Category Archives: real estate

Agent Experience

At Ferguson Realtors our agents average 20.65 years of experience. That experience benefits buyers and sellers, as well as, fellow associates. Every real estate transaction offers its own set of unique challenges and it’s good to have other experienced folks surrounding you that you can call on for advise.

If you are looking to buy or sell real estate, or are someone newly licensed or looking to move your license, then call upon Ferguson Realtors at (865) 690-1300.

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What’s It Like to Work in Real Estate

Working at a local real estate firm adds value to the community by helping fellow residents and new neighbors realize their dream of home ownership. Not only can it be personally rewarding, but practicing real estate is also a great way to network and meet new people in the community.

If you think that you might be interested in a real estate career, go to www.KnoxBest.com to find out more.

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Award Winning Training

Ferguson Realtors offers its agents on-line training at no charge.  Through our affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® we are allowed access to their award winning training site, which is called Institute. Below you will find a recent press release regarding Institute:

CHICAGO – (February 16, 2018) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) was ranked #1 on the 2018 Training Top 125, which recognizes the organizations with the most successful learning and development programs in the world. The only real estate network named to this year’s Top 125, LeadingRE’s first-place position reflects the company’s rapid rise in the elite ranking, placing 3rd in 2017, 9th in 2016 and 64th in 2015.

LeadingRE, a select global community of over 565 independent real estate firms spanning six continents, earned the distinction based on its commitment to delivering best-in-class training and development for its member brokerages, as well as its corporate employees. A key component of LeadingRE’s learning programs is Institute, a robust online learning platform that currently boasts 350 online courses with new classes each month, including certifications for sales, service, leadership, marketing and relocation, as well as an extensive resource library for managers and agents.

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The Work Life of a Real Estate Agent

As one works each day in real estate, every day is a new day. Boredom is not an option and meeting new people is a must. In addition, real estate agents gain invaluable skills such as marketing, sales, operations, negotiations and networking. Most real estate agents operate as independent contractors, which mean they decide their own business model and set their own schedule.

Working at a local real estate firm adds value to the community by helping fellow residents and new neighbors realize their dream of home ownership. Not only can it be personally rewarding, but practicing real estate is also a great way to network and meet new people in the community.

If you think that you might be interested in a real estate career, go to www.KnoxBest.com to find out more.

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Questions to Ask When Selecting a REALTOR®

Make sure you choose a REALTOR® who will provide top-notch service and meet your unique needs.

  1. How long have you been in residential real estate sales? Is it your full-time job? While experience is no guarantee of skill, real estate — like many other professions — is mostly learned on the job.
  2. What designations do you hold? Designations such as GRI and CRS® — which require that agents take additional, specialized real estate training — are held by only about one-quarter of real estate practitioners.
  3. How many homes did you and your real estate brokerage sell last year? By asking this question, you’ll get a good idea of how much experience the practitioner has.
  4. How many days did it take you to sell the average home? How did that compare to the overall market? The REALTOR® you interview should have these facts on hand, and be able to present market statistics from the local MLS to provide a comparison.
  5. How close to the initial asking prices of the homes you sold were the final sale prices? This is one indication of how skilled the REALTOR® is at pricing homes and marketing to suitable buyers. Of course, other factors also may be at play, including an exceptionally hot or cool real estate market.
  6. What types of specific marketing systems and approaches will you use to sell my home? You don’t want someone who’s going to put a For Sale sign in the yard and hope for the best. Look for someone who has aggressive and innovative approaches, and knows how to market your property competitively on the Internet. Buyers today want information fast, so it’s important that your REALTOR® is responsive.
  7. Will you represent me exclusively, or will you represent both the buyer and the seller in the transaction? While it’s usually legal to represent both parties in a transaction, it’s important to understand where the practitioner’s obligations lie. Your REALTOR® should explain his or her agency relationship to you and describe the rights of each party.
  8. Can you recommend service providers who can help me obtain a mortgage, make home repairs, and help with other things I need done? Because REALTORS® are immersed in the industry, they’re wonderful resources as you seek lenders, home improvement companies, and other home service providers. Practitioners should generally recommend more than one provider and let you know if they have any special relationship with or receive compensation from any of the providers.
  9. What type of support and supervision does your brokerage office provide to you? Having resources such as in-house support staff, access to a real estate attorney, and assistance with technology can help an agent sell your home.
  10. What’s your business philosophy? While there’s no right answer to this question, the response will help you assess what’s important to the agent and determine how closely the agent’s goals and business emphasis mesh with your own.
  11. How will you keep me informed about the progress of my transaction? How frequently? Again, this is not a question with a correct answer, but it reflects your desires. Do you want updates twice a week or do you not want to be bothered unless there’s a hot prospect? Do you prefer phone, e-mail, or a personal visit?
  12. Could you please give me the names and phone numbers of your three most recent clients? Ask recent clients if they would work with this REALTOR® again. Find out whether they were pleased with the communication style, follow-up, and work ethic of the REALTOR®.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®

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