by Jessica G. | Apr 12, 2021 | Buyer Tips
Since becoming an agent I have heard over and over that people don’t see the need for hiring a real estate agent when buying a home. Most of the time, I politely explain the benefits of having someone on your side. The hope is some of what I’ve said resonates. Now I’m going to spell it out loud and clear why it is a huge benefit to have a buyer’s agent involved in your home buying experience.
6 Reasons you need a Buyer’s Agent:
- Knowledge. – A real estate agent is an agent because they have the proper knowledge base for that specific field. They have taken classes, passed exams, become licensed, and work for a brokerage. They are knowledgable in their field. Why would you not want to take advantage of their knowledge? Would you walk into a courtroom without a lawyer and work with the opposing side’s lawyer instead? I don’t think so. Buying a home is literally one of the biggest legal and financial obligations of your life! Use your resources!!!
- Priority. – Let’s be clear. When you work with a seller’s agent you are working with the other team’s coach. If they’re a good coach they will be helpful, but ultimately their number one priority is the seller. Let me repeat that for those in the back, THE SELLER’S AGENT’S NUMBER ONE PRIORITY IS THE SELLER! When you hire a buyer’s agent you have someone who has your best interest as their number one priority. See how that balances things out and gives you a bit of an edge that you otherwise wouldn’t have?
- Money. – A lot of the time the buyer’s agent doesn’t cost you a thing. In almost all transactions, the buyer’s agent’s commission is covered by the seller. How is that possible? The seller allots a certain amount of commission to their agent and a buyer’s agent. *Be aware, not all agents are created equal and not all transactions will result in not having to pay your agent, so make sure you talk to whoever you’re working with for clarification.
- Accessibility. – So we all know home shopping sites, right? They’re fun and colorful, easy to use, and they make you think you should buy that $600,000 home outside your budget because the payment calculator doesn’t look so bad… Think again! Don’t fall into the trap of false hopes because you’re on a site built to entice you. Your buyer’s agent has access to real time listings through their MLS, which is something you don’t unless you’re an agent.
- Contacts. – Sure you can head over to Google and search up home inspector, lender, etc., however you’re missing out on a valuable aspect of having a buyer’s agent. Most agents have a team of people they have worked with and trust in different areas of the home buying process. Why not take advantage of their knowledge instead of winging it and hoping you’ve found someone decent?
- Offers. – Writing an offer is a delicate and legally binding matter. Your agent knows their forms, they know how to write the offer with your interests in mind and they know how to negotiate with the Seller’s agent. You might think you’re benefiting yourself by trying to go at it alone, but believe me, having that agent with you to communicate and negotiate is far more lucrative.
In conclusion, not having a buyer’s agent is flippant and automatically puts you at a disadvantage, especially if you’re a first or second time home buyer. Don’t set yourself up for failure by forgoing the resources a buyer’s agent can offer.
My best advice to anyone selling or buying a home is to interview your agent. Meet with more than one and find someone that you feel you can trust and that fits with your personality. I think a lot of issues arise from not finding the right agent. Buying a home is one of the most financially impactful experiences of your life, so use your resources and make good decisions. Good luck out there!
Sources:
10 Reasons Why Home Buyer’s Should Hire a Real Estate Agent
Top 10 Reasons To Hire a Buyer’s Agent When Buying a House
by Jessica G. | Mar 29, 2021 | Seller Tips
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In a world where instant gratification is very valuable, it was only a matter of time until someone figured out how to bring that into the real estate industry. The concept of an iBuyer is probably something you’ve heard of, but perhaps haven’t heard the term iBuyer. Companies like Opendoor, Zillow, and iBuyer.com are impacting the industry in a big way, so I thought it was time to talk about them. The good, the bad, and the reality.
First, what exactly is an iBuyer? An iBuyer, or instant buyer, is a company that will buy your house, site unseen, based off of information you give them and a computer algorithm that determines the value of your home. It’s far more complicated than that behind the scenes, but they don’t really want you to know the interior ins and outs. They just want you to see instant and jump right in.
Since the start of these types of companies, variations have arisen, but we won’t go into all of that at this moment. Let’s just focus on this concept of instant buyers. One of the biggest things to remember about iBuying is that they are not interested in buying homes, they are interested in selling homes and convenience comes at a cost. Let’s examine the pros and cons of iBuyers.
Pros
- Convenient – A lot of people dread the idea of selling their home. For me, as an agent, I don’t see it as a daunting task, but for many it is. An iBuyer is appealing because it takes all of the tasks of selling your home out of the equation and simply buys the house. tThere is no staging, no showings, etc. Just answer some questions online and get an offer.
- Quick – The current market aside, sometimes selling your home can take some time. And sometimes the sellers don’t have time on their side, so the option of selling your home within weeks or even days is a very appealing one.
- Certain – With traditional home selling there exists the possibility of the sale falling through during the time when the home is under contract. With an iBuyer the likelihood your sale will fall through is very low. It’s basically a guaranteed deal.
It may sound appealing, but now let’s take a look at the Cons.
