Get Professional Insight from Ray Gernhart & Associates Agent Erin Light Stewart
When most people begin the home-buying process, they immediately start thinking about proximity to school districts, number of bedrooms, square footage, and a laundry list of other must-haves in their prospective new homes. One of the most important initial steps in this process, however, is finding the right real estate agent.
The person you choose to work with during this important life event can have a significant impact on how much you spend, how seamless the process is, and, ultimately, how much you love the place you choose to live. So, if you’re looking to enter the Northern Virginia real estate market, make sure to consider these tips from Erin Light Stewart, an agent with the award-winning Ray Gernhart & Associates.
Tip 1: Choose a Realtor Who Knows Every Stage of the Home-Buying Process
There’s no getting around it; the home-buying process is complex. It involves a lot of different stages, many of which involve legal documents, contracts, and other paperwork the average home buyer isn’t prepared to tackle alone. Having the right agent in your corner can help you confidently navigate these sometimes tricky waters.
Look for agents with experience in the following areas:
Title Processing
Erin, who was a title processor for several years, worked directly with mortgage companies, title agents, abstractors, banks, and attorneys. While the practical knowledge gained helps Erin steer her clients through this portion of the home-buying process, she highlighted the intangible benefit of an agent with this experience.
“The practical knowledge is helpful, but mostly I learned a lot about working with people during one of the most important and stressful times of their lives,” says Erin. “No matter how many times I prepared for a closing, I always had to keep in mind this was likely one of only a few times the parties involved would go through this home buying, home selling, or refinancing process in their entire lives. For them, it was so much more than a bunch of numbers and documents. It taught me a lot of patience and empathy early in my career.”
Especially if you’re a first-time home buyer, it can make the experience a lot more enjoyable and exciting if your agent understands the emotional component of purchasing a new home.
Rehabber
While it’s not necessary for your agent to be involved in rehabbing homes, it can prove to have significant financial benefits.
“During my time in real estate, I have taken on or assisted with many rehabs. Most have been in NOVA, but I’ve also been involved in projects in Massachusetts, North Carolina, and Texas,” says Erin. “These have ranged from minor updates and refreshes to top-to-bottom renovations.”
An agent with this experience can help you identify homes that, with a little bit of sweat equity, have the potential to be great investments. An agent with this experience can also provide invaluable advice about what kinds of changes lend the highest return on investment so you don’t end up spending money on updates that won’t yield a higher asking price.
Investor
Much like with agents who have experience in rehabbing homes, investing in property isn’t a requirement for a great agent. However, if you’re interested in purchasing real estate with the express purpose of making a profit on it (maybe you want to flip homes, for example), it can be incredibly helpful and insightful to work with an agent who has firsthand knowledge and experience in this area.
Property Management
This applies especially to people who are looking to buy future rentals. If you’re going to be taking on the responsibilities of a landlord and dealing with renters, it can be invaluable to have an agent who has done this as well. After all, renting a home is about a lot more than posting an ad on Craigslist and handing over the keys!
“I’ve been both a landlord and residential property manager, and I learned that successful, profitable landlords must know about everything from tenant screening to lease agreements to evictions,” says Erin. “It’s also crucial to be informed about asset protection.”
Tip 2: Choose a Realtor Who Knows the Market
One of the best ways to ensure you aren’t overpaying is by working with a Realtor who has local knowledge of the market.
“I’m a native to the NOVA area, and at various times, I’ve lived in Maryland, DC, and Virginia. This gives me an understanding of the nuances of different regions and even communities within those regions,” says Erin. “If I’m less familiar with an area, working with an agency like Ray Gernhart gives me access to extensive resources to facilitate the process.”
This firsthand knowledge of the area means an agent can give you a better sense of many important aspects to a home sale:
- Whether the asking price is reasonable
- What your offer should include to make you stand out (more earnest money, quick close, and more)
- What property taxes are like in that area and how they compare to other areas nearby
- The fees and restrictions associated with the homeowners association, if applicable
- Whether any special insurance needs to be secured in that area
This local knowledge can also yield long-term financial benefits.
“The NOVA market specifically seems to see steadily increasing demand and growth. There’s a lot of construction and continued investment in the infrastructure, including roads and metros, to try to keep up with the growing tech industry here, which is attracting more people,” says Erin. “This market also seems to be resilient. I moved back to the DC area about ten years ago, just as most of the country was trying to rally from the recession, but DC was not hit nearly as hard as many other places. This area was impacted but to a much smaller degree than most other parts of the country.”
Tip 3: Choose a Realtor Who’s Moved a Lot
This one might sound a bit odd, but having an agent who’s moved around benefits you in two big ways:
- The agent has knowledge of both your market and other markets around the States. This gives the agent a more well-rounded and complete view of the home-buying process.
- An agent who has moved a lot knows the particular stress of moving, as well as all the various factors that might go into that decision.
“I initially left the NOVA area to go to school, and then I returned a couple of years after graduating. Then either for professional reasons or as a military spouse, I moved in and out of the area several times after that. I can definitely understand and relate to the myriad reasons people and families need to move into or out of an area,” says Erin. “For many of my clients who have recently relocated to NOVA, there’s some inevitable culture and sticker shock, and having done it myself several times, I can help them navigate that.”
Tip 4: Choose a Realtor with a Passion for the Work
Realty isn’t for the faint of heart! It involves long hours, often including nights and weekends, and nothing is guaranteed until the buyers and sellers provide those final signatures on that last document. Many people learn about the commissions, jump into the game, and then burn out.
To have the best home-buying experience possible, you want someone who is truly excited about real estate and is dedicated to the idea of getting you into the best home for your situation.
“I love real estate; I always have,” says Erin. “I have been paying attention to and involved with real estate throughout my professional journey, and being an agent is truly the ideal way to bring all the best aspects of real estate together.
Every day, I get to help others find the properties that are right for them, whether that’s a property that needs to make financial sense as an investment or a home for the kids to grow up.”
Want to work with experienced, passionate agents who know the area and can lend their particular expertise to your search? What about an award-winning team named one of Northern Virginia Magazine’s top ten real estate agents? That’s us! Reach out to Ray Gernhart & Associates today.
