Top Notch Realty: What Sets The Radcliffe Group Apart from the Masses?

Watch on your mobile device >>

There’s the typical sales pitch mode that Realtors launch into and then there’s just plain common sense.  Sure, we could put together a list of “ten things we do to get your house sold” or “why we’re the right agent for you” but the truth is that it all boils down to one thing.  And a trusted, valued client made me realize this point. Great results don’t come from thin air – they come from working hard.  The Robert Radcliffe Group is a carefully assembled group of individuals that each have a unique and very valuable purpose they lend to the organization.   And it is with this unique blend of talent and dedication that we proudly serve our clients and we do it by working very hard!

Working Harder and Smarter With Proactive Marketing Methods 

There are two ways anyone can approach selling (or buying) a home.  You can be reactive (for example answer ads that you come across, put out a “For Sale” sign and respond to any inquiries that my pop up after the sign’s up).  Or you can be proactive.

Each morning, I spend several hours reaching out to the community.  I get in touch with people in my professional and personal networks.  By being proactive on our listings – we get out there and actively seek out buyers. And in the same way, we put ourselves out there and find the perfect sellers so that when the ideal home comes along for our client, we are on top of it and we can introduce the home before it even comes on the market.

By taking a proactive stance on marketing our clients’ needs, we are able to provide our clients with an enormous amount of leverage and in terms of finding a dream home for someone it makes all the difference when we’re involved from the early stages of the seller’s listing process.  You might even be surprised to learn that approximately twenty percent of our successful transactions are the result of these proactive leads that many other agents do not take the time to go out and seek out.

Our Strong, Exceptionally Experienced Team Collectively Works Hard

To become an agent (in many states) it takes nothing more than just a few hours of instruction and passing a test.  But to become a successful Realty group, it takes years of building the perfect team.  The Radcliffe Group is exactly that – a group of phenomenal individuals, each with a unique role to keep the operation running smoothly and very effectively, supporting me in supporting you.  So when you hire us to manage your real estate needs, you are not just hiring an agent – rather you are accessing an entire team with specialized talents.  With more people involved – we are able to provide you even better service.  I invite you to visit us and tour our offices.  You’ll see that each person in our group has their own job to do and they specialize, take pride in and excel at that job.  For instance, we have a Listing Coordinator that exclusively handles all incoming calls.  Someone else has the primary role of making sure everything is always in working order and that nothing falls through the cracks. We even have our own dedicated team of buyers’ agents – because we believe that if you are seeking your dream home you should be working with someone that exclusively manages buyer transactions.
~
Regardless of your needs, we are there to take care of you.  We promise to deliver nothing but the best of the best – whether it is advice, industry know-how, market statistics, marketing and communication, consultation or anything else you may need.  We realize that to be “Best in Class”, you have to work hard and our team definitely always strives and achieves an “A+”.

Accessing “Best in Class” Realtors Through Local, National and Global Networking

Watch on your mobile device >>

Real estate purchases are most often the biggest purchase in an entire lifetime for most people and the last thing they want to do is to get stuck with a mediocre agent that is not truly in it with full spirit.  We already know and aspire that if you are in the Southern California area you would allow us to service your real estate needs but did you know that as part of the nation’s top mastermind groups, I have access to the top 1% of agents in our country? In fact, it goes even further than that with the best real estate agents in North America and overseas.  And not surprisingly, our reach stretches beyond America going far and wide to many corners of the globe.

Regardless of whether or not I am the agent on record for your transaction or those of your friends, family, colleagues or anyone else in your social circle, what I can provide is genuine guidance and assistance with a number of valuable resources.  Each year through many national and international real estate conferences, coaching events and other retreats, the nation’s top-producing agents get together under one roof.  Through the years and through our many experiences we have become more than just passing acquaintances and we can speak for the integrity for one another.

The next time you hear someone you know inquiring about a quality, reputable and experienced “Best in Class” Realtor, I ask that you ask me without hesitation and I will make sure that that person is contacted by one of the best in the industry.
~
As your Realtor and friend in all things real estate, it would be a pleasure and honor to continue to serve you (and those in your circle) with my insight and assistance in any way you may need.  We look forward to hearing from you!

