Designing and Building Mid-Illinois: Realtor segment with 1st Choice Realty Pros: Tips for Home Buyers

Summary

In this episode of Designing and Building Mid-Illinois, Chris Hartsook discusses the essential steps for home buyers with Lisa Miller and Lydia Emmons from First Choice Realty Pros. The conversation covers the importance of pre-approval, how to find the right neighborhood, what to look for when touring homes, the negotiation process, and the role of a realtor in closing the deal. The episode emphasizes the support provided by realtors throughout the buying process and offers advice on choosing the right realtor.

Takeaways

• Buyers should get pre-approved before house hunting.
• Understanding your budget is crucial to avoid disappointment.
• Realtors can help buyers narrow down ideal neighborhoods.
• It's important to focus on more than just aesthetics when touring homes.
• Buyers should ask about the age of major home systems.
• A realtor acts as a mediator during negotiations.
• Inspections are vital to understanding a home's condition.
• The appraisal process ensures the home is priced correctly.
• Post-closing support is important for buyer satisfaction.
• Choosing a realtor with good reviews can enhance the buying experience.

https://1stchoicerealtypros.com/

www.bigdogcc.com

Produced by Big Dog Media group with Big Dog Business Coaching

Transcript

SPEAKER_06 0:00

Welcome to Design and Building Mid-Ellinois, one home at a time with Big Dog Construction.

SPEAKER_04 0:04

The podcast you didn't know you needed.

SPEAKER_07 0:06

It's Chris Hartzuck and Caitlin Morgini. Join us as we explore the stories, expertise, and projects shaping the future right here in Mid-Ellinois.

SPEAKER_04 0:14

Whether you're planning to build, curious about the latest trends, or just love innovative ideas, we've got insights and inspiration coming your way. And some laughs too.

SPEAKER_07 0:23

Let's go.

unknown 0:24

Big dog.

SPEAKER_05 0:25

Hey there. I'm Lisa Miller, managing broker and owner of First Choice Realty Pros. We don't just help you find a house, we help you discover home. My team and I are passionate about taking care of your needs, making the process smooth, and ensuring you get the personalized attention you deserve. Ready for the next step? Call us at 217-825-3999. With First Choice Realty Pros, you've got a team that's got your back.

SPEAKER_07 0:55

Hey, welcome everyone back to Designing the Building Mid-Ellinois Podcast, the Realtor Segment. Today we're flipping the script from last week's Realtor segment of selling your home to now if you're a home buyer. This is for you. I'm joined by our 10x partner, Lisa Miller from First Choice Realty Pros, along with her top selling agent, Lydia Emmons, and we're covering what buyers should expect from a great realtor. So today, welcome again. We're glad to have you guys back here. Feedback from last time, good. Yeah, you like it? Oh yeah. Really good.

SPEAKER_03 1:27

Yep, we're excited.

SPEAKER_07 1:28

No camera shyness. Lydia's like yipped. Okay, loosen up, Lydia. You're kind of stiff over there. Just loosen up. It's all good. Deep breath. Okay, yeah, we're good. Now we'll go to the health and wagness, a little yoga, a little bit.

unknown 1:38

Right?

SPEAKER_05 1:39

Yoga.

SPEAKER_07 1:39

Awesome. Awesome. No. Well, hey, what we're going to do in today's segment, right? You guys want to tell us about if you're wanting to buy a home and what that entails and how you at First Choice Reality Pros really will help people go through that. So we're just going to go a little QA for folks, uh, and then we'll throw some teasers at the end for people to tune in or chime into the next time, okay? Okay. So, first off, and here's what's interesting to our listeners and followers Lizzie and Lisa and Lydia don't even know what the questions are.

SPEAKER_05 2:08

Nope. No. My heart's starting to pound. No, no.

SPEAKER_07 2:12

No, it's fine because Lydia even's like, we have what we're talking about today.

unknown 2:15

I don't know what we're talking about. Why?

SPEAKER_07 2:17

It's all good, right? It's fine. So anyway, first off, what's the first thing a buyer should do even before hunting for a house? What's the first thing a buyer should do? Speed round. You guys choose.

SPEAKER_05 2:29

Pre-approval. Yeah. Talk to a lender.

unknown 2:31

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 2:32

Talk to a lender.

SPEAKER_05 2:33

Start saving money. Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:35

Yeah. Yeah. You want to know what price range you're in. That way you're not looking at $400,000 houses, but you can only afford $200,000.

unknown 2:42

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 2:42

You don't want to get your hopes up for a house you can't afford.

