Question 1

How do I choose a Realtor to represent me?

Accepted Answer

Let me cut to the chase here.

You need someone local - like hyperlocal - to represent you in the sale or purchase of your home. There are many reasons why:

each municipality has its own collection of point-of-sale ordinances that feed into the listing strategy and negotiations on offer day. You want someone who is familiar with these important details and can guide you through what could otherwise be a costly and burdensome endeavor

you may be surprised to learn that the relationships among local Realtors can positively impact the clients. A good track record, a collaborative spirit, and a trustworthy reputation go a long way when you're competing against another buyer or determining the best list price for your home

a local Realtor will have their finger on the pulse in a much more granular way than you might expect - the local few detect changes in the market on a weekly basis as we are made aware of recent pending prices well ahead of the general public. We know the local school calendar and how that will impact buyer demand...thus guiding buyers when it's time to jump at an opportunity, or advising sellers to wait another week before listing. We also know the best place to buy sushi-grade tuna (Tokyo Fish Market in Berkeley), the tastiest latte when you need a special treat (the mazapan latte at Proyecto Diaz in Oakland), and the most beautiful florist in the East Bay (Momo's in Albany)

You'll want someone experienced. Rather than the number of years of in this business, evaluate the number of transactions that person has seen. Each sale is unique in its own way, and if a person has been exposed to literally hundreds of buyers and sellers coming to terms, they've seen almost everything there is to see. You want someone who can anticipate and act in the present on your behalf to avoid trouble.

Look for someone who is available to you. No, not the 10 PM on a Tuesday night kind of available...much more important is that they have the time in their client load to make you a priority. Someone who values active listening and tailors their services to the things that are important to you. Again, moving at the speed of trust.

Last, follow your gut. You know that "click" that happens when the communication is just right, and you feel like you've known that person your whole life? That's an important feeling to pay attention to. And even if you don't intend to become best friends with your Realtor, know that they'll quickly learn some of the most personal and private details of your life as they represent your needs. You need to trust them. Hire the person that you can trust will guide you through.

Question 2

I'm a home seller - how can a Realtor help me?

Accepted Answer

A good Realtor will do a lot more than just put your home on the market and wait for the offers to role in. You can count on me for the following:

Realistic valuation: I lean on data - recent sales, the condition of your home, and the present zeitgeist of the market - to generate a valuation for your home. It would do you a disservice to over-promise and under-deliver when you are counting on this guidance to craft a major life decision.

Market updates: While we have a phrase..."you can't time the market"...it's also important to know the predictable seasons and cadences that you can expect as you decide when to list your home. Having up-to-date updates on how the market is behaving in the moment is primary.

Market preparation resources: The East Bay norm is for homes to look their best when they hit the market. While it is not an expectation that a home is in 100% perfect condition, it is ideal that a home is move-in ready to strike the highest price that the market will bear. I am very experienced in finding the right balance of market preparation items so that my clients don't enter into the realm of diminishing returns and instead reap a three-times-return on their investment. Finances have never gotten in the way of a seller who wants to improve their home and I have no- and low-cost financing options for those who need it.

Stellar marketing: Marketing doesn't begin at the first open house. Instead, a collection of decisions and actions well-ahead of time lead up to a successful marketing launch. The paint colors chosen, the right "launch" day, the content creation and printed materials...attention to detail and a true understanding of the target audience is critical for connecting the right buyer with the right house.

Disclosures and liability: I'm not just a Realtor - I also hold my brokers license. I pursued the higher licensure because I wanted to do everything in my power to protect my clients from the risk of liability. A complete and thorough set of disclosures not only protects sellers from claims of negligence or omissions, but it also directly impacts the buyers' confidence about a given home. The more confident a buyer is that the seller isn't hiding anything, the more they'll be willing to pay for a home. It's a direct correlation.

I'm the Realtor who wants to host every open house personally. I'm the Realtor who has helped clients locally and internationally sell homes (Spain, Germany, Japan...). And I'm the Realtor who chooses to work with sellers not because their home is the biggest or prettiest or most unique...but because I care about bringing the best possible outcome that the market will bear. Your success is my success.

Question 3

Do you specialize in a specific type of house?

Accepted Answer

While I have represented architecturally significant homes with pedigree names attached to them, my specialization is of a different sort. It's all about the people.

The relationship I forge with our buyers and sellers is based on trust, communication, and a shared commitment to happiness. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly we become close - we’ve always maintained that this process is more than just the walls of a house. And never is that more apparent than when I support our clients in achieving their life goals alongside a big move.

We often marvel at the wide variety of clients we help navigate a home sale or purchase. In the last two months alone I helped a young couple sell their first home and buy their forever home, a divorcing couple navigate their home sale with grace, a local celebrity sell her home with in the comfort of privacy and discretion, two separate trust sellers let go of their family homes full of memories, and a seller move from the home in which she raised her kids and lost her husband to be closer to family.

I am invited into our clients’ lives to understand the motivations for their move, to be a sounding board for their fears and hopes, and to help them navigate one of life’s most meaningful events.  There is a reason why buying or selling a home is one the top five most stressful life events - for many it’s one of the largest financial transactions of their life, and the emotions that we all feel for our homes run deep. Often our histories, identities, hopes and dreams can be so deeply woven into the place we call home, and letting go can be so much more than letting go of the physical space.

Each of my clients bring their own life experience to the table. I know that no one client is like another, and we celebrate those differences. It is an honor each time a client chooses me for their big move and I take that responsibility seriously.

Top East Bay Realtor
Jessica Waggoner

Jessica Waggoner

Psst...it's not actually about the houses

A SELECTION OF LISTINGS

Let my past work speak for itself...

Get in Touch!

Jessica Waggoner
510-604-4009
info@jesswaggoner.com

License 02084131 District Homes www.jesswaggoner.com

Top East Bay Realtor Jessica Waggoner