Hawaii Real Estate | Hawaii Relocations | Hawaii Home Buying & Selling

It's just my opinion (okay, maybe a bunch of others too) but isn't it natural that we believe that the ‘expert' in the field knows better than one not? I mean, we all say that we would not let a handyman perform open heart surgery on us, right? 

What's an expert anyway?

• An expert is one who has worked in a particular field for a length of time and gained knowledge and experience to be considered a reliable source.  
• An expert is considered to be  an avid thinker and recognized for their wisdom and sound judgment in their particular area of expertise.  
• An expert is a problem solver and goes above and beyond to get the right answer through a detailed process and KNOWS its solution. (An expert specialist?)
• An expert is also a team player and if that's what it takes to get the job done they have the ability to work together as a team.

So, why do you keep asking your brother, sister, aunt, mom and next door neighbor for advice....

When you have many a Realtor® with experience and knowledge and who specializes in home sales....

Just waiting for your call??

It's not rocket science.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

When I received my Real Estate License I was told, "You are the kind of real estate agent we need in this industry".  That statement rang a song that will resonate in my mind for years past and years to come.  That statement was the product of being a good human being who was ready and able to give the service a home buyer or seller needed.....in detail.

As a Home Seller, you will want a detailed agent who will walk that extra mile to market and sell your home. 85% + home buyers will be searching the internet for homes like yours and they will want to see a detailed description and a wonderful visual with photos and virtual tours of your property.  Your Realtor® will have the experience to negotiate without killing the deal and will provide you with all the details and effort from start to finish.

As a Home Buyer, you will want a detailed agent who will explain the process and have a "hands on" approach with the service they provide for you.  Regardless if you are a first time home buyer or not YOUR  REALTOR® will let you know as each step of the transaction progresses and will guide you through each from the beginning to end.

Your seasoned REALTOR® does not just have ‘years' in the real estate business but has the knowledge and up to date information of the market, business, laws and contracts.  The REALTOR® you select will have no problem going that extra mile to be detailed and having every "t" crossed and every "i" dotted.

You will accept nothing less for one of the most important decisions in your life....

Buying or Selling your Home.

Having an anal Realtor® is a good thing.....

At least that is my understanding.

Oh, we will change like chameleons in an ever changing market of Real Estate. We often cross paths with like minded clients, peers and team players to our transactions.  Our personalities will click and everything will run smoothly. Others that we don't click with is just fine too...because  we ARE the heart of all things real estate.

We Have What It Takes.

We're peacemakers, negotiators, educators, listeners and give sound advice and direction for all things real estate. No matter what is going on in the transaction we keep a level head and there is no such thing as bantering and being a party to a house of ill repute.

 Our reputation is the one thing that we base our business on and without an awesome reputation there will be nothing. We adapt and are adept in our knowledge in real estate and we have the skills to educate others. We are well trained individuals and build our business with a solid foundation;  including our ability to be personable with all on the team.

What we all have in common is the ability to mesh with all types of people.

This is Real Estate at its finest...

Do You Have What It Takes?

We all would like to be in control of our clients, right?  Wrong. Over the course of my online musings I've seen many a time where the agent is saying they "tell" the other agent what they would do in a situation such as putting in an offer, accepting an offer and so forth.  They blatantly say they tell the other agent this, that and the other.

What happened to the seller or buyer and their option to make the decision?

We ‘guide' and ‘advise' our clients while negotiating a contract. The seller's agent lets the seller know what they are facing while negotiating a contract.  Their options are:

• Counter an offer with terms (Price? Closing date? Inclusions?)
• Accept the offer (A very clean offer that needs no adjustments....the sellers love these!)
• Reject the offer (Low Ball offer, contingency to sell other property or what have you)
• Ignore the offer (Too insulting to even respond to)

Anyone that tells me that the seller ‘should' counter no matter if it's a low ball or whatever their reasoning is.... is telling me that they do not advise their client of their options and  a course of action...and the option of making the decision themselves.

The buyer's agent lets the buyer know what they are facing while negotiating a contract:

• Comparables in the neighborhood, complex etc.
• Consequences for low balling....like....losing the home they really love
• Staying within their means and not offering higher than what they are preapproved for.
• And of course other known factors such as the maintenance fees, special assessments and so forth.

Any agent that tells their client to low ball so they can test if the seller will accept it should be ________ (you fill in the blanks).  If the buyer really loves the place and doesn't want to lose it ...there won't be room for bargaining.