SPEAKER_07 2:44

What's that process look like? So I'm a buyer. What and I'm thinking, man, I really like to buy a house, right? You said get pre-approval. What do I need to do?

SPEAKER_05 2:53

Many buyers will come to us and they'll say, we don't even know how to get started. Many buyers come to us and say, we just want to start looking. This is why Lydia is saying what she is saying. We just want to look because we're not sure what we're doing and we not we don't want to get locked in with a lender. You're never locked in.

unknown 3:10

Right.

SPEAKER_05 3:10

You know, there's something putting to paper. Yeah. I mean, well, I mean, if you start doing the loan process, but when you're looking for a lender, you need to talk to them just like I'm talking to you now. Do I like working with you? Do uh do you understand what I'm what my goals are? Um, and sometimes they think realtors are supposed to do that part, but the lender is the first step of that section.

SPEAKER_07 3:36

And can can first choice reality pros help buyers with that?

SPEAKER_03 3:41

Of course. We have a lender that we go through that we use quite a bit. Usually, if someone doesn't know who, what loan officer lender they want to go through, we can send them the information.

SPEAKER_05 3:53

I have several lenders that I have worked with in the past from all over. We have local lenders that we that we go through. We have lenders that sometimes, but maybe the local lender can't do what maybe someone's that's what I was gonna ask.

SPEAKER_07 4:06

Yeah. So do you you say you have a lender?

SPEAKER_03 4:09

Is that a local one or a it's not local, but I always recommend someone that I've worked with, that I've done closings with. That way I know how they work and what their process is and that they're a good lender.

SPEAKER_07 4:20

So this is a shout out to any local lenders in the mid-Illinois area. Hey, reach out to first really uh first virtual pros, right? Yeah. And say, hey, we'd like to work with you guys.

SPEAKER_05 4:28

And and I have had that where they have called, and I mean, I get gift baskets from different lenders and things because we work well together. We're not going to recommend a lender that we don't trust.

SPEAKER_02 4:41

Right.

SPEAKER_05 4:42

You want to trust us? Well, we're gonna give you people that we trust to work with, inspectors, whoever, contractors that we work with. We don't want to just send you out there and just say, oh, that's on you. Nope. Because once you get that lender, now we're going to start talking to that lender with you and keep the process moving so that everybody's on the same page. Everybody understands exactly where they're at and where they're going.

SPEAKER_07 5:07

Right, right. No, that's great. So once the buyer has gotten pre-approved and they kind of know their budget, got that in mind, how do you, as the realtor, help them narrow down their ideal of neighborhood or area?

SPEAKER_03 5:21

Well, no, I will make on the pre-approval because that's you don't have to be pre-approved to see a property. Right. I feel like some people get confused and they think you do have to be pre-approval.

SPEAKER_07 5:30

I was from last segment. I thought so.

SPEAKER_03 5:32

You don't have to have a pre-approval to go see a property, but it helps because you walk into that property, you're like, oh, I love this house. I want to make an offer. You need a pre-approval to put an offer in and for them to even really consider you. Because I mean, if you were an owner, would you accept an offer without a pre-approval and if they can afford it?

SPEAKER_05 5:52

No.

SPEAKER_07 5:52

Unless they pull out a wall of $200,000 in cash and say, here, I'd like here's $100K to secure this while we go.

SPEAKER_05 5:57

It's kind of doublefold because for us, do we want to just say we only work with pre-approved people? Well, that kind of limits because there's a lot of people out there that don't know how to get started. That helps us help them get started so that we can help them find the next step, which is the house.

SPEAKER_07 6:17

So expanding upon that, and I'm glad you went back to that, Lydia. Are there realtors out there that only work with people that are pre-approved?

SPEAKER_05 6:23

There are some, but I'm that's their MO of how they a lot of them will say, I only work with pre-approved people. And that's wonderful and good because there's some homeowners that can tell us I only want pre-approved people walking through here. I'm not cleaning my house, I'm not getting this already. And they're just looking. They're just, you know, the neighbor knocks on the door and says, Hey, can I come in? I've always wondered what this house looked like. No. So you'll have things like that. Right. But the pre-approval, if if they're not pre-approved, we want that first contact with them. Now we have them working with people that we trust and that we work well with to get them to their goal. So, yes, very much so. We will show you the house as long as the seller or the agent on the other side says, okay.