Cons
- Profit Loss – With an iBuyer’s offer you are selling your home at a discount. An iBuyer is in the business of making money and to do that they need to buy homes cheap and charge a fee. Studies have shown that when selling to an iBuyer you are likely paying 13%-15% MORE in fees than you would to an agent in a traditional sale scenario. So not only are you receiving a discounted sale price, but you’re paying higher fees as well.
- Deductions – After an inspection of the home, the iBuyer may identify needed repairs and may deduct those from the already discounted amount they are offering.
- Zero Negotiations – With a traditional home sale, the buyer and seller have the opportunity to negotiate with one another to make a fair deal, but with an iBuyer there is no negotiation. They make the offer and you either accept it or don’t. That’s it.
I can’t say whether iBuying is good or bad, but I do believe it’s here to stay. Sometimes in life convenience and speed is more important than profitability and the ability to negotiate. You never know until you’re in that position.
Is using an iBuyer right for you? Weigh the options. When deciding ask yourself, “Is speed and convenience more important that financials with the sale of my home?” Your situation is your own and no one can decide but you. One thing I will strongly suggest is be informed. Do your research and make educated decisions in all things. Good luck out there!
Sources:
Proptech and the Future of Real Estate – What is an iBuyer by Glen Felson
Realtor.com – What Is an iBuyer? An Essential Guide to iBuying: The Pros, Cons, and Costs by Daniel Bortz
iBuyer.com – The 10 Pros and Cons of Using iBuyers by Ryan Fink
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by Jessica G. | Mar 15, 2021 | Buyer Tips
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The home buying process can be long, exciting, and expensive. You don’t want to be faced with one more expense, however, skipping the Home Inspection could end up costing you far more than the $300-$500 it typically costs.
Here are 5 reasons a Home Inspection should be on your home buying list.
“Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.”
So your offer’s been accepted and you’re ready to skip ahead to the closing table. Take a breath and understand there may be issues you can’t see. For example, if the crawl space has mold you won’t see that from the walkthrough and you may not recognize it even if you do look down there. I can assure you, paying for the home inspection is far less expensive than putting you or your family’s health and safety at risk.
Structural Problems.
A home inspection is going to give you insight on the structural integrity of the home. The inspection can help you avoid purchasing a home with major red flags that would end up costing you much more than your initial investment.
Negotiating Power.
If a home inspection reveals issues you’ll have the chance to end the deal if the red flags are overwhelming. If not, you can negotiate repairs and/or price. For example, roof issues. Replacing the roof could end up costing a significant amount of money. With the information you’ve obtained, you can work with your agent to submit a repair request. One important thing to keep in mind here are “Sold As Is” homes, where the owner is making it clear they are not willing to do any repairs in order for the sale to go through. Even in these scenarios a home inspection is valuable, so you know what you’re walking into if you do buy it.
Maintenance Costs.
Part of budgeting home ownership is taking into account the cost to maintain the home throughout the years. A home inspection can sometimes offer explanations of potential issues and the costs of deferred maintenance.
Peace of mind.
Even if you have a home inspection that doesn’t reveal any major red flags, you can rest assured knowing you did your due diligence. Obviously, we can’t control everything and there are no guarantees, but you can have a better understanding of your new home.
Overall, home inspections are highly recommended even with newer construction. Don’t make the mistake of putting the cost over knowledge, safety and security.
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Sources:
Homes.com
Veteran’s United
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by Jessica G. | Mar 8, 2021 | Community
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Here at Impact Realty we strive to support our community and make an impact where we can. We’ve compiled an ongoing list of local businesses and their contact information to make it easier for our fellow locals to find what they need within the community. Please let us know if we can add your business to the list as we will update often!
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Automotive & Home
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Food/Drinks
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Health/Beauty Services
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Shopping/Retail
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Miscellaneous
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Don’t see your business listed? Let us know. We’d be happy to add you to our list.
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by Jessica G. | Mar 4, 2021 | Community
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Can you believe we’re already into March 2021? With everything going differently since 2020 we wanted to give a list of events in the community and surrounding areas so that if and when you feel comfortable you can find something to do.
- Thursday, March 4, 2021
- Friday, March 5, 2021
- Saturday, March 6, 2021
- Sunday, March 7, 2021
- 10:45am – Lent: A Season of Prayer and Fasting Facebook Live – Click here for more info.
- Tuesday, March 9, 2021
- Wednesday, March 10, 2021
- 9am – Virtual Networking Meeting Online Event – Click here for more info.
- 7pm – Jesse Tyler Ferguson & Julie Tanous discuss FOOD BETWEEN FRIENDS in conversation with Padma Lakshmi: TICKETED VIRTUAL EVENT – Click here for more info.
- Thursday, March 11, 2021
- 7pm – Imbolo Mbue discusses HOW BEAUTIFUL WE WERE on B&N Facebook and YouTube: VIRTUAL EVENT – Click here for more info.
- Friday, March 12, 2021
- 9am – Virtual Networking Meeting Online Event – Click here for info.
- Saturday, March 13, 2021
- Monday, March 15, 2021
- Saturday, March 20, 2021
- Wednesday, March 24, 2021
- 12pm – Peter Swanson discusses EVERY VOW YOU BREAK with Lisa Gardner on B&N Facebook: VIRTUAL EVENT –Click here for more info.
