If you are considering a change at your home, it is important to build the strongest team of professionals for your home to help you work toward your goals. Whether buying, selling or renovating at your home, you want the pros working with you. Because the decisions made about your home impact your daily lifestyle, here are some tips for building a team to accomplish your property goals:
When buying or selling your home…
1. Research your options.
From lenders to agents to title companies, there are so many great resources available for homeowners. After doing an initial Google, dig a bit deeper to see what previous clients are saying about their experiences, and be sure to check out your candidates’ social pages. When making a decision, I always review social pages to see previous work and to determine whether my goals align with the organization’s objectives.
2. Consult your friends and family.
It’s possible that your friends and family may have been in similar scenarios recently. If they had a good experience, they’ll be happy to tell you about it and could possibly even do an introduction. Referrals are a really strong way to begin to build your team of professionals for your home.
3. Narrow your options + reach out to your short list for meet-and-greets.
Most people you connect with will be more than happy to meet you and may even suggest grabbing a coffee. Take a list of questions with you and spend the time learning about what role your coffee date can play in accomplishing your goals. In-person meetings are often extremely educational, and at the very least you’ll most likely get a free coffee out of the meeting — and if you don’t, give me a call and we’ll go to coffee.
4. Weigh the pros and cons + determine how to move forward.
Review the pros and cons of each meeting and always keep your goal in mind. If you were able to build a solid base relationship after a 30 minute meet-and-greet, odds are that a continued working relationship will also come naturally. Further, go with your gut and move forward with those that you trust. Because the people you bring together will help you navigate important life decisions, it is critical that you trust that they will prioritize your goals.
When considering a renovation project…
While the selection process for choosing home contractors is very similar to building your real estate transaction team, there are a few things I want to stress when planning to renovate your home:
1. Reviewing previous work by contractors will possibly have the most impact on your decisions.
Many contractors have a strong online presence that makes it easy to view recent work; however, some do not. If that is case, request to do a site visit to see a recent project. It may take some upfront coordination, but there is no better way to view a contractor’s work than to experience it in person.
2. Establish your project’s must-haves and be flexible with the supporting details.
As difficult as this may sound, doing so will really make your experience better. Each construction project presents its own set of challenges — most known, a few unknown. Your renovation team will work together to identify all challenges at the onset of your project, but it is almost inevitable that something will come up along the way. Even if that “something” is just an adjusted timeline due to unknowns on other projects, keeping an open mind when challenges arise will help keep frustration at bay.
3. Work with a designer.
Another way to ensure your vision is communicated to your home contractor properly is to work with a designer. Contractors are masters at getting the job done, but sometimes need additional support in project design + aesthetic. Working with a designer is a fabulous way to not only free up your time by helping you make and communicate decisions, but also to garner new ideas for your project. Often your designer will also have the inside track to contractors that are perfect for your job.
If you take one thing away from this post:
ALWAYS PLAN AHEAD
When preparing to house hunt, make sure to have a lender and real estate agent lined up. With the current pace of the market and lack of homes for purchase — the number of homes for sale was down 48.4% in September compared to September 20191 — the worst feeling is finding your perfect home, but not being ready to make an offer before it sells to another buyer. If you’re ready to begin a search of your own, drop me a line and we’ll get prepped.
Similarly, when considering a home renovation project, pull in your designer early and work with them to identify must-haves and contractors for your job. Take time in making your decisions and assume at least three weeks to one month between your initial consultation and your project’s official start date. And, if you’re in need of some creative energy, fill me in on your project and we’ll get started.
1. Great Plains Regional MLS. (2020). Monthly Indicators (September). Showing Time.
2. Planner image by Lauren Sauder on Unsplash