SPEAKER_02 7:07

Sure, sure.

SPEAKER_05 7:07

And then on this end, we're going to try to keep in contact with that person until we come to a closing table for them. All right.

SPEAKER_07 7:16

I like that. Good, great. See, great feedback off of that.

SPEAKER_05 7:19

Yeah, that's good. I'm glad I'm glad you went back.

SPEAKER_07 7:22

Again, now that our buyer has been pre-approved and has a budget in mind, how do you help them narrow down for a neighborhood or an area then to buy or to show them?

SPEAKER_05 7:31

They usually kind of have an area that they want to go in.

SPEAKER_07 7:34

What if we're just like from out of state? Yeah. Out Oklahoma.

SPEAKER_05 7:38

Oklahoma people. Well, we went from Carlinville, Lichfield, we went all around, you know, because they were just testing to see where they would like to go. Sure. So we find out information about each area that they're interested in, and we start sending them information about that area.

SPEAKER_07 7:55

What type of information would would you share?

SPEAKER_05 7:57

Schools. Okay. Schools is a big thing. Yeah, schools. Community. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 8:01

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 8:01

Yeah, absolutely. If they have kids, what kind of uh community outreaches? We know we have big community things here. We have the Proverbs Markets, Chamber events, all the events that go on.

SPEAKER_03 8:12

Um Churches in the area, churches in the area, churches stores, stores too. Like how far do you have to drive to get to Target or anything major?

SPEAKER_07 8:20

Is there a Mount Olive around? Or not Mount Olive, Hello Olive Garden. See, Mount Olive Garden. Hey, we should start a new restaurant.

SPEAKER_05 8:27

Yeah. I had a friend that moved here from uh Bloomington area, and she was so mad because Carlinville didn't have a steak and shake. So that was a big deal for me.

SPEAKER_03 8:36

My sister-in-law is from Texas, lives in Texas now, and they just came home and they went to Litchfield for a steak and shake because that's all she wanted. They don't have that in Texas.

SPEAKER_05 8:43

There's a big couple of throuts to steak and shake.

SPEAKER_07 8:47

Exactly, steak and shake. But again, yeah, we we can throw out these shout-outs. And if those national companies want to throw us, that's fine. We'll mention them more times on here, right? Well, uh, that kind of goes into, I think last time you were talking about Lydia, like you'd like to get to know your potential buyer, what their needs are, how many kids, you know, how many bedrooms they would need for those kids and stuff, right? Because that would kind of narrow that down for you guys too, right?

SPEAKER_03 9:07

Yeah. Absolutely. Okay. Okay. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_07 9:10

So buyers approved, you're talking about neighborhoods and stuff, getting them in there. When touring the homes, or do you guys call them homes or products? What do you do? Oh, homes. Homes. Homes. Okay. I've heard some others say our uh uh inventory. Inventory. Inventory. Do you guys call them inventory? No. You've heard realtors call it inventory.

SPEAKER_05 9:27

Yes. I haven't. You have to say this is our inventory. No, I've heard this already. I say proper home. Property property.

SPEAKER_07 9:34

Yeah. Yeah.

SPEAKER_05 9:34

I'm a property or home store. Yeah, I say property or home. We're probably down home girls here.

SPEAKER_07 9:39

Hey, mid-Illinois, that's what we're doing, right? That's what we do, and beyond. So, but when touring the homes, um, what should buyers really focus on beyond the aesthetics of the home? For Lisa's looking at Lydia for the Well, no.

SPEAKER_03 9:52

I mean, my first thing is whenever we walk into like we want to know the ages of everything, roof, HVAC, everything. What the ages of our because how would they know that?

SPEAKER_07 10:02

How would the buyer know that?

SPEAKER_03 10:03

Well, usually it's on the disclosures sometimes. If it's not on there, um, typically what I try to do before I go show a house, we call the listing agent and find out if they know any of that information, or if they don't, if they're able to find that out. Because anyone that's buying a house, if they don't ask that, we are asking that for them. It's very important.

SPEAKER_05 10:21

And the reason we ask that is because our booklets that we leave at our listings, right? They have that information. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 10:27

So your booklets. So tell me about those booklets.

