Now that's an amazing FLIP. Check out
this week's video with Brandi, Vikki and special guest star, Aaron Lupton of
Southern Carolina Construction. Together with his brother, Jonathan the Lupton
brothers bring home design dreams to life!
Meet our newest [and quite possibly the nicest] team member, Steve. Steve is a Buyer's Agent who joined our team this year. When he is not going the extra mile for his clients, he is always there to lend all the team members a helping hand. We are happy he joined us and can't wait to see what his future holds!
You
can search using your name, the neighborhood name or organization name.
For
example, let’s see what we can find for the Spring Stone neighborhood….
Well,
looky here, we have plats for each section, by-laws, covenants, amendments to
the covenants, etc. SO MUCH INFORMATION RIGHT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS! You can even
print or save to your computer directly from the site.
The
other way is having the book and page number of the deed, here let’s take a
look at the deed for a listing we have in Huntcliff. I got the deed book and
page number from qpublic.net for Aiken County SC (we’ll do another video on
this awesome public site soon). 2400/311
Scan
the deed until you see a reference made to the plat, this one states the plat
is located in book 545 page 33, go to new search and same as before type the
numbers and BOOM there’s your plat!
As a
buyer it is important for you to verify you have the most up-to-date
information on the home and area you are purchasing in. If you are already
working with a buyer’s agent, they should be able to assist you and if not, our
team is filled with knowledgeable agents who are happy to help you with this
process!
It’s a
big decision, we know. We’re here to help!
Remember
it’s your home, your lifestyle and we are your real estate TEAM
Buyers and Sellers do you know the difference or even the level of services available when working with a real estate agent?
Let us break it down for you! People including agents use the words, you are my client or maybe customer. What does that really mean?
Brandi and Vikki will explain the differences in more detail; this way YOU can make an informed decision.
Real estate professionals have different list of fiduciary duties and responsibilities when you are their Client vs. a Customer.
Let’s start with all the CLIENT level services.
This is the highest level of services and you have a written representation agreement with an agent signed by you and your agent.
The fiduciary duties and responsibilities owed to a client are as follows:
Obedience
Which means the agent must follow the clients’ instructions within the law AND to follow all federal, state, local laws and regulations.
Loyalty
An agent must place your interest above all other interest including their own when you are the client. In other words, your interests become their interests.
Confidentiality
The agent must keep info received from their clients that may harm your clients’ positions in a transaction, private and confidential.
Reasonable skill and care
Agents need to use their professionalism, education and skill to perform our duties to our clients to best of the ability.
Honesty
Treat your clients with integrity and truthfulness. We can never deceive, mislead or misrepresent facts or information known by us. As well as be upfront about our areas of expertise.
Disclosure
Agents must disclose all known information about the transaction and property vital to making informed decisions. This includes known material facts that may affect the value of the property, desirability or decision of the buyer.
Accounting
To accurately account for money and personal property entrusted in your care that relates to the transaction.
Let’s compare this list to Customer level services.
Customers are buyers or sellers that DO NOT have a written Representation agreement with an agency. Even though there is not a written agreement, customers are owed some of the fiduciary’s duties.
Of the list on the screen remove the following:
Obedience, Loyalty, Confidentially, Reasonable skill and care.
That leaves three (3) key areas.
Honesty, Disclosure and Accounting.
As you can see when you are UN-Represented by an agent your services are greatly reduced.
The choice is yours but having a clear understanding upfront at your first substantive contact with an agent of the differences between the words CLIENT and CUSTOMER is important to know plus its SC law that an agent explain this to you.
Choose your level of service carefully and even more importantly; be WISE on what agent and/or team you choose to represent you. Have questions…. It’s a big decision, we know, we’re here to help!
