How can I help?

If you think of a real estate agent as useful strictly for buying and selling, you’re not alone in that idea. However, there are so many different aspects in which a real estate professional will be able to give solid insight. There is also a lot of misconception as to how an agency relationship is established, simply talking to an agent does not mean that you have to enter into a service with them. Here are a few important aspects to know about:

• Agents need to be licensed, insured and follow strict procedural and conduct rules set by statute, Nebraska Real Estate Commission, and federal laws.

• Agents must operate under the guidance of a broker.

• Talking to an agent does not mean you have any obligation to establish an agency relationship with them. The agent is required to disclose agency services and you are able to enter into what services you choose, at your discretion. Sometimes a conversation is going to be helpful enough, and sometimes an agency relationship will be most beneficial.

Now let’s consider some ways an agent may be helpful to you:

When considering renovations:

Want a gold plated toilet? Or maybe you want to extend your interior entry out into the covered porch? Which is going to give you a better return of investment? Is smart tech a big selling feature? Do luxury materials pay out in the long run?

Home renovations provide one of the few ways you can increase your own quality of living space while also increasing your return on investment. If you want to capitalize on that, talk to an agent who knows the market. According to RenovationFinance, on average, home renovations provide a 70% return on investment. Before you spend $$$ on those upgrades, talking to an agent will help you decide what will give you the best return while still making your home fit your needs. There are a lot of surprising ways to save money while also increasing ROI.

When you need help finding a lender:

What comes first the lender or the agent? (Get it? 🐔 or🥚)

Having a good lender is a critical step in securing financing. Having a great agent is critical in providing personal experiences of lenders. Real Estate Agents are strictly tied to laws which prohibit them from referrals based solely on referral fees, in fact, if you want to get technical, The Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA) prohibits agents from receiving “a thing of value” in exchange for referrals of clients to lenders. This helps establish integrity in referring clients to the right lender based on the clients needs. Lenders are not tied to such rules and may refer you to whichever agent best meets the lenders needs, not yours.

Todays market is crazy. Offering market value may no longer be enough to get you the house you want. Flexibility in financing and loan type may help you in the negotiating process. Real estate agents have recommendations based on your needs.

If you have home dreams in the future:

Even if you aren’t interested in buying in the next years, or several years, talking to an agent can give you a great way to start establishing financial goals and have reasonable expectations. Preparing yourself and your budget will make the home buying process much smoother, and probably much less stressful!

When you are considering refinancing:

Again, this is a “the people you know” component. If you’re considering refinancing, you may go directly to the bank. However, talking to an agent can give you some good information about mortgage bankers v. mortgage brokers and which lenders may offer the best terms for you.

When managing a house and family gets chaotic:

Okay, so this isn’t necessarily every real estate agents skill, but it is a “me skill.” Balancing home care can get exhaustive, especially if it’s not something you particularly enjoy. You need to wash all the clothes, make doctors appointments, clean out the garage, sweep the kitchen, order groceries, wash sheets…. How can you handle all these tasks without being overwhelmed? One of the many things I learned over the past five years at home is how to manage a home through a structure. I made the decision to be the “project manager” of our home. I thrive on consistency and clear expectations and acting in this role gave me the headspace to not become overwhelmed with all of my home responsibilities and enjoy my kids. I have daily tasks and long term goal check-ins. I would love to share what works for me and help find what works for you!