SPEAKER_05 10:29

The booklets, they have the disclosures, everything, the real property disclosure, lead, radon, all of the things that they need to know. Then there's another page that says the ages of all the appliances that are staying. What is staying? What is not staying? Are there extra things that you'd like to leave? Maybe the buyer doesn't want that freezer that's been in the company for 30 years.

SPEAKER_02 10:51

Right.

SPEAKER_05 10:51

What companies you go through for Internet.

SPEAKER_03 10:54

Internet, trash, amarin, yeah, you know, your electricity, all of those things.

SPEAKER_05 10:59

The water you're on, yeah, home repairs, any of those.

SPEAKER_07 11:01

HVAC servicing, yeah, all of that.

SPEAKER_05 11:03

Where's the crawl space located?

SPEAKER_07 11:05

Right.

SPEAKER_05 11:06

That's one of the things. If you're showing a house with a crawl space, somebody's gonna want to look down there.

SPEAKER_07 11:11

Attic access.

SPEAKER_05 11:11

Attic access.

SPEAKER_07 11:12

It's huge.

SPEAKER_05 11:13

If you have that stuff in there, then the agent on the other side, or maybe we're calling the other one, we're on the phone the whole time saying, Where's this at? Where's that at? It feels like I'm not prepared. I like to walk in and feel prepared for the buyer so that they're secure and knowing that we are behind them.

SPEAKER_07 11:33

So is this something that first choice really pros puts together for their buyers on their properties? Oh, yes. The homes?

SPEAKER_05 11:40

They get a packet.

SPEAKER_03 11:41

Yes. Even if it's not a property that I have listed, if I'm going to show a property, those are things I try. Yeah, I do my homework on it. I try to find those out before I go. There's been occasions where I show a house in two hours and I'm not home, so I don't have time to do all of it. Right. And I'll find out as I go or afterwards if they're interested, I'll get all the information gathered for them. But it's just your buyers want to know. That's important stuff. And if they don't know, because you do have some buyers that just walk in, they like the house, and that's it. You want them to know what the ages are, so they know what they're buying.

SPEAKER_05 12:11

And Chris, before we can even show a house, we have to have the buyer's agent. It is called the buyer's exclusive buyer represent representation exclusive right to purchase contract. So it's it's the contract between the buyer and the agent creating what National Association of Realtors turned that around for us. And so now we and some states they did it always. But for Illinois, it is something different. Some companies said that they were doing it long before we were. But this is where we say what we're going to do for the buyer and why they would want to pay us if it comes to that. So it just kind of gives a relief that, hey, I'm working for you and we're here to show you houses. We're here to find those houses. And your job as the buyer is to, if there's something that you find, then you bring that to us and we will get all the information just like we did in our first meeting. It just keeps everybody knowing where they're at and what they're supposed to do. It's not locking anyone in. Right. Was that your next question?

SPEAKER_07 13:20

Well, kind of, yes. I was gonna say there is a lot more than just the aesthetics of the home when when going through that that a buyer needs to pay attention to. And it sounds like at first choice reality pros, you guys really have that down on making sure that because you know, again, they're nervous, the buyers are nervous probably, or they're excited and anxious. But curb appeal does have a lot, right? Oh, absolutely. It's kind of like that first impression, like when you're dating, right? Back when you're dating, you're like, ooh, they're they're kind of cute.

SPEAKER_05 13:47

Well, everybody. When you walk in the first time at your honeymoon stage, ah, you're oohing and on all around a lot of things you missed up the first time. So I say, it's always good to come back a second time and possibly even a third.

SPEAKER_07 14:00

Rose colored glasses.

SPEAKER_05 14:01

Yes, because that second, now you're being now you have that critical eye. Correct. I didn't see this over here. I didn't see this leak. I didn't see this. There's discoloration in the roof or the the flooring. When you walk in, your eyes seem to stay even. It's not really walking up and down, up and down, or your eyes moving up and down. That's our job. We're looking, we are doing that critical eye for them, right? Just to make sure that it will be a good home for them.

SPEAKER_07 14:28

So, so do you guys point those things out on the first walkthrough? Like, oh, there's some water staining over here, or do you see this drywall crack here? Do you guys point that out? Do you kind of let them fall in love for the water?

SPEAKER_05 14:39

If we see, oh no. No, no, we're honest. We're up front. We're very upfront.

SPEAKER_07 14:43

Well, honest and integrity. That's you know what you guys are serving with.

