By Warren McNeil

Here is a new video I did regarding the “Top 5 Things to Expect  From a Tech-Savvy Realtor”

Enjoy

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 Here is the transcript of the video:

Hi There! I am Warren McNeil from Team McNeil and Re/Max Twin City Realty in Kitchener

The Internet has changed the way we all communicate in this world. As a realtor, we need to constantly stay current with technology and utilize these new methods with our marketing. Technology, if used right, can make a huge difference when marketing a home for sale. Gone are the days of the big MLS book. According to the National Association Realtors, 84% of people start their home search onlne. So hiring a tech-savvy realtor is more important then ever to give you that edge you need to sell or buy your next home. Here are the top 5 reasons to hire a tech-savvy realtor.

Number 5 – Website
It is important that a realtor has their own website. In my opinion, websites are not optional they are mandatory. They serve many purposes. A realtor’s website should be able to display listings with lots of photos, detailed desctriptions of the property and an area for virtual tours as well as provide an easy way for prospective buyers to contact the realtor.

Number 4 – Print advertising
A realtor who utilizes both print advertising and the internet is better able to take advantage of both mediums strengths. Marketing a house for sale in the newpaper and leading the buyer to the website for more information is crucical for maximizing the marketing of a property. You still need both! A tech-savvy realtor understands that many consumers still rely on traditional advertising methods. So don’t let anyone tell you otherwise.

Number 3 – Mobility
Realtors must be able to access email or text messages while in the field. Prospective buyers want information rightaway so it is very imortant for realtors to have a PDA such as a Blackberry or an Iphone.

Number 2 – SEO or Search Engine Optimization
Realtors who have good search engine ranking ensures that your listings get found on the Internet. Realtor.ca is a great website but it is not the only website to rely on when it comes to marketing your home online. Buyers also use search engines such as Google, Yahoo or Bing to look for houses. Realtors who have their websites optimized will have a better chance at getting their house listings found.

Number 1 – Web 2.0 – Social media
The internet has become more interactive over the past 5 years. Having a website is not good enough. Realtors also need to blog, do videos, Twitter and use Facebook. These are all methods that are important for us to connect with clients, prospective buyers and prospective sellers. Having a realtor that utilizes some or all of this technology ensures that you hired the right person to do the job.

The good news is, technology will continue to evolve. As new technologies come out we must harness their effectiveness so we can all do our jobs more efficiently!

Thanks for watching and see you next time!

Thanks for reading!

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil RE/MAX Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( 519.579.4110 | 519-498-8118
Connect with us on the following social networks Facebook: www.facebook.com/TeamMcNeilRemax
websites: www.TeamMcNeil.com, www.ClickThatHouse.com, www.KitchenerLofts.com, www.ElmiraRealEstate.ca

By Warren McNeil,

I put together another video that will be helpful for people who are thinking about selling their house. I give you 5 good reasons why you should hire a realtor to sell your house. If you have any questions or comments please leave them below. I hope you enjoy it!

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Here is a transcript of the video:

Hello again, I’m Warren McNeil. Real Estate Agent with Re/Max Twin City Realty in Kitchener

Today I am going to talk about the “Top 5 Reasons to Sell Your House with a Realtor”. I know there are many sellers out there right now getting ready to sell their house this year. The primary goal when selling you house is to get the most money possible. And having a good realtor on your side will make sure this process is successful. Here are the “Top 5 Reasons to sell Your House with a Realtor”.

Number 5
Pricing: We know the real estate market and can recommend a price based on recent sales in the area. We also take into consideration the condition of the home and its location. Properly pricing your house could mean the difference between your house selling quickly or sitting on the market forever. The question you need to ask yourself is, do you want to sell your house or do you want to just put it on the market?

Number 4
Market Exposure: A good realtor will market your home to the fullest so that it gets the best exposure possible. The effectiveness of various marketing is always changing, therefore we must remain cutting edge and research what works and stay on top of current trends. In addition to the traditional marketing methods such as print advertising or direct mail we also  utilize the internet and social media such as Blogs, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube to name a few.

