Private Client Group

Source: About M. Forester Hagan

What Does a Real Estate Agent Do?

A real estate agent handles numerous tasks large and small, most which happen behind the scenes and often go unnoticed. Yet each one can have an impact (sometimes a significant one) on the property’s odds of selling, and the sales price—or in the case of a buyer, their odds of getting the property they want at the very best price. Heres a bird’s eye view of a busy real estate agent’s daily tasks.

Before the Listing

First, she must research the property to gather data and to determine the target market for selling the home, including info about the area, the schools and shopping, and possibly, conduct an initial exterior review of the home and neighborhood.

Meeting with Seller

The agent then meets the seller and discusses the property’s value while explaining the service she will provide in the form of a marketing and sales plan. This plan will address positioning the property in the best possible light to appeal to the current cache of potential buyers. After discussing a detailed plan and strategy, the agent will explain and sign the listing agreement with the seller.

Preparing and Listing the Property

From here the real work of selling your home starts happens. After researching and gathering paperwork and documentation related to the property, preparing a listing description of the home, the agent may suggest that the seller schedule a pre-sale home inspection. This includes a home prep checklist for the seller to utilise while getting their home ready to market. The agent may then suggest a stager stager to assist the seller to add pizazz to their show home. The agent will then enter the listing in the MLS database, if applicable.

Once the Home is on the Market

The agent will ensure that it is exposed to all the great real estate web sites, including Zillow and Trulia. She will start networking and promoting the listing to her trusted base of longtime real estate contacts, make appointments for tours and showings, as well as, solicit, field and negotiate any offers.

Red Tape and Legal Details

Once a contract has been ratified and accepted, the agent must attend an monitor the buyers inspections, appraisals, loan approvals, and solidify all buyer contingencies while preparing for the closing. These critical details are sometimes overlooked by clients, but can have costly or deal-killing consequences if not watched carefully by the agent..

The Closing

In California, the closing usually occurs at a title and escrow company with the assistance of an escrow agent. Here is where all closing documents are signed, the transaction is completed and title is exchanged between the parties..

This a great bohemian/european style design firm in Sand City.  Mark comes from a long line of Italian master builders and masons and he brings a unique perspective to the idea of home design. He specializes in re-imagining interior and exterior home environments for high-end clients in Pebble Beach, Carmel and the Bay area.

Here is the 2014 Price Analysis for the greater Palo Alto area.  Included are the average list to sale prices for Palo Alto, Menlo Park, Atherton and Woodside.

2014 Sales Price Analysis

Palo Alto

Org. Price       List Price        Sold Price       Sold$/Org$    Sold$/List$     DOM

$2,640,247    $2,627,207    $2,847,823         105%             106%             18

Menlo Park

Org. Price       List Price        Sold Price       Sold$/Org$    Sold$/List$     DOM

$1,999,490    $1,993,400    $2,089,565         103%             103%             20

Atherton

Org. Price       List Price        Sold Price       Sold$/Org$    Sold$/List$     DOM

$6,090,929    $5,921,895    $5,833,922        94%                96%                58

Woodside

Org. Price       List Price        Sold Price       Sold$/Org$    Sold$/List$     DOM

$3,468,306    $3,334,009    $2,876,912        80%                83%                69

2014 Sales Price Analysis Palo

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