According to the National Association of Realtors, 47% of people selling for the first time and 35% of people who had done it before and were doing it again used a Realtor they knew or one who was referred by a friend or neighbor.  Thirty-one percent of repeat sellers used a Realtor they had used before.  If you don’t have a referral, what else is there?

There are a large variety of other ways to find a Realtor.  Open Houses, searching on the internet, real estate newsletters, promotional advertising like bus benches or one of those calendars people stick on the ‘fridge, and even just walking into an office and asking who is available. . .  are all options people use.  

I have a slight advantage of being in the business and I already know a few people; however, no matter which avenue I would take (being in the business or not) I would still want the same things from my Realtor.  The first and foremost characteristic would be that the agent is honest and trustworthy and has a good reputation.  Another would be the agent’s level of experience and ability to negotiate.  If those criteria are not well met there is no reason to go further.

How do you find out those things?  One of the easiest ways is to interview the Realtor you are looking at and, this is important, ask questions to figure out how committed that person is with their clients.  

Some Realtors work part-time.  I want a real estate agent who has this occupation as a full-time career. I want someone who has time for me and my needs.  I would ask for references and testimonials from past clients.  A good agent has a track record of satisfied clients.  I would want someone who listens well and communicates the way I like to get my information.  If it is important, I want a phone call.  If it is general information an email to text will do for me. Your needs may be different but regardless, the agent needs to do what is best for you.

During the interview, I would ask the agent to cut their commission. I have no problem paying for good service.  As a matter of fact, I want to.  If I ask, “What is your commission?  Will you cut your commission?” and the agent says, “Here is the cost.  And I am sure we can. . . “ I would not want them on my team.  

I want a good negotiator.  I am going to need one as we get ready to go under contract.  If the person across from me cannot justify their commission, how strongly can they negotiate my listing price?  

What kind of marketing will the agent do?  A listing on the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) is a given.  What else?  About 90% of home buyers start off online. Professional photos make your best first impression.  Does the agent use an architectural photographer?  Ninety-eight percent of buyers report that the pictures were the most useful part the listing.  Someone with a cell phone is not going to cut it.  

There are other ways to get the information on my home out there.  There are video channels, virtual tours, interactive 360 floor plans, direct mail, TV, radio, internet sites, newspaper and real estate magazines available.  What are the Realtor’s plans for me and why those?  

I want a Realtor who can look at my house and notice what needs spruced up or changed to be more contemporary.  A lot of times it is simple things.  I want someone who knows how to stage the home so it has the best visual appeal – or at least where I can find a good stager.

The same goes for contractors and handyman services I might need.  A good Realtor knows honest and fair service people who can help.

And while my Realtor may never bring me the buyer for my house, I want them committed to the idea of selling my home. If another one of their clients wants my house, I want to know about it.  I would also expect the agent to refer the buyer to another qualified agent because, as I said before, I want a negotiator. 

 As you can see, there is a lot to consider in choosing a real estate agent.  I haven’t covered all of it but if I was looking, these would be the points I consider the most important. 

Experience has taught me that the nicest thing about real estate is that no two properties are exactly the same.  And my job is to make your home shine so it gets the most attention and the best offers.

The worst thing about real estate is that no two properties are exactly the same and I want the buyers who don’t get your home to feel disappointed.  

So what questions do you have?  If I was looking for a Realtor these are the things I’d look for and want.  If these characteristics are what you want your answer is simple. . . call me.  Let’s get together so I can show you the best opportunities for selling your home and how we can work together to make your plans into a pleasant reality.

I am Chiuho Lin with Keller Williams Palo Alto. (650) 739-9796, [email protected]

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What’s this Blog for?

Before I started my career as a real estate agent, I found it quite difficult to find informative articles or websites that provided accurate information catered towards selling and buying houses in the San Francisco Bay Area. Yes, there are some out there, but those are not catered specifically towards the Bay Area. Sometimes, even tips and facts regarded as common knowledge aren’t applicable and outdated from a Bay Area perspective. My original intention of starting this blog, was to help shed some light on the seemingly inscrutable real estate market. As a real estate agent who has been practicing for several years, I wanted to provide accurate and relevant information to those who might be interested in buying or selling a home.

If you’re curious and want to learn more about buying and selling in the San Francisco Bay Area, then this website might be a good starting point to gain some insight.

Who Am I?

My name is Chiuho Lin. I first found my calling for real estate in 2016, while I was looking for a new home in the San Francisco Bay Area. I found myself inexplicably drawn to this profession and after meeting over one hundred real estate professionals, I made the decision to become a real estate agent myself. To me, being a real estate agent is rewarding not only because I love meeting new people, but also because I have the privilege of helping them start their new chapter and make their vision a reality.

What Is My Promise?

If you are interested in selling, then the process would start from an initial consultation, to price assessments, market analysis, repair advice, time-to-market recommendations, staging assessment, style selection, housing listings, posters, social media promotion, marketing media selection, follow-up on house delivery. I will be active and present in the entire process to make sure everything goes smoothly.

If you are interested in buying a house, again as an agent I can promise you that I will be present in all stages of the buying process. This includes everything from consultations to address all your concerns, investigating real estate to find a home that suits all your needs, visiting the houses, providing insights on the neighborhood, assessing the current conditions of the homes that may require additional attention, read various reports filled with technical jargon, to helping you understand contracts. I ensure quality care and commitment in the entire process from start to finish.

As a professional, I take pride in my work ethic and ensure the utmost care and consideration while working with all my clients. I’d like to consider myself a trusted advisor to ensure a phenomenal experience throughout your buying/selling process. With that being said, if you ever need a professional consultation or assistance with anything – for example, gardening/landscaping, property manager property lawyer, paint master, decorator, roof repair master, loan broker, registration accountant – feel free to reach out. I am genuinely passionate about what I do and hope that I can help share my knowledge with you all.

Chiuho Lin DRE#02007082
Keller Williams Thrive DRE#02177478