“We don’t need Fundamental Transformation. We need to get back to Fundamentals”

Walter Pierce / Levin Reinke Real Estate

Aside from buying and selling real estate, Walter enjoys many other activities. His wife and four children are his top priority and he spends a great deal of time with his family. He also takes time for sailing, tennis, water sports, and reading for enjoyment as well as education. He is an active member of First Church Pensacola and ICON, the Pensacola LEAD-ers, Pensacola North Rotary, Teaches Sunday school, serves on the NBCook SAC, and is a partner in education with a local school. He enjoyed spending time teaching JA, Serving NE Sertoma and Gulf Coast Crime Stoppers, as well as acting as Rotary Liason to the CHS Interact club, and facilitator and group leader for Outback America and Rotary International district 6940 RYLA.

It’s a 30-year commitment. Start the relationship off right. Whether it’ s fixed or adjustable, for 15 or 30 years, buying a home is most likely the single largest purchase of your life. A commitment like that shouldn’ t be taken lightly. You need someone who definitely knows where the relationship is going.Someone who’ s serious about real estate and can guide you through the complicated process of buying a home; Someone to ease your mind and explain every detail.

You know someone to talk to and more importantly, someone who will listen. I am committed to making sure that you are comfortable during the entire home buying experience, and that you are satisfied in the end.

Everyone knows that a good relationship takes work. So when it comes to buying a home, work with someone who will work with you.

Is your property easy to show?

When you list your property for sale, you should do your part to get the maximum number of showings by making it easy to show. More showings mean more offers, and more offers mean you are more likely to get a higher price, and sell quicker!

Typically, after a realtor has searched the MLS and found a few suitable homes to show his buyer, he or she will call the listing agents or listing offices to get showing instructions and to make appointments to see the properties. Having been in this position many times, I can tell you how frustrating it is to get the listing agents voicemail but not get a return call in a reasonable time. When that happens, we will usually cross that property off our list.

I always answer my phone and it follows me home, or to my car, or to my desk at the office. Agents or buyers interested in seeing my listings reach me easily and that helps increase the number of showings.

Some instructions state “Listing Agent Must Accompany.” When an agent is showing four or five properties, it is virtually impossible to accurately predict arrival time at a particular listing. And if he or she arrives early, or the listing agent arrives late, an awkward wait with clients results. Some unscrupulous listing agents use this technique as a device to deliberately limit showings by other agents to increase their odds of selling the property themselves, thereby doubling their share of the commission. A seller might think the listing agent is showing extra initiative by agreeing to accompany every showing. Don’t be fooled — This is a bad idea.

Showing instructions might also state “24-hour notice required” or “appointment required.” Either of these is also sure to lose some agents and their buyers.

The best way to make your property accessible to agents with potential buyers is with an electronic lockbox. There are some very successful buyers’ agents who will not show a house that’s not on a lockbox. Don’t have them skip your house!

Some sellers fear for the security of their home and may not realize the safety features incorporated in this system.

Heres how it works. The lockbox containing your house key is secured to your front door. Licensed agents, active members of the Realtors Association, have an electronic key that looks and works something like a TV Remote. If a key were to be lost, there are two safeguards preventing its use by an unauthorized person. First, it is password protected and its internal password is updated on a daily basis at the agents base station or “cradle.” Second, each time it is used, the agent must enter his own private pin number. The SUPRA electronic lockbox itself, is an electronic marvel. Before releasing its contents, it verifies the key has been updated that day, and that the user has entered his correct PIN. It also records the name, license number, company and date and time used, for each opening. This information is later transmitted to a mainframe computer and is available online anytime, to the agent who owns the lockbox. Cheaper combination lockboxes do not have any of these security features.

A lockbox on your door does not interfere in any way with your entering or leaving your house. You work your door locks the same way you always did.

So, sellers — Make your home easy to show. Pick Walter Pierce who answers his phone and who uses electronic lockboxes.

DON’T LOSE BUYERS

MAKE YOUR PROPERTY EASY TO SHOW

walterpierce.com

walterpierce.levinrinkerealty.com