The 4 Things to Expect From Your Real Estate Agent

Your agent will get homes bought or sold, but there’s so much more you should expect from a real estate professional. 

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When you’re looking to buy or sell a home, it’s important that you find the right agent to fit your needs. What should you expect from someone who represents you as a real estate agent? Here are four things that you should always be able to find in us or other agents:
1. Truth. Your agent should be honest with you about prices. When your home is being listed, we want to tell you what you can realistically expect from a sale. If you’re buying a home, we do everything we can to ensure you’re finding a correct and fair value in potential homes.

2. Timeliness. Your agent should be listening to you and be aware of your time schedule and goals. We want to make sure your needs are met within your timeframe, and a good agent will work to accomplish whatever needs your schedule requires.

3. Ease. Your agent should remove as many challenges as possible along the way. You want an agent who is proactive and is always one step ahead, keeping you aware of what has happened and what’s coming next. Your agent is your consultant and should help make the home buying or selling process a fun experience; not a stressful one.

4. The right home. As a buyer, the ultimate goal of your agent is to find you the right home. We consult with you every step of the way to make sure we know exactly what you’re looking for. We share what we’ve found with you to keep going down the right path in our searches.

"A good agent will work to accomplish whatever needs your schedule requires."

If you’re looking to buy or sell a home (and hire the right agent), feel free to reach out to us at (512) 532-5550. We’d love the opportunity to show you why our team is in the top 3% of all agents here in Austin. We look forward to hearing from you.

What Can You Do Now to Make Sure You’re Ready to Buy in 2019?

Even though we’re a few months away from the end of 2018, it’s never too early to start preparing to buy a home in 2019. Here are four great tips that will make sure you’re ready when the time comes.

Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report

Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access

Here are four steps that you can take right now to make sure that you’re ready to buy a home in 2019: 1. Check your credit score. This will range anywhere from 300 to 850. To qualify for the absolute best mortgage rates, you should aim to have your score be 740 or higher. 2. Resist the temptation to open new credit cards or lines of credit. Even though you’re bombarded with applications to get a new card on a daily basis, not doing so will help you in the long run and make sure that you’re the most qualified candidate to get a great loan with a great rate when the time comes to buy.

"Hiring the right agent is the most important step."

3. Find out what you’ll need for a down payment. Talk with your mortgage lender and determine just how much you’ll need to buy. If you’re going to be a little short, consider asking families for monetary gifts for this purpose during the holiday season. Most of them will be so excited to get in on the process of helping you buy a home and would love to contribute to that goal in lieu of presents.

4. Hire the right agent. This is probably the most important step. When you hire the right real estate agent, they’ll be able to counsel you and take you all the way through the loan process. They can connect you with the right mortgage lender, make sure you get approved, and take you step by step through the rest of the process. That’s exactly what we do on The Smith Team.


When you work with us, you’re in good hands. We would love to help you with your home purchase in 2019. If you have any questions for us or want to learn more about what we can do for you, don’t hesitate to give us a call or send us an email today. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Is it Time for You to Move?

If you’ve been thinking of moving but aren’t sure whether doing so is right for you, there are four key signs that may help you decide. 

Selling in the Austin area? Get a market analysis report

Purchasing in the Austin area? Get full MLS access

There are a variety of reasons people decide to move from one home to the next, and today we’ll be highlighting four of the signs it might be time for you to make this choice for yourself: 1. Money. On either end of the financial spectrum, money can be a key motivating factor in a move. Whether you have a lot of equity in your current property and are ready to cash that in, or your current property is a bit more expensive than you’d like, the switch to a new home could be the best next step in your life. 2. Too little space. If your family is expanding and you need more room to accommodate these life changes, it may be time to move on.

"The switch to a new home could be the best next step in your life"

3. Commute time. Driving to and from work every day can become quite a chore if your home and office aren’t nearby to one another. Sometimes, a lengthy commute can be a key sign that a move is in order. 

4. Too much space. If your children have flown the nest, downsizing may be a wise choice for your future. Moving to a new home could be just the thing to help you acclimate to your new lifestyle. 

If you have any other questions or would like more information, feel free to give us a call or send us an email. We look forward to hearing from you soon.