Agent Profile
My job is service...service to you and your real estate transactions! How can you benefit from my 25 years of experience and expertise? What can I offer to make the process more productive?
* Current information on available housing...comparative and competitive market pricing and analysis
* Daily involvement in the local real estate marketplace.
* Thorough, comprehensive knowledge reflecting years of helping others complete their real estate business.
* Extensive network of professional resources to make the process as smooth as possible.
My commitment is to you! Being available to you...returning your calls...answering your questions...addressing your concerns...respecting your money...matching your timeline...meeting your expectations...helping accomplish your real estate goals!!
JANEESE JACKSON: 503-709-0802 or jj@janeesejackson.com
AGENCY! How exactly does “agency” apply to real estate and the relationships between buyer and seller and their real estate agent in our Portland Oregon real estate market? What are the responsibilities and obligations? AND, what are the subtleties that influence everyday behavior of agents and their clients. I actually practiced the profession of real estate for years (1985 till 1996) prior to having a reasonable and rational “legally defined” relationship with my buyers. Prior to 1996, all agents had a fiduciary responsibility to the seller. Which, of course, was always a bit silly for agents who had clients who were buyers, who often never met or had contact with the seller (other than a possible presentation of an offer to a seller….much more common in the pre-technology days) and who were truly advising their buyers on the next home or investment! The “old way” of thinking was that the seller paid the commission, thus all agents in the transaction were representing the seller. Thankfully, reason prevailed and the Oregon Real Estate Agency enacted the Buyer and Seller Agency agreements and everyone agreed that the commission structure was built into the pricing of homes!
Skip forward to present day, where buyer representation and seller representation is SOMEWHAT of an assumption. However, I think some people are still confused. When I list a home, I am responsible to the seller. I prefer the new and next buyer come represented by their own agent. That way there is NO conflict of interest. I’m not saying I haven’t handled both sides of transactions in my 24 years of servicing real estate transactions, but those are special circumstances and that’s another blog altogether (having to do with integrity and believing in “win-win”). Agency simply means my job is to represent your property in the marketing efforts and ensuing negotiations. My first step is to initiate whatever means I can employ to get “product awareness” to the general public. That means I’m first communicating with other agents, utilizing the #1 advantage Realtors have, which is the power of the real estate community!! I employ the power of our Portland RMLS (Realtor’s Multiple Listing System) where all working Realtors are immediately notified of properties that come on market with detailed information, photographs and video tours. Because over 90% of all buyers begin their new home or investment property searches on the web, your property deserves the very best online exposure possible.
But, here’s where clarification is important. As a listing agent I’m, personally, “famous” or “infamous” in quickly reacting to potential buyer inquiries. I never even ask if someone has a real estate agent representing them. If they want to see MY listing, I want to show them! It’s in my best interest and the best interest of my seller for me to show my listings. I know THAT particular listing better than most! Do I care if they have their own representation…absolutely NOT! That is in the best interest of the buyer, which means ultimately, its in the best interest of my seller. So, therein lies the confusion. When a seller calls and asks, “how many times have YOU shown the listing” it’s a meaningless question. If you’re talking to me, I’ve shown it as many times as I had an opportunity!!! But, that’s not representative of how many inquiries I may have had. An agent will often get multiple e-mails and phone calls from both agents AND the general public, looking for any specific information they can’t garner from their web experience. At higher price points, you don’t generally have buyers wandering “willy-nilly” through open houses or calling a ga-zillion agents for information. Those buyers will hire a specific agent, utilize that agent’s expertise and contacts and have that agent organize a targeted and efficient tour of homes that fall within their chosen price point and other search parameters. They don’t waste their time looking at overpriced listings or those that don’t present well on the web. At lower price points, there are more buyers available who, perhaps, have not yet identified an agent of choice and will be more likely to call the listing agent to gather information or schedule a showing. But, understanding exactly what you are hiring your agent to do is paramount to a successful relationship.
If you are selling your home, you are hiring an agent to market your property! This includes exposure to the other agents as well as enticement to agents AND potential buyers through descriptive narrative, professional photographs and multiple web displays. You are also hiring their expertise on pricing and staging your home to sell. Listen to them! Remember: “pricing, pricing, pricing is the new location, location, location”. Once an offer is procured, your agent is your conduit for negotiations and a resource for various possible repair help and referrals.
If you are buying a home, you are hiring an agent to provide service through arranging tours and professional advice through their understanding of the local real estate market. Very few people get “sold” a house. It’s much too big a decision for someone to “sell you”. A good buyer’s agent helps you sift through the pros and cons and make an educated decision. Your agent is a great sounding board and support through brainstorming. Once you’re ready to make an offer your agent is your negotiator, mentor and source for various referrals to lenders and property inspectors. Remember: “buy the least you can buy and still be happy”.
About the Author | Janeese Jackson
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