We are working for the best interests of our clients.

 ......But remember, the client is ultimately the decision maker!

 .......And we are just the messengers.

Through every lead we hope that it turns out to be a closed transaction with happy clients. We do everything in our power to ensure that we pay great attention to detail and listen intently to our client's needs.  A win-win situation for everyone.

We take that lead and follow up immediately. We meet with the potential client and everything seems to fall into place.  It may take months working with a home buyer  to find that ‘perfect' home or a while before that home seller actually makes that move to put their home on the market.

It may take some time but if they're ready it will happen.

There will be bumps in every transaction because no two transactions are ever alike. There are new people involved in every transaction like escrow officers, loan officers, agents on both sides and so on.  We take on the roll as team players and all work together to make the transaction happen.  Real Estate Professionals.

And then the transaction goes south. There may be a buyer who was not as qualified as the loan officer thought and somewhere along the line the criteria for lending changed.  Maybe they got a job promotion and it was best for the family not to buy because they were moving half way across the world. There may be a seller who's circumstances changed and they no longer could sell and move on.

If it doesn't happen, we roll with the changes and move on.

Shift happens.

Acceptance and understanding is the biggest asset one can have in this business.....

Lest we fall by the wayside.

 *****

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs she serves all Hawaii Home Buyers and Sellers on the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) including all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents.

Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

There's  a sense of accomplishment as each one of these short sale transactions makes progress.  There are quite a few emotions flying in the wind throughout this process and we surely feel for our clients as they go through the inner turmoil and frustrations that goes along with EVERY short sale.  They did their best and had great credit but when it came time to move and sell their home they were.....stuck.

I keep reminding myself to not take things personal.

It's hard to decipher the client's feelings when there are written words through email or abrupt phone calls with harsh words included.  Are they blaming me somehow?  I keep asking myself, "Why am I the recipient of their frustrations?".

Because I am the closest one to them during this time that actually listens.

Listening to my client's needs will continue to be the best quality I have as a real estate agent.  It's actually the best quality I have as a human being.  It doesn't take much to care and to listen.  Don't get me wrong, I am assertive and don't let anyone overstep my boundaries but I also understand that some people just need someone to listen.  How else will I know what their needs are?

Come to think of it, every transaction is a stressful time for both home buyers and home sellers.

We are there to answer questions, guide them and direct them....

But most importantly....

TO LISTEN.

Commercial Property Closes | Condolences for the Family of Bert Nagai of Nagai Realty

Though my heart is heavy, I write with the intention of once again reiterating that there is more to being a Realtor® than just closing a transaction or getting paid. We go above and beyond to support our clients in whatever is going on at the time their property is being sold.

A twice seller/buyer client called me earlier in the year asking me if I would list his dad's commercial property of business. We did list the property towards the end of February and the owner had just gotten out of surgery and trying to go through recovery.   It didn't go quite as well as planned and during this difficult time I watched as his son did all the work to close both the electrician's shop and the offices for Nagai Realty to get this property to closing.

I cried with them when Bert Nagai of Nagai Realty and Nagai Electric passed away and I became closer to the family through this transaction than during the previous two transactions because of this process.  It reminded me of the human side a Realtor® must have during a crisis.

There is no easy way to do a transaction during these difficult times although the end result is hearing the words I heard from Mr. Nagai's son this morning.   He said, "Sally, there is no one else in the world I would put my trust in to help me and my dad except you". 

There is more to Real Estate than just a transaction.

It's people helping people.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves all Hawaii Home Buyers and Sellers on the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) including all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents.

Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

The TOP TEN ATTRIBUTES of a Realtor® That Clients LOVE came to mind while thinking of the ‘aftermath' of our Hawaii Tsunami scare today.

I woke at 5:45am to a blaring cellular that only rings when family has a concern. Sure enough it was my daughter telling me to get up because the Tsunami was coming! Whaaa?  My first concern was to call my mom at work but my daughter said she already called her. My mom was happy as a clam being at work and at the country club during a crisis anyway.   Family First.

My next concern was to call my client and cancel the home inspection scheduled this morning. I gave him information about the area of his ‘soon to be home' and the reason for evacuation in low lying areas. Then I called the home inspector who was grateful for the call as he slept through the sirens!

