Posted by nithi.vivatrat on May 25, 2009
It is not uncommon these days for people planning on selling their homes to consider doing it as For Sale By Owner (FSBO). The lure of not having to pay a commission to a listing agent is powerful. Likewise, the proliferation of online real estate resources is making it increasingly easier for individuals to successfully market their properties without the assistance of an agent; this is especially true as a growing proportion of buyers find homes to purchase via the internet versus using an agent.
SmithAdams meld the savings and control of the FSBO route with the benefits of a full-service brokerage. Using our flat-fee, a la carte seller services, sellers can choose what services they need and are willing to pay for.
With SmithAdams, a DIY seller is still in control. We’re there when and if you need us, and there’s no commission for you to worry about. If you’re thinking about FSBO (and if you’re selling a home, you should), then please consider adding SmithAdams to your team.
Posted by nithi.vivatrat on May 21, 2009
These days, it is not uncommon for folks shopping for homes to do a lot of the tasks traditionally associated with a real estate agent: surveying neighborhoods, identifying listings, touring properties (via open houses), analyzing comparables, even contacting homeowners. The DIY home buyer has been greatly empowered by the proliferation of online real estate information resources such as Zillow, Trulia, and Hotpads that have eroded the information advantage of brokers. The most difficult part of the process for a non-professional, not surprisingly, starts after that: actually making an offer, negotiating the best deal possible, and working through the process to get to a successful close. This is where a real estate professional can add the most value. It is also, in my opinion, where the commission model makes the least sense.
Enter SmithAdams. Using our flat-fee, a la carte buyer services, the DIY home buyer can have the best of both worlds: no commissions but access to a real estate professional on an as-needed basis. Similarly to the way one would consult a lawyer, accountant, architect, or other professional on a fee-for-service basis, one can use a SmithAdams consultant – and pay only for the time used.
So to all you DIY buyers: SmithAdams is your trusted advisor, free from the influence of commissions and available at a reasonable cost. Don’t just take my word for it – read this case study of DIY buyer who used SmithAdams to get the job done.
Posted by nithi.vivatrat on May 13, 2009
Three little letters every real estate agent spouts. It has been called the “black box” of real estate, was the center of a major antitrust lawsuit from 2005-2008, and may be the key to selling (or buying) your home. What is MLS and why does it matter?
MLS stands for Multiple Listing Service. The singular use of “service” makes it sound like a monolithic system; in reality, there are actually many separate MLS systems across the country, one per region. For instance, the Mid-Atlantic MLS, run by Metropolitan Regional Information Systems, Inc. (MRIS) happens to be the largest real estate database in the country, listing properties in Maryland, Northern Virginia, Washington DC, West Virginia, and Pennsylvania.
An MLS system is a database where licensed real estate professionals list properties they represent for sellers with all the relevant details, such as room dimensions, contact information, tax records, photographs, maps, and of course asking prices. Likewise, MLS is the go-to source for brokers/agents representing buyers to identify prospective properties to show to their clients. WAIT! There is more to read… read on »
