Food For Thought Read this page before you proceed Here are a few of the misconceptions you’ll face when hiring the right agent to help you sell what is likely your largest asset – your home! 1) “Eric, your company is smaller than other offices in the city. How can you offer us more services, more exposure and a better result?” Fair question.   The answer is simple, but only if you really understand how the industry works. Typically, REALTORS® are independent contractors who work under a multi-national or regional umbrella Company. The key word here is “Independent.” Each agent is working with their own set of values, knowledge and resources. However, when it comes to selling themselves as REALTORS® they sell the virtues of the “Company,” by saying things like “we have the most agents,” or “we sell the most homes,” or “we” whatever. The problem is, the company isn’t working for you. The company doesn’t know you, and if they don’t know you they can’t really care about you or your particular situation in the way my team and I can. The multinational or regional company isn’t marketing your home. It’s marketing itself to the general public hoping you will hire one of their agents. Most Agents spend less than $800.00 a month advertising their Sellers homes. I spend over $15,000.00 per month marketing my Sellers homes. Who do you think will be able to drive more traffic to your home? Every marketing dollar I spend draws attention to Kamloops and the homes we have listed for sale in the area. Because of our internet strength and presence, we are literally marketing your home worldwide. The bottom line is that you can only count on the individual you hire and you are relying on what they, as individuals, are able to do for you! As an independent and locally owned company, Platinum Realty is able to offer you more consumer programs than the Multinational or Regional Companies. We mean it when we say, “flexible fees, sell yourself, guaranteed sale and cancel anytime.” To answer your question, I have structured Platinum Realty so that each client receives and benefits from the manpower, knowledge, service and resources of my entire company. When you hire me you get my entire Team. You get my marketing budget. No one in my market area spends more time, money and energy marketing their Listing Inventory than I do. That is why I have been able to sell more homes than any other agent or Team in the Kamloops area since Platinum Realty opened its doors in the spring of 2004. No other agent can provide you the same level of care, service and results that I can. Once you are satisfied, ask yourself, “why would I hire anyone else? If Eric and Platinum Realty are prepared to offer me more services, time and resources in order to insure me a better result than their competition, what am I waiting for?” 2) “Eric, the other agent said my house was worth more than you said!” My goal is to get you the most money possible for your home.  The value another agent gives you needs to be substantiated, as does mine. You, as a homeowner, need to feel that the proper research has been done by the agents you speak with. The fact is, the market will decide what your home is worth. As a REALTOR®, my job is to tell you what you need to hear versus what you would like to hear. When I give you my estimation of the value of your home, it will be done by way of a comparative market analysis in much the same way as an appraiser would do. However, if you feel your home is worth more and you want to list it at a higher price than I recommend, then that is your choice. In a competitive business like ours, some agents may tell you what they think you would like to hear in order to secure your business. I will not play that game with you, but, if you would like, I will offer you a high-low price range that I feel your home lies within. At the end of the day, this is your home and you have the right to ask however much you would like for it. My job is to tell you what I know your home will sell for. That doesn’t mean that it couldn’t sell for more, but the price has to be something you’re comfortable with! 3) Fact: Hiring an agent using only using Listing Price and commission as your criteria will end up costing you money... guaranteed!   Don’t cut corners on such an important decision by hiring the least expensive agent! If you had to hired a Lawyer or Doctor to defend or cure you, would you hire the least expensive one? Why would you treat your largest asset differently? As the old saying goes, “you get what you pay for!” “ALERT” The Agent with the least to offer, will try to win your listing by lowering their commission. They may even try to inflate your expectations regarding the sale price of your home in order to appeal to you. These agents hope you will jump at the instant gratification of saving a $1,000.00, or $2,000.00, should they even sell your home. This probably amounts to less than 1% of your final sale price. They want you to believe that “regardless who you hire to sell your home, the outcome will be the same.” “Nothing and I mean nothing, could be further from the truth!" Who you hire will determine the outcome of the sale of your home ... period! An outcome can vary by Tens of Thousands of Dollars! Don’t be misled by the commission carrot;  it could end up costing you an entire bushel if you do. Think about it,  if an agent is so quick to cut their own commission, how hard are they going to fight for you and your desired price?   I hope this Food For Thought will help you feel better prepared to make the important decision of hiring a real estate advisor. It would be my absolute pleasure to be asked to accept that responsibility on your behalf. Sincerely, Eric Putoto Owner Eric Putoto & Co – Platinum Realty Inc.