SPEAKER_05 14:47

When I'm walking through, I've done that, you know, for 19 years and worked with a lot of inspectors. And I like to go. Now I'm not an inspector, but I go walking through the house with them. She just plays one on TV. I do. I do not play one on TV. But the the whole um learning, the whole sponge, like our first segment.

SPEAKER_02 15:07

Yep. Yep.

SPEAKER_05 15:08

I'm a sponge. I want information. So that teaches me what they're going to be looking for. It also helps me for a seller to say, hey, I know this isn't a seller segment, but this is a buyer segment. But it says to the seller, hey, these are the things the buyer inspector is going to be looking for. Let's get these taken care of. Yeah. Okay.

SPEAKER_07 15:27

Good. And remember, if you're feeling overwhelmed buyers by the process, Lisa and her team with First Choice Realty Pros are ready to guide you step by step. Just give them a call at 217-825-3999 or visit firstchoicerealitypros.com. That's the number one ST Choice Realty Pros.com. They are serving you with honesty and integrity as we're hearing here today. So with that moving on, let's talk negotiation.

SPEAKER_01 15:52

Okay.

SPEAKER_07 15:53

Right? How does having a realtor really change the game and making an offer?

SPEAKER_05 15:58

Just being um the mediator between dollars. Money changes everyone.

SPEAKER_07 16:05

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_05 16:06

You know, you it might be best friend, but you get money involved and it changes everything.

SPEAKER_07 16:11

Does a buyer ever directly uh communicate with the seller about the price?

SPEAKER_05 16:14

No. No. Okay.

SPEAKER_07 16:15

That is a good idea. That's off the table. It doesn't happen. That's between agent to agent.

SPEAKER_05 16:20

With any of that.

SPEAKER_07 16:21

Representing agent representing agent.

SPEAKER_05 16:22

Yes. Yeah. Yes. Agent to agent and then agent to seller or buyer.

SPEAKER_07 16:27

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 16:27

The buyer and seller should not. Because a buyer or seller could say something and it's not on paper. It's just words. And so they said, but they said, well, if it's not on paper, then we have nothing that says that that has been done.

SPEAKER_02 16:40

Okay.

SPEAKER_05 16:40

So I I'm a pen to paper. If this is what you're offering, put it on paper. Let me take it to my buyer and let them sign off on it.

SPEAKER_07 16:49

So you guys truly are there. You're you're at that table across from the other agent.

SPEAKER_05 16:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 16:54

Figuratively speaking. It's all probably phone and or email. Right. Back and forth. Do you guys ever go face to face with another agent and go, hey, look, this buyer really wants this? We're within $2,000. Can't we just make this happen?

SPEAKER_05 17:07

Do you guys ever have I haven't been face to face, but I've had multiple phone calls. Yeah. Yes. What can we do to make this work? Can we can we take something off the table? Can we add something to the table?

SPEAKER_02 17:16

Right.

SPEAKER_05 17:17

You know, there's negotiations that can happen, but in the end, it's the buyer's game. They get the they get the final call. If they say nope, I'm not doing another uh negotiation turn, then it's over.

SPEAKER_07 17:30

Which is Russian roulette for the seller and the buyer too. I mean, if you have a buyer, you have a buyer that's playing hardball, it's like, nope, that's all I'm offering. That's it. But they really want it. They're just trying to call the bluff of the seller. You ever see that happen?

SPEAKER_05 17:42

Sometimes. I mean, you they'll say, and and this is where we come in because sometimes they'll say, Well, this is what I want to do and and see how this works. And we'll say, Well, that's that is an idea. That is an idea. Nice. Yeah. But let's talk about the scenarios that can happen because of this. Right. And then kind of lay it down. And then they go, Oh, well, maybe that's not such a good idea. Do you really want it? Are we playing games or are we really going to go to a closing table?

SPEAKER_02 18:11

Gotcha.

SPEAKER_05 18:11

So if they really want it and we're good heading for closing, then let's make this work. And that's our job to make that happen.

SPEAKER_07 18:19

Gotcha. So once that offer is accepted, what role is of the realtor play up to the closing?

SPEAKER_03 18:27

Well, just to kind of walk through the process of it is put an offer in, offer is accepted. First thing they have to do is the buyer takes the earnest money to the title company. Usually it's on the seller's side for them to decide what title company um they are using and they hold the earnest money.

SPEAKER_07 18:42

Does the buyer physically take it there or do you, the realtor, take it?

