Southern Utah Sales Statistics

To follow is a snapshot of our St George area real estate market. The information is obtained from our local MLS system, and while the information is deemed reliable, it can not be guaranteed.

Please visit my St George Utah Real Estate Blog to view a more comprehensive chart reflecting actual sale statistics for Washington County.

Sales have again remained slow, yet steady. The number of new listings and active listings has continued to rise, which is a contributing factor to the longer months in inventory. With all of the listings, buyers definitely have a choice. This is forcing sellers to price their homes competitively or risk not selling at all. Many sellers are offering incentives or drastic price reductions, to assist with their property getting SOLD.

If you have any additional St George real estate questions, feel free to visit my St George Utah Real Estate website, or submit a comment here on this blog and I can respond.

What should YOU expect from a "Buyers Agent"

Considering purchasing real estate? With the power of the Internet, buyers have a lot of power to search, and research property listed for sale. Many buyers feel that will all of the 'power' at their finger tips, they really do not need an Agent to represent them. Some buyers refuse representation, of course it is all about preference, however I would like to share what a Buyers Agent can do, and most important, SHOULD DO for you.

If you have decided to enlist the help of a Real Estate Agent to assist you with your purchase, ask if the "Agent" is a "Realtor". Although the term "Real Estate Agent" and "Realtor" are often used interchangeably, they are not necessarily the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the National Association of Realtors® are properly called 'REALTORS'®. Realtors are expected to subscribe to a strict code of ethics and they are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge for the process of buying and selling real estate.

When you contact an agent, to initiate your home search, it is likely they will ask you to sign a "Buyer Broker Agreement". This is a contractual agreement between you and the agent for a specific period of time. This contract will define what is expected between you and your agent. Signing this contract means you are asking the Realtor to represent YOU. If you do not want to commit to any one agent, then do not be surprised if you can not get any one agent to commit to YOU. Agents work very hard for their clients, the contract will essentially allow them to get paid for their work. The usual circumstance is that the sellers will pay the agent (as part of their listing agreement), not the buyer (however in rare circumstances you can be liable to pay, always read your contract carefully). If you are not going to offer a commitment to the agent, it is of little incentive for the agent to want to drive you around for days or weeks, only for you to call another agent when you are ready to purchase. Remember, if you sign the contract and you feel the agent is not holding up their end of the contract you can discuss this with the broker. It is possible that the agent or brokerage can release you from the contract, you can ask if this is possible even before you sign.

Once you commit to an agent, allow the agent to WORK for you. They should be aware of exactly what you are looking for. Do not be afraid to tell your agent if you dislike a property they have chosen to show you. It is important to express your feelings, tell them what you like and dislike in every home you see, this will assist them in filtering properties. This will ultimately save you time. Once you have found the property, and you are ready to make an offer...your agent will again be working for you.

The agent will begin pulling comparable sales and researching the statistics. Agents have the ability to see what other properties actually sold for, and can often be privileged to sale specifics. Depending on current market conditions, a strong negotiator can often return unbelievable results for you. Once your offer is accepted, your agent will assist you during your evaluation and inspections of the property. Your agent will keep on top of your time lines and keep you informed during the escrow process. At closing, your agent will be there for you to make sure all of the paperwork is in order and assist with explaining the documents you will be signing.

Your agent will be your "personal assistant"

After closing, your agent will be sure you have the keys to your new home. Remember, once you have moved in, you can always contact your agent if you have Home Warranty questions or other issues. Your agent should keep in contact with you, and it can be the start of a continuing friendship and partnership.

Paula Smith is a Realtor in St. George, Utah. I specialize in residential property for St George, Santa Clara, Ivins, SunRiver, Washington, Hurricane, and LaVerkin Utah. If you would like information about the services that I provide, contact me today. Visit my St George Utah Real Estate website to learn about me or to search the St George Utah MLS for all property listed for sale in Southern Utah.

Listing Agents are NOT all created equal...

So you've decided to place you home on the market. Now you are faced with the decision of who will list the property. Maybe you will consider an agent who is listing the home down the street? A real estate agent friend? Do a "Google" for ..."your city Listing agent"? I recommend researching many avenues before you hire an agent to represent you and who will simultaneously market your home using the most effective strategies. You must interview more than one agent. Some questions to consider during your quest for representation should be:

• "Are you a Realtor?" Realtors are more than "agents" (despite the fact that many people use the title interchangeably). Realtors are sworn to abide by a higher degree of ethics.
• "What will you do to market my property?" Obtaining a listing can be expensive for an agent. Are they financially backed to market your property? While not all forms of advertising are of monetary expense, does the agent posses the independent ingenuity to uncover alternative advertising resources. Which leads to my next question and consideration....
• "What Internet experience do you posses and utilize?" A successful agent understands the importance of a well constructed website. Since 80% of home buyers are beginning their search online, your agent must be tapping into this number in order to accomplish maximum exposure. Having a website and placing your listing on Realtor.com is a good start, but there are many additional advertising venues. Is your perspective agent aware and utilizing any of them?
• "Will you offer a guarantee?" While it is easy to make promises, are those promises being fulfilled 3 or 5 months after your sign goes in? Will you receive regular updates from the agent AND have evidence of what they have been doing to market your property? Will they BACK their promise by an agreement (preferably in writing) to release you from your listing contract if they are not accountable for their promises?
• "How much experience do you have in real estate?" While I am not opposed to a new (or "Rookie") agent...considering I, myself would likely be classified as: Rookie about to graduate to "seasoned". How "new" are they to the world of real estate. So many agents get into the business only to realize they cant afford to stay. This topic will appear in my next blog. Just be sure that your agent has the experience, knowledge and the financial means to market your listing the entire listing contract duration.

Although there are other factors and considerations for selecting your Real Estate Agent, these are a few points to consider before making a selection.

I would enjoy hearing any comments or points regarding this topic. Feel free to give your input. Thank you for reading.

I am a Realtor in St. George, Utah. I specialize in residential real estate for St. George, Santa Clara, Ivins, Washington, Hurricane, LaVerkin and Sun River, Utah areas. If you are interested in learning more about my services, contact me or visit my St George Utah Real Estate website.