Frequently Asked Questions:

 
Q1. Why should we list our home for sale with you?
Q2. I heard that there are "limited service" agents who charge less.  Why shouldn't I hire the cheapest agent?
Q3. How do you sell so many homes?
Q4. Are you too busy to sell my home?
Q5. Why do your homes sell so fast? Do you price them too low?
Q6. Tell me about your marketing plan.
Q7. What is your "Guaranteed Sale Program"?
Q8. If we list with you, will my home be on the internet?
Q9. If we list with you, will we be on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?
Q10. Why should I use a team vs. a single agent?
Q11. Shouldn't I pick an "area specialist" to sell my home?
Q12. Once I have reviewed your No Risk or Obligation Listing package, then what?
Q13. How long does it take to get my home on the market?
Q14. Can I save more money if I buy and sell through you?
Q15. How do you set the price for my home?
Q16. I'm out of town. Can you handle the transaction for me or will I need to come back to town?
Q17. I need to sell my home right away. Will you buy it?
Q18. My home needs some repairs. Do you know any service people that can help?
Q19. I don't have any money to fix up my home. Can you still sell it in its current condition?
Q20. How long is your listing agreement for?
Q21. I am currently listed with another agent and want to cancel. Can you get me out of my listing agreement with them?
Q22. What if my plans change and I don't need to sell my house?
Q23. Will you be representing me or the buyer? 
Q24. Will you make a flyer for my house?
Q25. Will my home be in the Real Estate Book?
 
 
Q1. Why should we list our home for sale with you?

Answer: You should hire us for the same reason that hundreds of sellers use us year in and year out. They know that they can depend on us to get them the most money, in the shortest amount of time, with the fewest hassles and the least amount of risk. back to top

Our No Risk Home Marketing system offers benefits that the ordinary agent does not. Our program offers flexible commissions to put more money in your pocket, a client reward program when both buying and selling that actually rebates cash back to you, a cancel anytime policy, and more marketing power than any other agent in Shreveport/Bossier. Not surprisingly, our listings sell for 2.4% more and in about 40% less time than the average agent. Ask yourself, "Whats 2.4% of my homes value?"
 
Every year we help hundreds of people buy and sell. The average agent handles around five sales a year. When hiring anyone to perform a job for you, experience should weigh heavily in that decision. Who really wants to be the surgeon's first patient?

Let's examine one of our program benefits; we allow you to cancel the listing at anytime. Most agents will not give the consumer this right. You might ask yourself why agents need to "lock you up" for four to six months. Why would they be afraid to give you the right to cancel? Our philosophy is that we would rather strive to earn your business every day. We are confident that we can provide a superior level of service and care. If we don't, we don't deserve your business. Its that simple. Please see our marketing page for more information on our listing program. 
 

Q2.  I heard that there are "limited service agents" who charge less. Why shouldn't I hire the cheapest agent?

Answer: Everyone wants to get as good a deal as possible and net as much money as possible when selling. But if you save 1%-2% (which is typically what a discount broker will save you) on selling costs and then sell your home for 5%-10% less, obviously you haven't saved anything. 1% disappears pretty quickly when you are negotiating the sale of a $200K+ piece of real estate.

Selling real estate is all about getting as much exposure as possible. The fact of the matter is we can sell your home for more. We have the track record we do because we are experts at pricing the property (using a specific supply-demand analysis prior to even looking for "comps") and experts at creating the greatest amount of exposure of your property.

Sadly, there are many agents who need the deal (sometimes more than you do.) The weakest negotiator in any transaction is the one who has to have the deal. We are in the fortunate position of having enough clients that any one deal wont make us or break us. Therefore the negotiations are really about getting you the most money for your home. Period. If the offer doesn't make sense, you can count on us to tell you so. back to top

Q3.  How do you sell so many homes?

Answer: Due to our extensive print and billboard campaigns, more buyers and sellers are more familiar with us than any other agent in Shreveport/Bossier. Additionally, experience, product knowledge, attention to detail, effective marketing programs, and our skilled team all add up to positive results. Every field has people who, through their drive and passion, manage to excel. back to top

Q4. Are you too busy to sell my home?

Answer: No. While we sell a lot of homes, we sell them one at a time. The fact that we have a large staff means we have more time for our clients. Chris Hayes, our Team Leader, has more time for our clients because he has a lot of help behind the scenes. Compare this with the agent who is trying to do everything themselves. back to top

Q5. Why do your homes sell so fast? Do you price them too low?