Real Estate Websites Are a Good Starting Point But Insider Info From Realtors Is Best

Watch on your mobile device >>

Now that most buyers have a handle on the market they typically walk into an agent’s office and present a short list of properties they are interested in, complete with a list of must-have amenities, desired square footage and expected price range.  Doesn’t sound too much different than the way it’s always been?  Well, it is – and here’s how.  Where at one time buyers would have to meet with an agent, share their needs and wait for the agent to come back to them with a list of fitting properties on the market, buyers now have a lot more control.

There are no less than a dozen major real estate websites that promote real estate, provide ample listings, extend supporting information and other news, tips and tricks plus help to connect buyers with sellers.  Websites like Trulia, Zillow or HotPads are all great places to start a search but definitely not where you would want to end your search.  Here’s why:

Outdated, Inaccurate Information With No Way to Verify

Bit for bit, the information made available on these sites are often outdated, inaccurately reported, lacks important local data and sometimes is flat out untrue.  Case in point, there was a recent listing on one of these sites that not only advertised the wrong number of bedrooms and square footage but it also failed to update the newest appraised values.  Hundreds of potential buyers breezed right past the listing since rather than showing 6 bedrooms, it wrongly reported the home as having 2 bedrooms. The price was right though, so imagine the confusion on browsers’ minds as they saw a price tag that definitely reflected a much bigger home when they thought they were getting a smaller place.  In this case, the records used to compile data on the site were pulled from a source that did not take into consideration recent renovations and upgrades made to the home.

Agents Specializing in the Area Are Essential to the Transaction

The other reason that websites are only good to get a feel for the market but not enough to base your decisions on is that these are national (and sometimes international) websites.  With computer formulas looking at your criteria there is no way a generic website can share with you the innate sense of “that perfect home” as only an agent can do. It is paramount to hire a real estate agent that knows the vicinity, lives in the community and specializes in the area – especially if you rely on these websites for an initial glimpse of the market.

The knowledge of community schools and businesses plus first-hand information about neighborhood personality are things that set an agent apart from the results generated by a computer.  Things like crime rates, neighborhood reputation, area comparables and an intimate understanding of the area – are factors that buyers cannot accurately learn or make decisions on based on a national scale.
~
There is no harm is gaining as much of an understanding of the industry as possible, in fact browsing to see what’s out there is a great preparatory tool.  But when it comes to choosing a home, settling on a price, determining whether the purchase is a good long-term investment – nothing compares to working with a quality, reputable, experienced Realtor.

How To Set Up the Perfect Show-Ready Home To Get Your Home Sold!

Watch on your mobile device >>

What do we do when we are looking for love, go out to meet others and attract their interest?  We make sure we look our best, present our best effort and highlight our endearing qualities to “reel in” the perfect catch.  The real estate market is no different.  When you are selling a home, you are looking for the perfect buyers to show interest in your home and you hope to share with them what it is you love about the house.

Like meeting a new person in the dating scene, selling a home can be a hit or miss game but unless you make the effort to present your home in the best light, you may be in for a string of not-so-perfect buyers that are less than interested in making an offer.  Here are some things you can do to make sure that buyers get that twinkle in their eye when they first set their sights on your home.

Make Them Love It At First Sight

The old adage about not judging a book by its cover certainly does apply to properties but the last thing you want to do is lose a potential sale because you haven’t paid attention to first impressions.  Most homeowners these days have watched some HGTV and one of the things that come up in many of their shows is “curb appeal”. Curb appeal refers to how attractive or enticing the exterior of a home is in terms of landscaping, the driveway area, front porch, entryway, garage and other exterior features.

It goes without saying that you should repair any damage and clean up areas that are out of sorts.  Adding soft touches like some flowers or even some professional landscaping can also make a world of difference in buyers’ impressions of the home.  If you are showing a home after dark, one thing you can do is to turn on exterior lights, creating an appealing peek through as people first drive up to the home.

Keep Things Classic, Clean and Clutter-Free

Nothing is more of a turn off to buyers than a home filled with too much stuff. The last thing buyers want to see is closets and counter space bursting at the seams with too many things, an over-abundance of personal items or a mismatched and unattractive arrangement of furniture.  Classic, simple décor with clean lines and neutral colors is most appealing. Not only does this allow them to see the actual house but it also gives them the opportunity to visualize their own customization in the space.