- 2pm – Dolly Parton Panel — Recent Books – Click here for more info.
- Thursday, March 25, 2021
- Thursday, March 4, 2021
- 10am – Florida Citrus Sales Event – Murfreesboro, TN @ Tractor Supply Co. – Click here for more info.
- 5pm – Women’s Self-Worth Group by Branches Counseling Center – Click here for info.
- 6pm – Singo! Every Thursday @ Hop Springs – Click here for more info.
- Friday, March 5, 2021
- 5:30pm – Porch Peep Paint ‘n Take Class #2 @ Re-Invintage Home – Click here for more info.
- 6:30pm – Friday Night Live in March! @ Party Fowl – Click here for info.
- 6:30pm – FriYAY With Friends – Pick Any Project Open Workshop@ Board & Brush Murfreesboro, TN – Click here for info.
- 7pm – Live at Puckett’s! Olivia Faye – Click here for more info
- 7pm – EAT DRINK AND KARAOKE by The NOTES Lounge – Click here for info.
- Saturday, March 6, 2021
- 9am – Saturday Serve ‘N Learn Volunteer Event by Feed America First – Click here for info.
- 12pm – Coral Nails Grand Opening @ Coral Salon & Spa – Click here for info.
- 2pm – Cookie and Beer Pairing @ MayDay Brewery – Click here for more info.
- 3pm – Charcuterie & Dream Catcher Workshop @ The Curious Kitchen – Click here for info.
- 3pm – March Beerness @ Deep South Growlers – Click here for more info.
- 7pm – Live at Puckett’s! Troy Kemp – Click here for more info.
- Sunday, March 7, 2021
- 11am – Americana Sunday Brunch feat: Delyn Christian-2 for 1 mimosas! @ Hop Springs – Click here for info.
- Monday, March 8, 2021
- 9am – Connect Murfreesboro @ Boombozz Craft Pizza & Taphouse – Click here for more info.
- 11am – Storytime at Barnes & Noble – Click here for more info.
- 6pm – Hanks’ Honky Tonk Open Mic – Click here for more info.
- Wednesday, March 10, 2021
- 7pm – Harry Potter Team Trivia in Murfreesboro! @ Party Fowl – Click here for info.
- Thursday, March 11, 2021
- 6pm – Let’s Taco ‘Bout Alinea Church! – Click here for more info.
- Friday, March 12, 2021
- 5pm – Spring Door Hanger Paint ‘n Take – Click here for info.
- 6pm – Girls Game Night – Crime Time! @ The Social Exchange – Click here for info.
- 6pm – Tired Guns at Seasons of Murfreesboro – Click here for info.
- 7pm – Tuck Everlasting @ Cannonsburgh Village – Click here for info.
- Saturday, March 13, 2021
- 10am – 2021 Women’s Conference @ The Well, Come As You Are Church – Click here for info.
- 10am – Fossils @ Wilderness Station at Barfield Crescent Park – Click here for info.
- 11am – Greenway Clean Up – Click here for more info.
- 7pm – Mixtape 80’s Tribute Band-Live at Hop Springs Taproom – Click here for more info.
- 7pm – Live at Puckett’s! Lockeland – Click here for more info.
- Sunday, March 14, 2021
- 9am – Sonata Brunch @ The Empanada Sonata – Click here for more info.
- Monday, March 15, 2021
- Wednesday, March 17, 2021
- 6pm – St. Patrick’s Day Party @ MayDay Brewery – Click here for more info.
- 7pm – Happy St. Patricks Day w/ DJ Krazee-D @ Coconut Bay Cafe – Click here for more info.
- Friday, March 19, 2021
- 12pm – 4th Anniversary Open House @ Re-Invintage Home – Click here for more info.
- 7pm – Dance party! @ Coconut Bay Cafe – Click here for info.
- Saturday, March 20, 2021
- 10am – Can Am Spyder RT Demo Tour @ Sloan’s Motorcycle & ATV – Click here for info.
- 7pm – Allman Brothers Tribute: End of the Line at Seasons of Murfreesboro – Click here for more info.
- 7pm – Joey Fletcher Band at Mayday Brewery! – Click here for more info.
- Monday, March 22, 2021
- Friday, March 26, 2021
- 7pm – Rubiks Groove live at Seasons of Murfreesboro – Click here for more info.
- 9pm – Tennessee Outlaw Country Live @ Van’s Bar & Grill – Click here for info.
- Saturday, March 27, 2021
- 11am – An Alice in Wonderland Cooking Class for Kids! @ The Curious Kitchen – Click here for info.
- Sunday, March 28, 2021
- 1pm – Hop Springs Sunday Live Music – Click here for info.
- Monday, March 29, 2021
- Wednesday, March 31, 2021
- 10am – Faithful Strokes Minecraft AM 8 Spots Left @ Faithful Strokes Art Studio – Click here for info.
If you have a March 2021 event to add to our list, please message me.
*Please note that events will not be monitored for changes or cancellations throughout the month, so make sure you check the event pages.
Sources:
Barnes & Noble
Facebook Events
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