Answer: Absolutely not. We make it our business to know the market, so we can ensure we get the highest possible price for our sellers. Our homes typically sell for 2.4% more money and in significantly less time than the average agent because of the effective marketing we do. We accomplish this by first doing a supply/demand analysis in the immediate area for any home we consider marketing. All agents have access to the same market information. It is the evaluation of what that information means to the marketing of a home that matters. X-rays mean nothing until they are evaluated by a competent doctor. Similarly, knowing what the market is doing in any area affects both the marketing time and value. Factors like area, demand, condition, pricing, accessibility, and agent choice all affect a home's time on market. back to top

Q6. Tell me about your marketing plan.

Answer: The exposure your home gets while listed with us is second to none. Our unique "Trade Up" program dramatically broadens the spectrum of buyers we can sell your home to and alleviates the problems of having to accept a contingent offer. Our signs throughout Shreveport/Bossier connect us with buyers in all price ranges and areas. Our ads and signs also reference our website, resulting in additional contact. Here buyers can view our "featured homes" in addition to shopping the broader market. Our presence on Realtor.com insures maximum property exposure to buyers throughout the country. Another important link is our marketing to the agent community. Remember, there are over 1000 agents that we want to think of us first when preparing to show properties to their buyers. back to top

Q7. What is your "Guaranteed Sale Program"?

Answer: Once you are out of the first time buyer price range, everyone is faced with the dilemma of whether to buy first or sell first. Either way is tricky, because you could end up owning two homes or none at all. In addition, many sellers will not take a contingent offer. Our Guaranteed Sale Program solves this problem. We guarantee your home sold, in under 59 days, or well buy it ourselves. That way our clients can go out and shop for their next home without worrying about whether their home will sell or not. Call for details on this exciting program. back to top

Q8. If we list with you, will my home be on the internet?

Answer: Absolutely! All of our yard signs, as well as our print and billboard ads prominently feature our website address. Our media promotion drives thousands of buyers to view homes on our website. Your home will also be prominently featured on Realtor.com, the number one real estate website in the world, as well as AOL.com and MSN.com. According to the National Association of Realtors Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, over 70% of home buyers used the internet when starting their home search process. back to top

Q9. If we list with you, will we be on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS)?

Answer: Again, absolutely! Any agent who does not place your home on MLS is doing you a huge disservice. With over 1,000 agents in Shreveport/Bossier, it is important to tap in to that agent base of buyers. Also, if you are not on MLS you cannot appear on Realtor.com, the number one real estate site on the internet. back to top


Q10. Why should I use a team vs. a single agent?

Answer: Because times have changed. No one agent can be everywhere all the time. Let's suppose an agent has a relocation buyer in town. For three or four days they have to be with just that one buyer, a dream scenario for the agent, but not so for you. They are unavailable to show your home, they are unavailable to get feedback on showings, they are unavailable to negotiate contracts or inspection reports, and so on. Also, most agents are either great at people skills or great at paperwork. Rarely will they excel at both. Unfortunately, today's real estate marketplace demands that the agent possess all of these skills.

Under a team scenario such as ours, we have specialists. We have Buyers Agents who just work with buyers. We have a full-time Listing Manager whose main job is to keep you informed of activity and feedback on showings. We have a Marketing Manager who designs and tracks all of our marketing pieces. We have a full-time Transaction Manager to handle all the details of the transaction. Each is an expert at that specific job. Simply, we can and do provide a higher level of service to our clients than most agents can even conceive of providing. Would you rather have 1 player on your team or the power of 5 that you have with our team? back to top

Q11. Shouldn't I pick an "area specialist" to sell my home?

Answer: There are agents who focus primarily in one geographic area or neighborhood. But buyers come from all over Shreveport/Bossier and even other parts of the country, not just from that small neighborhood. So an area specialist usually really means "listing agent" in the area. Many years ago the real estate business was successfully composed of lots of small "boutique" offices - where companies did specialize in a certain area or part of town. But computers, the internet, and cell phones have changed that aspect of the real estate business. Now the important points in selecting an agent are experience, track record, and marketing skills. back to top

Q12. Once I have reviewed your No Risk or Obligation Listing package, then what?