Number 3
Experience: A good agent who sells lots of homes will be able to provide a high level of experience that will ensure that you get top dollar for you home and will also make sure that the process goes as smoothly as possible. Our experience will help reduce your stress!

Number 2
MLS and realtor.ca. MLS or multiple listing service is a database created by realtors which keeps track of all the homes that are currently for sale and those that have sold. The data in this database is very valuable and provides the realtor, sellers and buyers with information about the local real estate market. Realtor.ca is the main interface to this database and is searchable. Having your house listed in the MLS database will ensure that your house gets the maximum exposure to all prospective buyers anywhere in the world. There could be a buyer in China right now looking to relocate and is using realtor.ca to search the MLS for homes for sale in Waterloo. 

And the #1 reason to hire a realtor is to minimize risk and shift the responsibility. To act as a buffer between you and the buyer to ensure that emotions don’t get in the way. To protect your best interests and seek out qualified buyers. Dealing only with licensed realtors instead of complete strangers who may not have your best interests at heart. Shouldn’t you use a trusted professional to protect your single largest asset.

Thanks for reading!

We are a full-time real estate team in Kitchener Waterloo area. We enjoy assisting buyers and sellers with the purchase or sale of real estate in the Kitchener-Waterloo or Cambridge areas. If you would like us to help you with your home search, please check out our brand-new free search website.

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( 519.579.4110
8 www.TeamMcneil.com, www.LoftStyle.ca, www.ClickThatHouse.com
P.S. Looking for a condo or loft, check out our brand new website at www.LoftStyle.ca!

By Warren McNeil

As a Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Agent, this question is one that we seem to answer often. Although not directly asked, “why should I hire a realtor” we know this is the underlying question. There are many answers to this question and I am going to provide a few. I am sure we have all seen the howrealtorshelp commercials; they are quite entertaining to say the least. Those commercials can only show so much. In one of the commercials they show an airplane flying over the house. Implying that a realtor would help you identify better areas then others. Or the other commercial has a two couples doing an offer and the negotiations seem to take forever.

Here are a few more good reasons to realize the value that a realtor can provide to their clients.

1. Finding the house: I am sure that you have all used realtor.ca. This is a great site providing you with all the listings that match your search criteria. However it is difficult to figure out which listings are new and unless you have a photographic memory or you maintain a database of new listings, then the task can become tedious. Realtors can provide you the newest listings daily. That way you will only have to look at what has just come on to the market and discount the old listings. Realtors can also notify you of price reductions in realtime.

2. Market knowledge: Realtors can also provide you with  information such as days on market and the most recent sales in the area. Helping you to make educated decisions so that you don’t overpay for a property.

3. Expertise: Realtors sell houses everyday so they have much more experience then common individuals. Would you try to perform your own open heart surgery? Probably not. Realtors are professionals who have years of experience selling and assisting buyers with the purchase of housing.

4.  Market evaluation: Realtors know pricing because they are around houses every single day. They are always doing market evaluation, previewing houses, showing houses and selling houses. After many years of doing the same thing every day, they become extremely skilled.  Pricing is a very important part to selling a home. The incorrect price can result in the failure to sell a property. Drawing on the knowledge of a realtor can help you get top dollar for your house.

5. Negotiating: This is a big one! Realtors have experience with negotiating all aspects of an offer. Everything from price, chattels, conditions and closing dates to name a few. Although, all of us have a natural level of negotiation skill, when it It comes down to the nitty gritty, realtors bring an extra level of experience in this area that is necessary to achieve successful negotiations in the purchase and sale of a property.  Don’t underestimate their value it could save you money now or in the long run.

6. Paperwork: This is also an important part to the purchase and sale of a house or other property. It is the realtors job to make sure you are protected. They will include many details in the offer meant to protect you. An example of this is home inspection. Mostly all houses that sell in the Kitchener-Waterloo area have a home inspection condition in the offer. There are many more of these types of conditions.

I hope you found the information here helpful. If you have any questions please don`t hesitate to contact us.

Thanks for reading!

Warren & Melanie McNeil | Sales Representatives, Team McNeil
Re/Max Twin City Realty, Brokerage ( 519.579.4110 
8 www.TeamMcneil.com, www.LoftStyle.ca, www.ClickThatHouse.com