Real Estate Experts (Asheville, Henderson, Hendersonville: house, neighborhood, buying)

[LakeGuy]

What is your experience?

As you know, there is a lot of marketing in the real estate industry. It’s how one individual or firm attracts attention for their business and stands out from the crowd. One term that’s often used in marketing is “expert,” as in “Grisella is the expert for the Silver Settings Farm neighborhood.”

If we take that statement at face value, it tells us that if we want to know anything about Silver Settings Farm, there’s only one choice—we have to call Grisella.

I’m here to remind you that while Grisella calls herself an expert, we only have her word for her expertise, and she may not be the most objective source. If you are looking for real estate and you come across an “expert” for your desired area here are some questions to ask to make sure s/he’s the real deal.

How many properties have you listed and sold in Silver Settings Farm? Do the asking prices here represent their fair market value? How often do properties like that come on the market? What trends do you see in Silver Settings Farm, and how does that neighborhood compare with the rest of your marketplace?

Someone you want to trust with your investments will have the answers for these types of questions or will know how to get them in a timely fashion. An expert who responds with a blank stare or an “I don’t know” is probably not going to help their clients to understand the market and therefore cannot really assist with negotiations and will have no way to help their clients make the best buying or selling decision.

From the agent’s perspective I’ve had a few temptations from clients who insisted that because we had a strong working relationship I should take them to Hendersonville or Asheville. After all, one lot or one house in one of those areas is similar to a lot or house in any other area, isn’t it? It really isn’t. After all, I may not know the history of that area and what plans are being made there. What if a new road is being planned and I didn’t know about it? What if the neighborhood grocery store is going to be converted to a disco? You get the idea, I’m sure. A local expert is what is needed.

Being a self-proclaimed local expert myself, I was very uncomfortable in those other markets. Instead of giving in to these well-meaning requests, I developed contacts with experts in those areas and around the world so that friends and clients that I refer to them will benefit from their expertise.

On the other hand, if you have found a new agent and their personality and work ethic are a match with yours, don’t completely discount their ability to help you even if they are victims of the “expert” marketing syndrome. Their level of enthusiasm and interest in helping their clients is a real asset, and if they work with an experienced team that provides them with a pool of expert knowledge gleaned from the firm's experience they have "experts" to ask. Our new agents are expected to respond honestly to such questions, but if they don’t know the answer they should say, “I don’t know, but I’ll find out.”

When a newbie has access to such resources they can become a true expert in a short period of time.

[businessperson]

I understand your point but IMO someone who knows where to find valuable information and is willing to share it with others is more valuable than a self proclaimed "expert".

[Apple Annie]

Your point is understood Lake Guy ... but not many seasoned professional agents will do the 20 or 30 mile radius thing. It is impossible to know the intricacies of every area, the location of every home, etc. It is always preferable to work with an agent in his or her own comfort zone. Without the local agent's knowledge, the buyers will miss out on a brand new listing, or something that has just come back on the market, a recent price reduction and so forth. Here in the mountains you could spend one day on each area and still not see everything because of travel time in between properties.

[LakeGuy]

I think I can shorten the definition of expert based on what Businessperson posted: An expert is someone who has the information and shares it. (Gathering the info is important, but If they don't share it then what's the point?)

[cindyj]

Apple Annie, I totally understand what you are saying, however - in a rural area 20-30 miles is nothing to a seasoned professional as far as travel to and from and as well as knowledge base. I defnitely agree with your point of view as it relates to a metro area though.

[Apple Annie]

What I said CindyJ was: "radius" of a town, which would make it 60 miles to travel while knowing each and every listing and intricacy of an area in the mountains.

[cindyj]

Applie Annie - It appears we are on the same page. I love when a plan comes together.