From Charlottesville Online
- Pick a Charlottesville agent that's lived in the area for at least 5 years. Charlottesville is a city that grows on you. It just takes that long to really know this area intimately.
- Do use a buyer broker realtor. She'll represent you, and you only. On the flip side, it's only fair that you go exclusive with that realtor. If you are not too sure about this arrangement, you can limit the length of time of the exclusive period.
- Are you buying as an investment or as a home? This makes a big difference. Especially for investments, do use a realtor that is also an investor so that she'll know where you're coming from.
- When do you want to move? The market in Charlottesville is seasonal. For example, in March, new residents from the University of Virginia flock to town looking for homes. The Medical school, the Law school and in fact the entire academic village have a seasonal and predictable calendar. Why is this important? The last thing you want to do is to go into a bidding war with folks that essentially have a week to make their decisions... so do shop early!
- If you have kids, do ask about the schools they will be attending. If you can, drive by these schools and ask a lot of questions about them. Better yet, get the realtor to drive you around! Note that most schools in the Charlottesville area are quite good in general (yet another reason why we keep getting these #1 rankings of best places to live).
- Retiring here? You'd think somebody would build condos, townhomes and houses with a large 1st floor. Those are hard to find in our town. Do ask your realtor about senior-friendly neighborhoods. A good realtor should immediately ask you about your lifestyle and how you intend to "retire" exactly.
- Already own an investment property? Ask your realtor about a 1031 tax free exchange. If she doesn't know what you're talking about, you are probably talking to the wrong person.
- Do shop around for home financing. Ask your realtor for recommendations.
- Here are some recommendations for Charlottesville REALTORS. We suggest you interview 2 or 3 realtors to find a compatible match.
- And finally, remember that your chosen REALTOR will work very hard for you, including nights and weekends. Contrary to public perception, the life of a realtor is very difficult, with long hours away from family and friends. Real estate agents do not all make 6 figure incomes. Those that do have earned it. So once you've settled on an agent, please be patient and loyal to them.
Category: FAQ REALTOR