Walk through the home and remove all extra items that are lying around, clear off kitchen counters and remove all personal items from bathrooms and other surfaces.  Imagine walking into the perfect hotel room – while looking lived-in, the space is still elegant without too many things crowding the space.

Highlight the Home’s Features

Whether showing off shiny granite countertops, impeccable resurfaced wood floors or displaying the backyard pool – it is important for buyers to be able to see all that the home offers in terms of amenities and features.  If the walkout basement is a strong selling feature, you could clear the area and pose potential uses for the space such as making it a media room or workout area.  When buyers see versatility with which the space is utilized it will create more interest in your home.
~
Remember, buying a home is just like finding a new love.  There must be chemistry.  And unless you make the effort to present the home in its best light, chances are you will not find the perfect buyer.

Sharing Too Much Information When Buying or Selling a Home?

Watch on your mobile device >>

I’ve mentioned this before on a previous blog post with tips on selling a home but I thought this topic needed some more exposure.  In my real estate career spanning more than two decades, I’ve seen so many people share “too much information”.  So often I have come across sticky situations that turned out to be far more complicated than they needed to be.  Stemming from over-zealous sharing of inside details about their real estate endeavors, many homeowners and buyers have suffered the consequences of a little indiscretion.

It’s not really anyone’s fault because the truth is that buying or selling a home is probably one of the largest transactions most people will ever undergo in an entire lifetime.  So, it’s no wonder that they would want to talk about it to their friends, family, neighbors and colleagues.  But how does one know where to draw the line?  To help guide you with years of insight developed from dealing with countless clients, here are some of the things that can go wrong if you are not careful about sharing too many details.

Price Expectations Fall Through

Though you may be tempted, the last thing you want to do is to share financial details with anyone except your very close family and a few close friends.  By sharing what your bottom line may be on the home you are selling or buying, you are opening yourself up to a host of vulnerabilities.  Many people are too trusting or simply do not realize how quickly information like that spreads.  How could sharing pricing information hurt you?  If you are prepared to accept a far lower price than the list price and you inadvertently shared that with someone – it could leak either to the other party’s agent or someone that they know.  Right there you will have jeopardized your potential of getting maximum dollar for your property.

Negotiations Can Be Compromised

Sometimes the negotiation process can take a long time and as the people in the transaction get more and more impatient with the back and forth cycle, they tend to start talking about what’s happening on the negotiation table.  Imagine sharing with a colleague that you are willing to pay at least X dollars above the asking price but you want to see how low the seller is wiling to go.  Now imagine that the colleague happens to be the nephew of your buyer’s agent.  It happens and the only way to avoid mistakes that can cost you your dream home or thousands of dollars is to scale back on how much information you share with others.

Sellers Can Appear Desperate

The longer a home is on the market, the more impatient sellers seem to be and when they disclose this to others it comes across as desperation – something that can be misconstrued at times as an opportunity for a deal.  By sharing how long your home has been on the market you stand to risk appearing desperate and may be faced with unrealistic offers that end up wasting time for all parties.

Offers Made or Received Can Be Compromised

Buying or selling a home is definitely an interesting process that results in a lot of multi-layered communications and complex dynamics that can be thrown off if not handled discreetly.  Especially when it comes to offers, whether what a buyer may be considering to offer on a home they like or the number or amounts of any offers the sellers received, the information should remain between the parties involved and no one else.  When others learn of these things there is a tendency to want to share it with even more people, no matter how much they may be trusted.

~
Remember, you can mention all the details you want once your property is off the market or when you are comfortably sitting in your new dream home.  In the interim though, I strongly encourage you to keep things to yourself and focus on the exciting business of buying or selling your property!  If you’d like further insight or guidance on this or any of your real estate needs, please do not hesitate to contact me.

Positive Expectations – Real Estate Forecasts for 2012 and Beyond

Watch on your mobile device >>

Now that everything’s back on track after a busy holiday season, we finally have a moment to step back and admire what a fantastic year 2011 happened to be. Wow – was it incredible! Despite reports of supposed “doom and gloom” and even though the economy was not doing very well, we had our best year ever and we have you, our valued clients and supporters, to thank for all that. 