SPEAKER_03 18:45

Either way, um we use it. Sometimes they'll drop it off or they'll hand it to us and there's a way to do it online now too, through the rest funds. So um once that's done, then we start on inspections. We start calling for inspections. Typically, I don't know how you do it, but I always give them a list of who they want. I rec I give recommendations of like who I've used a lot because that's my top question.

SPEAKER_05 19:06

Because that's our job. We give recommendations, but we don't just say, hey, this is the only person. Yes.

SPEAKER_03 19:11

Because and I always ask, have you worked with someone before that you like? And I can give them a call. But I um I always give my buyer the option. And we'll set it up for them. Yeah, I set it up every time. We set it up.

SPEAKER_05 19:22

It takes one more thought off their brain. Yep. So then we go back into negotiations about those inspections if something has come up. Sure. So we do inspection responses and then um we try to get some things fixed. Either the seller pays or the bot, you know, goes back and forth.

SPEAKER_07 19:41

Um can the price of the home adjust after inspections? Yes. So now you may go back to the negotiation table. Yeah, right.

SPEAKER_05 19:47

Yes, anytime you write an amendment to that contract, it is open to change a lot of things. Okay. Sure. Um, so you want to keep it as cool as possible to keep everything moving forward. But um, inspections are a big deal, and that's why we have to be can you buy a home without an inspection? You can, but I will have an ulcer.

SPEAKER_03 20:10

Yeah. We always recommend getting all inspections. Yes. And it depends also on the loan type. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 20:16

So so question, you have have a lot of contractors out there that like to buy, or not even really full contractors. You'll have people that want to buy a home to flip it.

SPEAKER_05 20:24

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_07 20:25

Like, I don't care what it looks like, I'm gonna get it anyway and redo it because I'm flipping it.

SPEAKER_05 20:29

Well, you might say that inspect it that you don't care because of just drywall and flooring and maybe a roof, but what if it has a septic system that costs you $20,000 to get you know, you you we want to know how deep you want to know. Sure. I feel like your inspection is $500 well worth spent. Yes. Your inspection booklet that comes from any inspector is about 45 pages with pictures and everything. It's like you're next to your Bible in your home, right? Okay, right. It tells you everything about that home. Okay, and you need that. You need that to make good decisions with your money.

SPEAKER_07 21:05

So we got inspections, we got negotiations, we got things being fixed, and then we're appraisal. Appraisal. Almost forgot the appraisal. See the appraisal. Yes, and then once the appraisal's done, they are ready to hit the closing table.

SPEAKER_05 21:16

Yeah. Everything has been at the lender, everything's been at the title company. Title Company is doing the search to make sure there's no liens or encumbrances on the property. Then the appraisal is making sure that it appraises for the amount. And we talked about this appraisal thing last time. And so I look some things up because I like a sponge. So because the the listing agent has done their due diligence and put a right price on it, the buyer agent for the buyer is doing their due diligence and finding that that is a good price. And so you bring those two together, and now you've written a contract. And then you may wonder why the appraiser already just appraised. It at that because the the work has already been done.

SPEAKER_07 22:03

The math done with math, too.

SPEAKER_05 22:04

Yeah, math. So that appraisal, he's looking at all of the market just like we do. He's doing a CMA just like us. And he's finding, hey, this is priced right. Sometimes they're not priced right, and it comes in under. Sometimes there can be equity out there over over, but not usually a ton.

SPEAKER_07 22:27

Because the selling agent would have already said, hey, this is worth more.

SPEAKER_05 22:30

Worth more. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 22:31

You should ask for more, right? Yeah. Okay. That that makes sense. I get that.

SPEAKER_05 22:35

Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 22:35

All right. So then the appraisal's done. We're at the closing table. Here's your keys.

SPEAKER_05 22:40

Here's your keys. Awesome. And you guys are there the whole way. We are there the whole way.

SPEAKER_07 22:44

And and is every agent always at the closing table?

SPEAKER_05 22:48

No. No. I've been to some that a seller or a buyer is by themselves. And I feel bad for them to get the closing.

SPEAKER_03 22:53

Their checks coming their way. They don't care. They don't have to. Yeah. I want to see them at their closing. I want to see them get the keys. Go and take their picture at their house and just congratulate them. I mean, we made it all the way through. I feel like cloth closing is the most important part of it.

SPEAKER_07 23:07

And what happens after the closing?

SPEAKER_05 23:09

The red carpet moment.

