(An Interview with Graham Marden, Real Estate Broker, Prudential NW Properties,
by Christian Ullman, Internet Marketing Specialist and Personal
Web Developer for Real Estate Agents Nationwide)
Chris Ullman (CU): You've been a veteran in the real estate business for a long time now... about sixteen years, in fact. Is that right?
Graham Marden (GM): Yes, that's correct.
CU: You specialize in floating homes - isn't that an unusual area of specialization?
GM: Yes, it's very unusual... only a few real estate agents in the entire Portland area actually do these types of real estate transactions on a frequent basis. This type of transaction is very time-consuming, it's very tricky, and there is a tremendous amount of work involved on the real estate agent's end. Much more so than with a "normal", land-based transaction. So most real estate agents won't even attempt to represent a home buyer who wants to purchase a floating home - that's how tricky this area of specialization really is.
CU: What advice would you give to a person who is thinking about purchasing a floating home?
GM: I'd suggest they talk to a specialist about it first, and find out what's involved, and MAKE SURE they want to buy a floating home, before they rush out and get one. In some cases, it might be smarter for them to consider buying a land-based home.
CU: Are you available for this type of consultation, Graham, on a daily basis - and if so, does it cost anything to consult with you?
GM: I am available to discuss this, yes... as you know, I'm extremely busy, but I answer my cell phone 95 percent of the time during business hours, and if someone wants to set up a free consultation with me, they can either email me and request a free consultation, or they can just call me direct at 503-807-4504, and we can work on scheduling a consultation time that way. This consultation is free, by the way... I want to make that clear.
CU: That's very generous of you, Graham - and I'm sure this will help the people here at your Web site right now, who are reading this, especially if they are considering buying a floating home...
GM: My pleasure - I'd much rather have them call me, then have them rush out and make a mistake.
CU: Speaking of making mistakes, some more questions for you now, Graham. What's the biggest mistake that the average home buyer makes when buying a floating home - or buying any type of home at all, for that matter?
GM: They make the mistake of rushing. They see a home they like on the Internet, they call up the listing agent, the listing agent shows them the home, and then they BUY IT right away - without first securing the services of a qualified buyer's agent to represent them, and help them negotiate the terms of the purchase.
CU: So why is that such a big deal, Graham? Why is it smart to secure the services of a buyer's agent, before you go home shopping?
GM: Saving money and time, and getting what you pay for - that's the bottom line here... home buyers all over the country make this mistake - they rush in and buy a home, without first getting a qualified buyer's agent in their corner... and it can turn into a living, breathing version of "The Money Pit" in a hurry. Home buyers lose billions of dollars annually, here in the USA, for this reason alone.
CU: Why is that, Graham?
GM: Money lost in negotiating the actual purchase price of the home, for one thing. The tendency is to rush, rush, rush, once a buyer sees a home they "think" they really like - and the average home buyer thinks that they can negotiate a good deal for themselves. And the average home buyer thinks this way, even if they are plumbers by trade. A qualified buyer's agent can negotiate a good deal for you and look out for your interests in the bargain - that's their job, that's what they do... if I needed a plumber I wouldn't try and do the job myself - I'd call a plumber. Same thing applies here when purchasing a home - so it's absolutely critical to get a qualified buyer's agent in your corner before you go home shopping, in order to avoid all the hassles that might arise by doing otherwise...
CU: What hassles? Are there other issues at work here, that can cost a home buyer money, if they don't use a qualified buyer's agent?
GM: Oh, you bet. Buyers often incur large, unforeseen expenses, when they don't use a qualified buyer's agent - and this is due to the money they wind up paying out AFTER they buy the home, to repair problems found within the home.
CU: But I thought home inspections prevented that from happening... I mean, if a home is approved by a home inspector for sale, doesn't that always mean it's in tip-top condition?
GM: Not hardly. A home only has to meet certain basic criteria, in order to pass inspection, and be approved for market. And there are often many unseen problems that lay hidden inside a home. Also, inspectors sometimes "miss things", when inspecting a house. It's business - and money talks, as always. So people should really think hard about that before they rush out and buy the first home that looks good to them.
CU: Oops - I'm starting to see why not having a good buyer's agent can cost you big bucks...
GM: Yep... I'm amazed when people don't use a buyer's agent... but ignorance is bliss, I guess - until that ignorance jumps up and bites you. And here's another thing to consider - the listing agent is legally obligated to protect ONLY the seller's interests. Think about that long and hard. The listing agent has ABSOLUTELY NO LEGAL OBLIGATION to protect the interests of the buyer.
CU: And what does that mean to a potential home buyer, who deals only with the seller's agent, and doesn't get represented by a top-drawer buyer's agent, when purchasing a home?
GM: It means the seller doesn't have to divulge certain issues about the property, unless the seller is ASKED THE RIGHT QUESTIONS... it means the seller's agent (listing agent) is primarily interested, in many cases, only in selling the home for the highest possible amount of money, so they can protect the seller's interests ONLY, and make the seller as much money as they can. Doing that makes the seller very happy, obviously - and it makes the seller's agent very happy as well, since the seller's agent gets all the commission, instead of sharing it with a qualified buyer's agent. But the buyer can often be left out in the cold. Before they know it, they've paid too much money for a home that has problems.
CU: Wow - I didn't realize there were so many unseen pitfalls out there... are there any others?
GM: How much time do you have here? (Laughter.) Location, location, location. This is a concept that's lost on a lot of home buyers...home buyers quite often mistakenly think that they are getting the very best deal possible, in the very best location possible, and their home is going to appreciate RAPIDLY in value. And in many cases, they are WRONG. Not to mention the fact that property values have been dropping pretty much all over the country here lately...
CU: I know what you mean - I go around the country recruiting top real estate agents for my Web developing business, and home prices are dropping like a stone in many areas of the USA.
GM: Yep, true story.
CU: So once again, it's back to having an agent who knows what they are doing?
GM: Yep - you hit the nail right on the head, again, Chris. Specialization is the key. If you want the best value when purchasing a home, choose someone who knows the area, someone who is qualified to deal with the specific type of transaction you are undertaking (condo purchase, floating home purchase, traditional home purchase), someone who is a top producer, someone who can get you the most bang for the buck.
CU: Man. I didn't realize there were so many factors to think about - and so many problems that can befall a person when buying a home... how can I avoid all of these problems, Graham, if I'm thinking about buying a floating home, or any type of home at all?
GM: Talk to a qualified buyer's agent... I happen to be one, as you know. If you want some straightforward advice, just call me at 503-807-4504, or email me and get a free buyer's agent consultation. You can also get some answers to frequently asked questions about buying and owning a floating home, by clicking this link.
CU: Thanks for the interview, Graham!
GM: You're quite welcome.
|