In any case, and in no particular order (as I believe they are ALL important) the following are attributes that the client, the consumer and our peers love:

• Honesty, Respect and Integrity:  This would hold true for any professional in any business and a consumer will see through the lines of one who does not ‘walk the talk'.  Giving straightforward advice and opinions shows that the professional is knowledgeable and that they hold themselves to a higher esteem. Being REAL is an attribute that are LOVED.
• Documentation Station: Getting everything in writing, documenting conversations and knowing how to save your emails in one folder for each client so you can refer to will be a great asset. With many clients at a time you are only human and can only hold just so much in that memory bank of yours. When you can refer back to a question from a past conversation and can hear the praise by the tone of your client...or peer....you know it's an attribute that is LOVED.
• Neutral and In Gear:  Regardless of Buying or Selling a Home it IS one of the most stressful situations in a person's life. It's a big financial move and it can make the difference between the consumer moving on ...or NOT.  Regardless if there's anxiety showing keeping our cool and remaining neutral and not buying into the emotion is one of the biggest attributes LOVED.
• Knowing Real Estate Contract and Laws: Every Real Estate Contract and Local Real Estate Laws vary from state to state.  In Hawaii, we have many clients who are relocating here from another state. Regardless if they ‘know' how it was done in their state (buying and selling real estate) it does not hold true in other states. Being able to explain in detail the local laws and contract is certainly an attribute that the consumer LOVES.
• LISTENS to Their Needs:  We would not be able to determine the best course of action for Hawaii Home Selling or Hawaii Home Buying if not for asking questions and really hearing their answers. Listening is key for communication and a successful business relationship. The consumer LOVES a give and take conversation. So do your peers.
• Being Prompt and Considerate:  Being on time is a good habit of mine that my mother taught me well. I AM THERE for them physically when we have an appointment and I certainly am THERE if they have a concern by returning calls promptly. Great attributes that everyone LOVES.
• Going Above and Beyond:  Just ‘getting' by with as little effort as possible will not win anyone over. It doesn't take but a few minutes to alleviate concern by printing out a pamphlet or two. Explaining everything in detail throughout the whole process and showing  a little care by doing something extra is certainly what any consumer LOVES. 
• Team Player:   The consumer sees the Realtor® interact with all parties involved and keeping in touch of all aspects of the transaction. How? The Realtor® gives the client updates for loan progress, escrow updates, home inspection and contingency dates and so forth. Being a team player is what any consumer or peer LOVES because they know the job is going to get done.
• Healthy Boundaries: I have always believed that in personal as well as business relationships that respect is given when you have healthy boundaries. Overstepping ones boundaries is not acceptable on either side and letting the other know is an attribute that is not only respected by the consumer but LOVED by both the consumer and Realtor®. We do not tell people what they want to hear but give sound advice.
• Vibrant, Vim and Vigor:  The saying, " You have to love what you do" is going to show through your demeanor, attitude and behavior. This attribute will show immediately by the level of effort and dedication given to Real Estate and the consumer/client. I LOVE what I do ...and they surely LOVE that too!

Attributes go as far as the dedication to each and every one.

It's the quality of the attributes that this real estate professional is worth.

She packs up loads of books, pamphlets, documents and brochures for her listing appointment. Hmm...she snaps her fingers as a signal that she almost forgot something. The camera and flip video; and she grabs them and places them in her satchel as well.

Hair neatly combed and dressed in a nice pantsuit she retrieves the lint brush from the kitchen drawer and gives her pants a good go over; lest the seller take notice to the little lint balls that accumulated on the knees of her pants. Darn that Gary....he threw a wash rag in with the dark colors when doing the last load of laundry over the weekend. 

One last check....and she throws the doggie a treat before exiting the home through the front door.

One last errand before the appointment. She picks up her mom and takes her to the airport as it's the annual Las Vegas trip with her sisters...there are four of them left now. Mom is happily jabbering away and when they arrive at the airport mom insists she'll just hang out until Aunt Nancy arrives. She slaps her daughter's hand away when trying to help her with her rolling little suitcase...packed for four days.

This is my 81 year old mother....independent to say the least. I learned good morals and values from her.

In deep thought while driving to my appointment, I just knew what I'd be telling them when I sat down with all the information. They would lose over half of the cash invested into the home if they sold it right now. Other options were available and I ended up referring them to another agent on Maui as their other property on Maui would be a plus to sell.

It takes a lifetime to build a reputation. In this case I gave an honest evaluation and assessment of this particular situation, listened to their needs and gave them sound advice and guided them in the right direction.

I WILL SLEEP VERY WELL TONIGHT.

I LOVE MY MOM.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com