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Power Service
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Realtor®
| It's
Your Time |
Welcome, I've
BeenExpecting You
Incredibly
Important Stuff
Ann Arbor Area Real Estate Market Summary
Ann Arbor Area
Sales History
Your Host
It's Your Time
It's Your Money
7 Power Services
for Buyers
7 Reasons to List with Real Estate Power Service
Since You Asked
(a.k.a. FAQs)
Real Estate Listings
The Back Door
(a.k.a. Links)
more virtual art
| Technology has Improved | |
| Finding the right house can be very time consuming for you. I developed a custom database which enables me to offer my clients and customers Real Estate Power Service. I invite you to compare my services and products with the services and products offered by my colleagues. | |
| Four Databases | |
| When I started
my real estate business several years ago two databases were available
to area real estate agents. The most commonly used database was "The
Book": a printed version of information on properties listed by members
of the Ann Arbor Area Board of Realtors®. The second database
was an on-line computer database. One database was very portable and
the other was always up-to-date. Neither database was satisfactory
to me. I programmed my computer to transfer data from the on-line computer database to a powerful database application which I carry on my laptop computer. The database which I developed is both portable and up-to-date. I have developed a number of products with this database to provide my clients and customers with important and timely information on the Ann Arbor area real estate market. A fourth database is now available to area real estate agents. It essentially allows other real estate agents to do what I have been doing for years: carry the data on a laptop computer. This database is a vast improvement over "The Book" and the on-line computer database. Unfortunately, the user interface is not state-of-the-art. |
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| Bottom Line Advice | |
| Technology
has now made it possible for real estate agents to provide clients
and customers with a variety of custom products and services. The
most important of which are possible when the real estate agent has
a portable, up-to-date, and easy to use data base. When you select
a real estate professional to assist you, select a Realtor® (a
member of an association of real estate agents who among other things
subscribe to a stringent code of ethics) who has up-to-date real estate
information on his or her lap top computer. Make sure the Realtor®
knows how to use the database. If your is providing you with appropriate custom products and services you will be able to avoid time wasters. |
|
| Time Waster #1: Sitting Down with "The Book" | |
| Several months
ago I happened to meet an acquaintance whom I had not seen since years
before I started a real estate business. He had just come from the
office of a real estate agent who has been in the business for decades
and was very highly recommended. He had spent three hours in the agent's
office looking at "The Book" and taking copious notes. I surprised him by taking out my lap top computer and displaying in less than a minute information that was more useful. He saw information on properties that were too new to be in the book and found out that some of the properties that he was interested in were no longer on the market. If you do not want to waste a lot of time finding out what is on the market right now, be sure to talk to a real estate agent with a computer. Books do come in handy. I always keep several on hand. They make great doorstops. |
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| Time Waster #2: Picking Up the Supermarket Handouts | |
| Supermarket handouts are generally more out of date than "The Book." The advantage of supermarket handouts is that you do not have to go to a real estate office to read one. Like the book they can be useful to give you a feeling for the real estate market. Unfortunately, you usually do not get a good idea of where the properties are located which leads to ... | |
| Time Waster #3: Calling a Lot of Real Estate Agents | |
|
I get a lot of calls
from people who have perused the real estate classified advertisements
or supermarket handouts and circled the properties that interest
them. They are in the process (hopefully the beginning) of calling
all the real estate agents who placed those ads. Many prospective
home buyers are not aware that information on most of the properties
advertised by Ann Arbor area Realtors® is available to all Ann
Arbor area Realtors®. |
|
| Time Waster #4: Riding Around Searching for Signs | |
| Sign hunting
is not the same as house hunting. Some local ordinances severely restrict
the use of signs. Some home owners do not want "For Sale" signs in
their yard. Some signs are in front of properties with sales agreements
pending. I very strongly suggest that you get out and look at neighborhoods that are candidates for your next home, however, do not leave for your favorite house hunting grounds without knowing where the homes you want to see are located. |
|
| Time Waster #5: Searching the Internet | |
| At best, real estate sites on the Internet are high-tech supermarket handouts. (See time waster #2.) The information is often out of date and is usually designed to make the listing agent's phone ring. (See time waster #3.) | |
| Avoid Wasting Time | |
| Visit Incredibly Important Stuff to find out more about Real Estate Power Service products and services. | |
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Realtor®
Fax: 734-665-9477
E-mail: fred@fward.com
1506 South Blvd.
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48104
Fred C. Ward, Jr.
24 March 2000
I am looking forward
to hearing from you