Waukesha County Home

Realtor From Page 1 That's why it's essential to have a Realtor who can offer guidance on a range of issues — everything from determining the market value of a property to navigating contract contingencies to appraisal and financing issues. "Many people do not real- ize that you have to sell a home three times — when the offer is accepted, at the inspection and again at the appraisal," Hauke said. So, when you're looking for this all-important expert- ise, asking questions — a lot of questions — is crucial. After all the questions are posed, and the research is done, Hauke shares another insight. "Since it can be a stressful and hectic process, it's imperative to know that Real- tors are on your side," she says. Whether you are hiring a Realtor as a buyer's or seller's agent, a quality profes- sional represents you and your interests — not their own. That means, as a buyer, you can expect someone who is looking out for you rather than representing the seller. As a seller, having a qualified listing agent on your side means you have someone to help control the process and protect the equity you've built up. And, whether selling or buying a home, going it alone without a Realtor can be fraught with problems — including legal issues, negotiation problems and inspec- tion repairs. Dove says, the one thing she wishes every buyer and seller knew was that "they don't know what they don't know." "By hiring a professional Realtor, the seller will most likely net more money at the closing because they have a guide tak- ing them through the process," she said. Realtors work with their clients to come up with the best strategies to help them meet their goals. A Realtor's job is to be a facilitator, not a decision maker. And being a facilitator in today's market is no small job. A good Realtor may make it look easy, but there's a lot that goes on behind the scenes. "I recently had a client say: 'In this mar- ket, Realtors don't have to do much to sell a home.' In fact, that could not be further from the truth. Today's market requires an expert in preparing and marketing for top dollar, negotiating multiple offers, explain- ing the pros and cons of various contin- gencies, and ensuring the offer gets to the closing table while avoiding obstacles that we often foresee," says Dove. Plus, a Realtor's facilitator role often extends beyond the closing. Clients may seek all kinds of home advice before, dur- ing and after a sale. Not surprisingly, a facilitator's — and therefore a Realtor's — biggest job is to lis- ten. Because just as Realtors are not all the same, neither are clients. "Whether we are representing our sell- ers or our buyers, we will never get to the finish line smoothly and successfully unless we take the time to listen to our clients. No one house is the same, no one client or their motivation is the same. Therefore, we need to listen first to truly understand how to best use our expertise and tailor the experience for them," Hauke says. HOME MAY 2022 2 Distributed by: ©2021 by Conley Media Waukesha County Home is published monthly by Conley Media - Waukesha County, 801 N. Barstow St., Waukesha, WI 53186. Contents of this publication may not be reproduced in any form without the written consent of the publisher. A publication of Conley Media Sales Director: Jim Baumgart 262/513-2621 jbaumgart@conleynet.com Editor: Dan Muckelbauer 262/513-2626 dmuck@conleynet.com Production: Patricia Scheel 262/513-2690 pscheel@conleynet.com Home Volume 11 ■ Number 4 ■ May 2022 Hauke "No one house is the same, no one client or their motivation is the same. Therefore, we need to listen first to truly understand how to best use our expertise and tailor the experience for them." – Abby Hauke, General sales manager, First Weber Inc. Lake Country and Jefferson County offices "Today's market requires an expert in preparing and marketing for top dollar, negotiating multiple offers, explaining the pros and cons of various contingen- cies, and ensuring the offer gets to the closing table while avoiding obstacles that we often foresee." – Kimberly Dove, Assistant sales director for Shorewest Realtors (StatePoint) — Starting a garden for the first time or expanding an existing plot is easier than you may think. With a little love and care, your green space will bloom and thrive. "For anyone with the inclination, a beauti- ful lawn and garden is always within reach," says Jamie Briggs, director of marketing, Exmark, a leading manufacturer of com- mercial mowers and equipment for land- scape professionals and homeowners with a lot of lawn to cut. This is the driving idea behind "Backyard Smart," a free online video series. These short explainer videos are full of facts and relevant information to answer your most common lawn and garden questions. The fol- lowing planting strategies come directly from two recent "Backyard Smart" episodes: ■ Start with seeds: Looking to add new plants to your garden and flower bed? Try starting from scratch. While most nurseries have limited species of mature plants to select from, there are literally thousands of varieties of seeds available at dirt cheap prices. A quick trip to the seed kiosk in your local hardware store offers the potential for you to enjoy flowers you've never seen and vegetables you've never tasted. "It's easy to be intimidated by the prospect of growing plants from seeds but the truth is that all you need is soil, just the right amount of water and lots of sunshine," says Briggs. "Nature will handle the rest." ■ Practice "companion planting": Whether it's growing marigolds alongside tomatoes to block bad bugs or planting corn next to squash to provide shade, plants are kind of like people, they do better with a buddy. Companion plants help block weeds, prevent pests, create fertile soil, promote pollination and offer plants a place to climb. In fact, people have been practicing this technique for centuries to create vigorous gardens. For more entertaining, easy-to-under- stand approaches to making the most of your outdoor spaces, check out the Exmark Backyard Life site at exmark.com/back- yard. If you've always dreamed of having your own, homegrown, fruits and vegetables in your cooking, or brightening your home with fresh-cut flowers, there is no better time than the present to pursue this dream. The long sunshiny days of summer are ideal for developing your green thumb. Tips to start or expand your garden and make it thrive

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