What Makes a Good Market “Great”?


The main thing that we can attribute our selling success from 2011 to is having motivated sellers and serious buyers. It’s as simple as that. So, what exactly makes a good market “great”? We find that the perfect combination of the right price, excellent condition and accessibility, makes any home a strong contender in the crazy competitive property-selling world today. In fact, that’s exactly what we expect to see more of in 2012.

Toward fourth quarter of 2011, we witnessed a very strong surge of sales and many of them were sold at or above list price.  We saw multiple offers taking place, demonstrating that buyers indeed are out there seeking the perfect home.   That’s exactly what we expect to see more of in 2012.  In fact, at this point we often receive requests from clients that are seeking a new home or would like to buy because they anticipate a rising trend in home prices to come by the end of the year.  Though prices have not begun to rise, an upswing seems very likely so savvy buyers continue to be on the lookout already.

Low Interest Rates Continue, Inventory Moves and Prices Begin to Climb


Our prediction for 2012 is that as buyers continue to reap the benefits of our current market and unbelievable interest rates right now, inventory will begin to level off and we will start to see more stabilization in the market. Not only that – the seemingly “bottomless pit” that has been our declining home prices, seems to have come to an end.

Fewer, But More Serious Buyers Dominate the Season


Now that we are officially in our spring season (though it sure doesn’t feel that way from the looks of it outside) real estate is going to move at a really nice pace. And though there may be fewer buyers now than we might see a couple months from now, the ones that are out there are downright serious about purchasing a home. This is great news for sellers right now since there is less selling competition to have to worry about and at the same time a potential for more serious offers.
~
As we move into what seems to be the hopeful next phase of our real estate journey beginning the past several years, it is with great confidence that we forecast an amazing year ahead. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like a custom consultation to learn how we can assist you with your real estate endeavors today or even if you just have some questions you would like answered about any of this. We look forward to hearing from you!

Can You Trust Your Friends, Family and Acquaintances for Your Real Estate Needs?

Watch on your mobile device >>

When you get down to it, most real estate agents have a very low track record in terms of the number of homes sold on average each year. In fact, they don’t even sell a home for months on end. The fewer the homes that are sold translates to less experience and at the end of the day when you have an agent that may not know all of the ins and outs of the industry handling your transactions, you really stand to risk quite a lot.

What Factors Matter In Hiring the Right Realtor For You?

There are many things to look for when you are shopping for the perfect agent. Do they have a long-running track record? Have they been servicing the area for some time? Are they qualified specifically to the area you are considering or is their range of professional reach very wide so that they may not be able to provide pinpointed advice or expert knowledge of the vicinity? You want to make sure that aside from their references, you have the opportunity to speak with a few current clients to gauge the agent’s performance. Another thing to note is their performance in terms of both selling and buying transactions. What forms of marketing do they engage in and are they reasonably accessible? It is a good idea to list your priorities in terms of the real estate transactions you have in mind so you can match a potential Realtor with those needs.

Politely Declining To Work With A Realtor

Obtaining a real estate license is a fairly easy thing to do; after 40 hours or so of instruction, most states will grant a license to sell property and handle real estate transactions. Given the ease of this for most people, there is a plethora of agents in most markets and the chances of your knowing someone that fits this description are very high. But how does one assert that they would rather work with someone else for their property endeavors? The best way to manage this is to politely explain that since this is one of the largest financial transactions of your life you would rather prefer to work with an agent that you have hand-picked to suit your specific needs. If the agent you are explaining this to is a true friend in the first place, you should not have much trouble with this as they would have your best interests at heart. Keep in mind also, that there is a much greater chance of the relationship going awry in case something goes wrong in the transaction. Another factor that can be brought up is that the ability to demand professionalism becomes very difficult when dealing with someone you already know or are close to. This applies to both the homebuyer/seller and the agent.
~
The bottom line is this: It is never a good idea to choose a Realtor just because of your prior relationship with them. Always, always choose your real estate agent based on your needs and their qualifications.