New Home Finder

By Erik J. Martin CTW FEATURES It's been said that it's not what you know in life but who you know that's most important. And that axiom also applies to buying or selling a home. Because it's often the real estate expert that has your back who will sig- nificantly determine your satisfaction level with the entire process and trans- action. Put another way, pick the right real estate agent right from the start, and good things are more likely to happen. "For buyers, it's crucial to have the right real estate professional in their corner representing them to the best of their ability. Not having the right expert can make the buying process much more tedious and complicated," says Jason Gelios, a Realtor in south- east Michigan. "For sellers, selecting the wrong real es- tate professional will make the selling process more complex and could deduct thousands of dollars from the proceeds of their sale. There is much more to sell- ing a home than sticking a sign in the yard. The right Realtor can guide a home seller through the process with their knowledge and experience, getting them the most money for their home." Experience especially matters in times like these, when the pen- dulum is shifting, and homes are taking longer to sell than in years past. "Having an agent that has seen the market shift before can be invaluable to accurately price your home so that it doesn't sit or require price re- ductions, which we have started to see recently," says Ryan Bowman, a Realtor and associate broker with eXp Realty. Pick the wrong pro and you can probably expect limited commu- nication, unscheduled showings, and disor- ganized contracting, cautions Doug Greene, owner of Signature Properties. "Inexperienced agents can create a hornet's nest of issues for you dur- ing your escrow period, whereas a good agent makes you feel like the process has been effort- less," Greene notes. A solid referral from a trusted friend or fam- ily member can often provide the best possi- ble chance to work with the ideal agent. Just be sure to look at several pros, not just the first agent or Realtor you are referred to or interact with. "Look beyond hiring a family member you met at a barbecue," Gelios cautions. "The profes- sional you select should exhibit excellent com- munication, backing up what they are saying with facts and demonstrating that they have experience with both buyers and sellers." Strong interpersonal and communication skills make a big difference here, agrees Bowman. "Ask yourself: How well do they set expecta- tions for conversations and showings? And how honest are they about their experiences, num- bers and systems to sup- port you?" Bowman asks. Be wary about any agent who offers to dis- count their commission/ services quickly. "This may sound like a money saver, but if they are quick to discount their rate, imagine how they will be when nego- tiating the sale of your home," Gelios adds. Chase Michels, a real estate consultant, says an agent worth their salt will help cover the cost of professional staging. "They should also be able to streamline the entire process by recommending lend- ers, lawyers, inspectors, tradesmen and everyone in between you may need," Michels says. "A good seller's agent should also have potential buy- ers ready to go before your home is even listed." Another fantastic trait among high-performing agents is attention to de- tail, Greene points out. "Great Realtors know comparable sales and market trends re- ally well. They can talk about a house in a cer- tain neighborhood or on a certain block with a high degree of accu- racy and use those data points to help you form opinions and make deci- sions," he says. Take the time to vet your agent candidates carefully and ask plenty of questions about anything you don't un- derstand. Ask, too, for references to past clients you can contact to learn if and to what degree they were satisfied with that agent. By Metro It might not take a home theater to enjoy the big game with friends or elevate fam- ily movie night, but a spacious entertainment room can certainly en- hance such experiences. That's especially true when homeowners give considerable thought to designing entertain- ment rooms. Film buffs and sports fans may have different notions of the ideal entertainment room, but the following are three design features that merit consideration by all looking to upgrade their entertainment spaces. 1. Screen It's easy to be over- whelmed by the sheer abundance of options when choosing a screen for an entertainment room. Televisions have long been a go-to choice, but projector screens merit consideration as well. If the room will be devoted exclusively to entertainment, then a television or a fixed pro- jector screen might be homeowners' best bets. Fixed projector screens are installed on the wall and projectors are typically hung from the ceiling. Semi-fixed pro- jector screens provide a similar viewing experi- ence but can be pulled down or retracted when residents are not watch- ing a movie. Semi-fixed can even be installed in front of a television so residents can stream a movie on the projector and then watch televi- sion through a cable box when it isn't movie night. Projectors often provide much bigger screens for a fraction of the cost of equally sized televisions. How- ever, sports fans may prefer televisions, as live-streaming sports has not yet caught up to streaming movies and TV shows in terms of reliability or even availability. As a result, many sporting events re- main available via cable television only, while even those that can be streamed tend to have a few hiccups during the game. 2. Sound Though televisions and projectors tend to come with built-in audio, the quality of that sound often leaves much to be desired. So home- owners will want to choose a sound system that provides theater- quality sound. If the room is being renovated from scratch, such as a full basement remodel, installing speakers in the ceiling can create a genuine theater experience. Ceil- ing speakers also can be installed in existing rooms, though that will likely cost more and ex- tend the time it takes to complete the project. Surround sound is a must in any entertain- ment room. Homeown- ers worried about wires need not fret, as modern wireless surround sound systems are available at many different price points. Some systems are better suited to small rooms than others, so homeowners should measure the room and choose a system that best suits its dimensions. 3. Seating Whether you're using the space to watch the big game or fire up the latest blockbuster (or both), chances are you're going to be spending considerable time sitting in your new entertain- ment room. A modular sofa might be ideal, as it can be reconfigured depending on what you're watching and how many people are watching along with you. Comfort is indeed important, but you'll also want seating that provides ample support so you aren't battling any aches and pains once you leave the room. That support also can keep residents and guests from dozing off. Everyone has their own ideas on what makes the ideal enter- tainment space. But sports fans, movie buffs and others can all agree that an entertainment room worthy of the big game or the latest blockbuster has a sizable screen, pristine sound and comfortable seats. 3 features to focus on when designing an entertainment room How to choose the right real estate agent for your needs and timeline H8 BAY AREA NEWS GROUP 001 Homes | Advertising Section

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