all the headaches that went with our home purchase (many more than the typical fare), and he handled them in a way that left us laughing instead of grumbling.
We cannot thank him or you and Deb enough for all you did to help us find such a happy home. We felt we were in the best possible hands and have not hesitated to let everyone know that you guys never stop working for your clients. It’s true! Two weeks ago I called Keith with a plumbing issue and he connected me with a highly professional, competent plumber.
Thank you really doesn’t begin to express our gratitude. I can tell you this, as long as we have breath in our bodies, we will be using Keith for all our future real estate transactions.
We wish you all a wonderful Holiday and a blessed New Year."
Thank YOU, Amy & Chris. That is why we do what we do.
We’d love to help you with your next Charlotte real estate transaction!
