Tips to follow when Choosing the Right Realtor® for You

Most people will agree that a home purchase or sale is one of the biggest and most important transactions a person will experience in their lives. Whether you are a First Time Home Buyer or a Home Seller getting ready to jump into the world of real estate, you should read these Tips to follow when Choosing the Right Realtor® for You:

1. Just as every home is different, every person has ideas of what they consider to be important aspects about the professional they chose. First, sit down and make up your own list of things you think are important. Even if this is the first time you are buying or selling real estate, remember your needs are what is most important.

2. It's a good rule of thumb to talk to three different people. This rule is recommended when getting estimates for other services with much less importance or cost. Why not Buying or Selling Real Estate? It's important to follow through with all three professionals. Just because one person seemed to have everything you thought was important, you will never know. The next person may just be the "right choice" after all. Being hasty on this step may not be in your best interest so take the extra time to follow through.

3. The company you decide on may be less important than the professional you chose. There are many different real estate models in the industry but the person you chose should be the one you will interact with most closely. You'll want to ask the agent if they answer to anyone else in their organization. Chosing someone you think you will enjoy working with may be most important to you. After interviewing each agent ask yourself, "Does this person seem trustworthy and likable"?

4. How important is it to get an agent with the most listings and most sales? Only you can answer this question. Will an agent with many listings be available to you? You may subscribe to the idea that having an agent with several sales under their belt is better than a newer agent or one who limits their number of transactions to give you the best service possible. You may feel that agents who are new to the business may have more energy to bring to the table. Or a more seasoned agent with experience may fit your needs best.

5. How important are designations and awards to you? If they are important to you then that may be the agent for you. However, those awards are likely more important to your agent. Is the agent you are interviewing boasting about themselves and their awards more than telling you how they are going to service your needs? Only you can decide which is more important to you.

6. Ask each agent for how they intend to work for you. Other than compatibility, this may be the most important thing to consider. Each agent should be able to list everything they plan on doing to either get you the home of your dreams or get your home sold as quickly and for the most money possible. When acquiring estimates from other types of professionals most people ask for it in writing.

7. You should be able to get a sense for how knowledgeable an agent is about your area. Ask the agent how well acquainted they are with their market area.

8. Lastly, after interviewing three professionals, make comparisons and base your decision on the points that are most important to you. You'll most definitely want to chose an agent that you think will make servicing your needs their number one priority!

We hope you enjoyed these Tips To Follow when Choosing the Right Realtor® for you!

If you are thinking of Buying or Selling a Home in the Pascack Valley area of Bergen County New Jersey, call Bob & Lisa at (201)218-6802 or visit us online at www.HammersTeam.com.  Or click on the buttons below for more free real estate tips and information.

Lisa & Robert Hammerstein • Sales Associate Team • Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage • (201)218-6802

• Address • 50 Broadway • Hillsdale, NJ 07642 •

What Makes a House a Home in the Pascack Valley

For this Husband and Wife Realtor Team What Makes a House a Home in the Pascack Valley area of Bergen County, NJ is defined by our personal histories here. To quote Dorothy in a popular clasic movie The Wizard of Oz, "There's no place like home". For us that says it all! Unlike Dorothy, we don't have to follow a Yellow Brick Road or click the heels of our Ruby Red Slippers together - not even ONCE - to be home!

Both natives of the Pascack Valley area, we simply love all that it has to offer but mostly it's that hometown feel we love about it. Amidst all the hussle and bustle of everyday living, we like the fact that you can chose to stay home and putter in your garden (New Jersey is the Garden State) or visit one of the numerous Parks the area has to offer.

Or you can pick one of the many local restuarants to take a break. There are so many great places to go both locally or a half hour ride to NYC, if you're looking for a special night out.

But the things that make the Pascack Valley home for us is things like shopping at the local Shop Rite and running into the familiar faces of people we graduated from High School with. Or even working with former classmates in the real estate industry.

Growing up in River Vale, I remember walking to the Four Corners (downtown River Vale) where I landed my very first job working in a family owned drugstore, called A & H Drugs. I also did alot of babysitting as a young teen for the children on my block. One of those children is now the new Mayor of my home town!

Bob grew up in Hillsdale and had his first job delivering newspapers to the local neighborhood families. He also has many memories of Hillsdale since his father was a Councilman and his grandfather built many homes in his home town.

We first met in High School when the children from the Southern side of River Vale joined the children from the town of Hillsdale to attend Pascack Valley High School on Piermont Road in Hillsdale. Although similar interests introduced us to many of the same circle of friends, it wasn't until years later that this love story became the HammersTeam!

Working together as full time real estate agents we have met many Sellers who have displayed true pride of ownership in their homes. Many were sad to leave the homes they'd spent so much of their lives working to make a home with their families. There's a little saying that goes: "A house is built of wood and stone but a home is built from love alone". So when a Seller leaves a home, they take their memories with them and the home is left broom swept. The home is then ready for new memories to be built by the new home owners.

Although we feel so comfortable living in the area where we both grew up, we know that the home we found was with each other. We truly enjoy helping families find a special place to call home. When we were searching for our own home, we had some very specific criteria such as the need for a Fireplace. I always felt that a fireplace was the heart of the home since I grew up in a house with a Fireplace. Bob wanted a Basement that was dry. We didn't require alot more than that and although we kept our criteria simple, it took over 100 houses before we found just the right home at the right price. Sure we compromised but we filled the rest of the peices in as we went. Wherever you may wander, wherever you roam - be it ever so humble - there's no place like home! What makes a house a home is the memories!  Those you take with you wherever you go!

Home Buyers Tips for the Pascack Valley of New Jersey Paralysis By Analysis

The current real estate market has been somewhat of a challenge for many Home Buyers and Home Sellers alike. The media reports and real estate professionals are calling it a "Buyer's Market". The description of a "Buyer's Market" is when homes are coming on the market or "Listing" faster than homes are going off the market or "Selling".

Sometimes even the most astute Buyers and Sellers can become confused by all the choices. We like to refer to this state of confusion as "Paralysis By Analysis". Sellers can become overwhelmed with indecision regarding pricing while Buyers are confused by all the home choices. Before you become paralyzed by over analysis, read on for some real estate tips.

This month we were reminded about this phenomenon when our own daughter was trying to decide whether or not to renew her apartment lease or search for a new place. When she had located an alternate apartment, we told her to sit down and make up a "Pros and Cons" list to assist her in the decision process. In real estate, as with any major decision, there are most asuredly going to be some compromises to negotiate. It is a rare instance that life provides us with the absolute perfect scenario to fuel our decisions.

When faced with an important life decision such as Home Ownership, flipping a coin isn't the answer. A more helpful approach to take is formulating a list. Some people are big fans of making lists. From earliest childhood we are told by our parents that Santa himself makes a list and checks it twice. This sage advice can be applied to most situations regarding making important decisions.

For instance, when a Buyer begins the Home Search process, the first order of business is to sit down and make a list of the features necessary to accomodate their family's needs. Click here to read more about starting the Home Search Process.

If we are indeed in a "Buyer's" market, the average Buyer will find more than one choice to fit their criteria. Once you narrow your selections, the Pros and Cons List becomes a helpful tool. Click here to read more about the Home Buying Process.

Home Sellers can capitalize on a Buyer's market as well. Click here to read more about Selling Before Buying your next home.

With many fine homes to chose from, our Home Buyer Advice is don't let paralysis by analysis stop you from Buying a home.

Call Lisa and Bob today at (201)218-6802 and let us help!

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