Lee Morof's Real Estate Blog

Good Bloomfield Hills real estate agents can be valuable partners when buying or selling a home. Their marketing efforts, hard work, knowledge and negotiation skills are huge assets when house hunting or selling your home.

Below are four tips to help you hire a Bloomfield Hills real estate agent who will provide the best service for you:

1. Make sure your expectations are clearly spelled out. Buying or selling a home involves a great deal of money and that has the potential to cause a lot of stress — especially if you feel your agent isn’t living up to your expectations. To avoid this problem, share your expectations with the agents during the interview process. Be as specific as possible. Do you expect them to email you once a week with updates? Perhaps you want them to call you with feedback each time they show your home.
2. If buying a home, ask how your professional will find homes that meet your standards. A good Bloomfield Hills real estate agent will take into consideration your budget  and your needs. Then he or she will narrow down the choices to save you time and effort.
3. If selling a home, agree on a marketing plan before you sign. Selling a home in today’s market requires a well-thought-out marketing strategy. An easy way to ensure prospective agents are up to the task is to ask to see their marketing plans in writing. A professional agent will have a clear strategy that includes both online and offline marketing.

If you’re ready to buy or sell a home and are looking for a knowledgeable Bloomfield Hills real estate agent in Oakland County, please call me at 248-514-2640 or email me at info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com for more information.

Lee Morof
Associate Broker/Certified Distressed Property Expert/Attorney Lee Morof 
RE/MAX Showcase Homes, Birmingham, Michigan
www.NorthWoodwardHomes.com

Your children will be going back to school this month, and you should follow suit if you’re going to pick the right Bloomfield Hills real estate agent to sell your family home. Brush up on your area’s comparables and do your homework when it comes to hiring a professional — a good one can make the process smoother and less stressful.

While your children are studying for quizzes, educate yourself by interviewing multiple Bloomfield Hills real estate agents. Below are questions to ask, so that you can ensure you choose the one with the highest marks!

• Grade Level – Ask how many years they’ve been in the business and if they’re a full time agent.
• Check Their Scores – How many homes have they represented in the last twelve months? How many have sold? What were the original listing prices and what were the selling prices?
• Computer Class – Ask how they plan to market your home and if they have an online presence. You’ll reach more potential buyers if your Bloomfield Hills real estate agent’s selling strategy includes social media and database listing sites.
• Homework – You are paying a professional to spend time on your home and with you. Ask how many hours they plan to devote to your home per week, how often they provide updates and anything else that comes from signing a contract with them.
• Permanent Record – Ask if you can contact some of their past clients. Talking directly to home sellers who have worked with the agents you interview gives you the clearest idea of their communication habits, efficiency and success rate.

Don’t start off the school year with a Bloomfield Hills real estate agent who turns out to be a dunce. Educate yourself by interviewing multiple professionals and doing your homework on their backgrounds.

If you’re looking for a professional agent to sell your home, I’d appreciate the opportunity to interview for the job. Please call me at 248-514-2640 or email me at info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com to schedule an appointment.

Lee Morof
Associate Broker/Certified Distressed Property Expert/Attorney
RE/MAX Showcase Homes, Birmingham, Michigan
www.NorthWoodwardHomes.com

When it comes time to sell your home, the most important person that can ensure a quick sale at top dollar is your Bloomfield Hills real estate agent. He or she will be the primary person marketing your home, and if your professional doesn’t work hard to sell your home, it can cost you precious time and money.

Choosing the right Bloomfield Hills real estate agent can be tricky. To help you make a wise choice, below are five simple questions you should ask agents before making your decision:

1. How many other homeowners are you currently working with? An agent with too many properties on their plate might not give your home the individual attention it needs to attract potential buyers. However, if the agent has no listings, that might also be a bad sign.
2. Are you going to be readily available? There is nothing more frustrating than working with an agent who seems too busy to show your home, take your phone calls or answer your emails.
3. How does your real estate agency compare to the others in town? Any brokerage with great statistics will be happy to share them with you. However, you may get more personal attention working with a lower-volume agency.
4. Are you a member of the National Association of REALTORS®? Members are held accountable for their professional ethics. They continually participate in training and educational courses to keep up their certification.
5. What’s your plan for marketing my home? A good agent should be able to give you a detailed and well-thought-out plan for marketing your home. It’s also a good idea to make sure your expectations are clear before entering into any agreement.

Selling your home can be stressful. When selecting a Bloomfield Hills real estate agent to represent your interests, it’s important to make sure you feel comfortable that he or she will meet your expectations.

If you’re getting ready to sell and have questions about comparables, marketing strategies or the process in general, please call me at 248-514-2640 or email me at info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com for more information.

Lee Morof
Associate Broker/Certified Distressed Property Expert/Attorney 
RE/MAX Showcase Homes, Birmingham, Michigan
www.NorthWoodwardHomes.com

You’ve decided it’s time to sell your home. Now you’re dreading the process of finding a Bloomfield Hills real estate agent in Southeast Michigan. Don’t worry! There are many outstanding agents available. Just be sure to interview at least three agents and call a few of their clients to check their references before making your choice.

To help you through this process, here are six key questions to ask when interviewing Bloomfield Hills real estate agents:

1. How many homes have you sold in this area in the last year and how long did it take you to sell them? Obviously, the more homes sold the better and the quicker the homes sold the better. Don’t go with a real estate agent who has sold nothing in the last six months. That most likely means they don’t know how to sell in the current market.
2. How much did the homes sell for? Hire an experienced Bloomfield Hills real estate agent who knows your area and has sold homes priced similar to yours. He or she will know how to price and market your home.
3. Do you live and work in this area? It’s important to find an agent who thoroughly knows the local market. You want an agent who knows what homes are selling for in today’s market, what buyers in your area are looking for and what’s for sale in your area right now.
4. How do you market homes online? You’re looking for a Bloomfield Hills real estate agent who is comfortable using Facebook, Twitter or YouTube to market homes. Look at agents’ websites to see how many photos and videos they’ve posted for other homes they’re selling.  Also visit real estate websites such as Realtor.com, Yahoo Real Estate, Trulia and Zillow to see how the agent showcases homes he or she is selling. Buyers like to see pictures and videos of homes, so you need an agent who provides this as a regular part of his or her service.
5. How do you market homes offline? While searching for homes online is by far the most popular way to find homes for sale these days, you don’t want to miss out on offline marketing. Choose an agent who markets your home in a multitude of mediums, which may include house-for-sale flyers, real estate magazines or newspapers.
6. What are the most common problems that come up when selling a home and how would you handle them? An experienced agent will be able to tell you what to expect throughout the process, as well as possible problems that may arise and how to avoid them.

I’d appreciate the opportunity to interview for the job of selling your home in Southeast Michigan. Call me today at 248-514-2640 or email me at info@NorthWoodwardHomes.com to schedule a time for our interview.

Lee Morof
Associate Broker/Certified Distressed Property Expert/Attorney
RE/MAX Showcase Homes, Birmingham, Michigan
Call:  248-514-2640
www.NorthWoodwardHomes.com