SPEAKER_07 23:11

Red carpet moment. You guys kind of walk them through and have a little bit of a we have red carpet down.

SPEAKER_05 23:16

We have balloons. We have signs. We take their picture. It's a celebration because it is probably one of the most emotional, nerve-wracking thing that you can do. And if you have a good agent, and there's a lot of good agents out there. There's a lot of good agents. And so if you've got a good agent, then they are going to walk you through step by step and they're going to get you to that closing table for that celebration. We just added the red carpet because I just felt like there's got to be more at the end. You know? And then we still contact them even after just to make sure everything is okay. We want to know, you know, even a year later, I'm sending out, you know, I send out a Christmas card. I send out I send out Christmas cards.

SPEAKER_07 23:59

Yeah, it's awesome. Yeah. Yeah. Well, so finally, what advice do you have for buyers where when they're choosing a realtor, the right realtor? What advice would you have for that buyer looking for the right realtor for their home search?

SPEAKER_05 24:13

Look for those reviews. Look to see what people have said. Those reviews are everything. I was just telling, and I even place it out on my Facebook today. Reviews are from people who have worked with you. And if they took the time to write the review, then they must have been okay with you. You know, they must have really liked you.

SPEAKER_07 24:33

Unless it's a bad one.

SPEAKER_05 24:34

Unless it's a bad one. Yeah.

SPEAKER_07 24:36

They used to say, no, what is it? No press is bad press. Yeah. In today's society, bad reviews are right.

SPEAKER_05 24:44

So you you want those reviews so that people can go in and look to see, hey, she was great to work with. She listened to me. She did, you know, what she said she was going to do, those type of things. So look at those reviews. Look at how long they've been doing it. Look to see who they're with, because it matters who their managing broker is, if they're teaching them, or they just put them out there and threw them out to the wolves, you know.

SPEAKER_03 25:07

It's an important job. I think what you just said there is I've only been doing it for two years. So whenever someone comes to me and they ask how long I've been doing it, I say two years, they're like, they think I don't know my stuff. But my go-to is Lisa Miller is my managing broker, and she has taught me well. I always say how long you've been doing it, and that I've only been doing it for two years, but I've learned a lot from her. And just for them to know that if I have questions, she's always right there. That helps a lot to have someone that is above you willing to help you and teach you because your clients, they're like, Oh, I don't just have you now, I have both of you. You have the team too, yes.

SPEAKER_07 25:44

The first choice reality pro team. Yes, right. No, that's awesome. Well, thanks, Lisa and Lydia. And for our listeners, whether buying or selling, remember a good realtor does make all the difference, right? On the whole experience.

SPEAKER_05 25:56

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_07 25:56

Definitely. All right. Well, hey, thanks for tuning in. If you're ready to find out more about buying a home, whether it's your first one, second one, third, fourth, however many, then reach out to Lisa, Lisa Miller and her team at 217-825-3999, or find them on their website at first choicerealtypros.com. That's the number one, stchoicerealtypros.com, or on their social media accounts, follow them out there on their socials, right? Let them help you every step of the way, as we heard today. And that's that's so key on that. So until next time, remember your home doesn't need perfection. It needs a plan. If you're unsure where to start, talking to a trusted local professional like Lisa Miller, it can save you time, money, and stress. And that's key, right? So thanks for listening to Designing Building Mid-Illinois, one home at a time, the realtor segment. If this episode helps you, be sure to share it with a friend. And remember, good homes aren't built overnight, but you can sure buy or sell one overnight with first choice reality pros. Sell smart, be prepared with a plan, and stay stress-free. We'll see you next time.

SPEAKER_03 26:55

I gotta do Caitlin's. Bye. Bye.

SPEAKER_00 26:59

In the military, there's no such thing as good enough. You either do the job the right way or you don't do it at all. I'm Blake Middleton of Elite Roofing Professionals and Exteriors. I'm a veteran and I brought the same mission first mindset back to Illinois. While others talk about the way it's always been done, my team focuses on the technical precision of how a roof should be built. We use the best materials, the best technology, and a level of communication you won't find anywhere else. Your home isn't just a job, it's a commitment. Elite roofing, high standards, zero compromise, clear communication.

SPEAKER_02 27:33

Give us a call today.com.

SPEAKER_06 28:18

Until next time, keep designing and building.

SPEAKER_04 28:21

See you soon.

unknown 28:22

Big Dog.

SPEAKER_01 28:23

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