Answer: Contact our office by email or phone, and we will set up an appointment to meet with you. We will tour the home, go over recent market activity in your area to educate you on values, and make recommendations for maximizing your profit and increasing your speed of sale. back to top
 

Q13. How long does it take to get my home on the market?

Answer: Once we have a signed listing agreement and a spare key, we can have your home on the market within 24 hours. It usually takes a day or two to get pictures taken and entered onto the internet. back to top

Q14. Can I save more money if I buy and sell through you?

Answer: Absolutely! If you are selling more than one house or plan to both sell and buy (new or resale) ask for a copy of our Client Rewards Program. We will mail or email it to you immediately! back to top

Q15. How do you set the price for my home?

Answer: We will meet with you to review a complete market analysis of your home, evaluate supply and demand for the area, and examine property condition. At that point, we can guide you to the correct range of pricing. back to top

Q16. I'm out of town. Can you handle the transaction for me or will I need to come back to town?

Answer: We can take care of all the details from start to finish without you needing to come to town. We simply need a key and your eamail address or fax number to get started. back to top

Q17. I need to sell my home right away. Will you buy it?

Answer: We offer, in addition to our traditional home selling service and Trade Up Program, a guarantee buyout program. If your property qualifies, we can purchase it and close it in less than 10 days. However, it is rarely in your best interest financially to select that path. We typically can obtain up to 20% more value for your home if we put it on the open market. So the guarantee buyout is really for people for whom time is more important than money. Just contact us and we will show you the best path for your particular circumstances. back to top

Q18. My home needs some repairs. Do you know any service people that can help?

Answer: We have a number of service people whom we have used in the past and are happy to recommend to you through our concierge program. back to top

Q19. I don't have any money to fix up my home. Can you still sell it in its current condition?

Answer: Absolutely! Just like any home, we will simply evaluate the condition issues, supply/demand in the neighborhood, and pricing relative to those factors. back to top

Q20. How long is your listing agreement for?

Answer: For ease of paperwork, we typically use a six month period. But remember, unlike most agents, you are free to cancel anytime. back to top

Q21. I am currently listed with another agent and want to cancel. Can you get me out of my listing agreement with them?

Answer: Unfortunately, if you signed a listing agreement with another agent, you are bound by that agreement. You certainly can approach the broker or agent to address your unresolved issues, and some agents may let you out of your agreement early. However, our "cancel anytime" policy towards listings does not give us the authority to cancel other agents listings. back to top

Q22. What if my plans change and I don't need to sell my house?
Answer: You may cancel your listing at anytime. back to top

Q23. Will you be representing me or the buyer?

Answer: We always represent the seller on any home we have listed for sale, which means our objective is to get you the most amount of money and the best terms possible. The real question is whether we will be representing the buyer as well. In the event that we have a buyer for your home, it would fall in the category of "Dual Agency". In that scenario, unless you have instructed us in writing otherwise, ChrisHayesTeam.com would represent both parties. back to top

Q24. Will you make a flyer for my house?

Answer: Yes. We prepare a high quality, multiple photo, full color flyer on your home. However, unlike most agents, we do not place flyers outside the home in a "take one" box. Statistically, flyers out front discourage buyers from calling. If we cannot directly speak to the buyer, it is nearly impossible to sell them your home. We always place the flyer inside the home to highlight the home's unique features and as a visual reminder for the buyer. back to top

Q25. Will my home be in the Real Estate Book?

Answer: Yes, we feature all of our listings in a full two page, full color ad until your home is under contract. back to top
 
My Client-First Philosophy

There are many qualities and skills that go into being an excellent real estate professional - integrity, in-depth community and market knowledge, marketing savvy, effective negotiation skills and a high-quality professional network, all of which are hallmarks of how I work.

That said, in my experience as a Shreveport/Bossier real estate professional, I've also found that providing the very best service is essentially about putting my clients first. This means keeping myself accessible, being a good listener as well as a good communicator, and responding quickly to your needs.

This "client first" philosophy has always been my approach and it requires me to continually improve my skills and ways of doing business. In addition, I've found that the latest technologies are enabling me to do everything I've always done, only much more quickly and efficiently. They've also helped me to extend the range of services I provide to my clients.

So when you decide that you'd like to buy or sell a home in the Shreveport/Bossier area, please contact me.