When Does Your Realtor Have You Sign A Buyer's Agency Agreement?

The other day I was being interviewed over the phone by prospective buyers looking to hire me on as a buyer's agent. They had found me through the internet and e-mailed me and asked if there was a convenient time to talk. We scheduled the appointment and they called promptly at the time they said they were. One of the first things they said was that they were interviewing three Realtors they had found online to see who the best fit was for them. I was okay with that. Not everyone is a good fit for everyone and I have had situations where I have walked away from clients because the fit did not seem right...So I respected that. AS our conversation was going and they were asking me questions on the areas of Charlotte they were looking to potentially purchase a home in and it was areas I was very familiar with and have listed and sold many homes in those areas. So I was able to answer their questions quickly and accurately. Just as I thought it was going to get them as clients they said we have an important question for you...I thought here we go they want me to reduce commission. But quite the contrary; they asked when do require the buyer to sing an exclusive buyer's agency agreement? A question I usually get asked but not on the initial conversation. I explained how I prefer to go over it and explain it and let them read it over and then have them sign it when they are comfortable. So I really do not have a set time frame on when you sign one. You are buying a house from out of state. We have never met and have had a few conversations over the e-mail and a phone conversation. Why would I have you sing something when I have not even met you? Shockingly they said that another agent would not meet with them unless they signed the form upfront. I was a little shocked. Why would you have someone sign the form upfront when you have never really met them face to face or got to know them and decided if you two were going to be a good fit for one another? I prefer to let the client dictate to a point when they sign it. I feel that I am doing what I have told them I was going to do and they feel we are a good fit I ask them to sign it. No client has not signed it...But I do not mandate they have to for me to take them out to look at houses. Locking someone into using you as a buyer’s agent when you have not even won their trust over yet is a little disheartening for me as a Realtor. A home purchase is a very large purchase and just as you search for homes you should be able to search for a Realtor without feeling pushed... Dave diCecco Realtor/Broker Coldwell Banker United Cell:704-519-7895 ddicecco@cbunited.com www.davedicecco.com

Should I Have A Termite Inspection Done When Buying A Home?

With home sales increasing the one variable I get here in the Charlotte, NC. is should I have a termite inspection or is it a waste of money..... The question basically answers itself. Termites as we all know can and do cause massive destruction to a home. Most home owners do not know they even have termites or what to look for. Unless a house is treated on a regular basis there is a good chance that there are termites possibly in the house. I have sold homes on a slab that have had termites as well as homes with a crawl space. They do not discriminate against one or the other. The problem with them is that unless you know what to look for you have no idea they are even present in the house. I know a lot of home buyers tell me the house is on a concrete slab and there is no way termites can get in. That is so untrue. I have seen them come up through the ground and into homes more times than not. In fact I think it is easier to locate and find them on a slab than it is in a crawl space. My own personal house is built on a slab and my garage was infested with termites last year. Fortunately I knew what to look for and quickly got the issue resolved....But for most people they think it may be ants and ignore the issue. On a crawl space it is a little more complicated. We tend not to go into our crawl space that often and it is a breeding ground for termites. I sold a home where the termites had eaten away at the band sill around a third of the house weakening the wood to the point that it had to be replaced in addition to getting the termites treated. However; by just looking at the band sill we were unable to detect the house had termites. Only after a qualified termite inspector checked the house that we discovered they were there and had been there awhile. Having a termite inspection done eases the mind and allows you as a home buyer to go in knowing that the unseen bug is either not present, not done any damage or the issue has been corrected before any major damage was done. So is a termite inspection necessary or not? My professional opinion is I would not buy a house without having one done on it... I rather side on the part of caution then find out later after the damage has been done. Dave diCecco Realtor/Broker Coldwell Banker United Cell:704-519-7895 ddicecco@cbunited.com www.davedicecco.com

Is That Charlotte, NC. Neighborhood Safe?

Is that Charlotte, NC. neighborhood safe? That is one of the most commonly asked questions to me from buyers who are relocating here from another area. It is also one that is difficult because as a Realtor I am not allowed to answer that question with a yes or no answer. Nor would I. The issue becomes is what one perceives as safe may not be viewed as safe by another person. And the same could be true going the other way...So how do you know if the neighborhood or area of Charlotte, NC. you want to move to is a safe neighborhood or not for you and/or your family? One website that Charlotte, NC. area offers is through the police department. I have found this site to be great and clients I have referred to it to formulate their own opinion of the safety of a neighborhood and surrounding area in the Charlotte, NC., area have had nothing but positive things to say about it and rave to me about how it helped them in their home search for their family. The website is: http://charmeck.org/city/charlotte/cmpd/Pages/default.aspx. From there on the top bar click on for your safety and crime mapping. That will give you a one page quick tutorial on how it works. Then click on the hyper link for the crime mapping in blue. Put in the address and the time line and zoom in or out to get an overview of crimes in that area and the type of crimes if any. This site will give you the crimes reported as well as incident calls made to the police department in the area you are searching in....Based on the incidents and the type of incidents you can decipher if the neighborhood is safe for you and your family....... As a Realtor I cannot answer this question ethically. However; I can give you the information you need to get the data to make a decision that is best suited for you and your family in terms of safety. Dave diCecco Realtor/Broker Coldwell Banker United Cell: 704-519-7895 ddicecco@cbunited.com www.davedicecco.com