High Tech + High Touch=Real Estate Innovation

As a successful Fairfax County Realtor® and Associate Broker with a background in marketing, customer service and technology I have spent a lot of time researching the best ways to bring 21st century services to my real estate clients.

With 83% of all homebuyers starting their search for Fairfax County homes on line it is becoming easier and easier to narrow down the homes that you want to see in person. With multiple photos, virtual tours, and free MLS searches you don’t have to spend hour’s captive in a Realtors® car driving from home to home. So for the savvy buyer who wants to do some of the work themselves comes opportunity to “earn” some of the commission that a buyers agent typically receives back at the closing table.

Let’s get started! First we meet and go through my unique buyer needs assessment looking at the buying process and make sure that you are comfortable with handling some of the leg work on your own. We also take this time to make sure that you are pre-qualified with a direct lender. If you don’t have a lender in mind we can provide you with 3 recommendations of lenders to call. Pre-qualifications are free but are essential to understanding your financial position before you begin house hunting.

Now you are ready to start your search for homes on-line. I can establish a daily email of new listings that meet your criteria through the local MLS. You can also search through my website, Realtor.com, Craigslist.com and other sites as well. You do the drive-bys or head to the open houses that you want to see. When you register at the open house you put down my name as your representative (I will provide you business cards to leave behind as well) narrowed down your search? We meet you at the homes that you want to look at more closely. We walk through the property and I’ll give you my professional opinion on how the home compares to others in the area.

When you are ready to make an offer we research all of the recent sales in the neighborhood to give you guidance on an offer price, make sure you are protected with all of the appropriate language in the Virginia Regional Contract and its addendums. We won’t leave you hanging with a contract that doesn’t protect your best interests. Once you have secured a contract we stay with you all the way to the closing table.

So how do you save money? You are charged on an hourly consulting basis (subject to a minimum of 1% of the sales price). The more you are able to do on your own the more you are able to save. For example, on a $300,000 property you could put 2% of the buyer agent commission back in your pocket. If you find you need more assistance than the minimum consulting hours on our contract then you are charged an hourly consulting fee agreed upon at our first meeting.

How am I able to do this for you? By looking at all of the components that make up the real estate buying process I have been able to determine what parts of the process can be handled easily by a buyer. This allows me to my focus on contract negotiations, and management of the transaction to closing.

Is this for everyone? No. If you are new to the area and are not familiar with local neighborhoods then you may want to work with me in a more traditional “full-service” manner. As a native of the Fairfax County area I can give you a good overview of the area and make your transition smoother. The good part is that you have a choice.

So if you are ready to look into a new way of buying real estate in Fairfax County then just give me a call. We can set up an appointment to get started right away!