All to often first time Lanier Buyers or Sellers will select an Agent that they know, have done business with before, or one recommended by a friend, without regard as to their level of experience and knowledge about Lake Lanier property. Real estate is real estate right? Normally that would be true, but for Lanier property the complexity of this market requires more than good real estate skills. Unlike the off lake market, lakefront properties vary widely from one lot to the next and every one has a different water depths, boating conditions, lot slope, Corps line location, water views or not, dock or slip access, etc, etc. A much more complex set of considerations than off lake property, even before one looks at the home on the property, or the location on the Lake. Also very different on Lanier's 692 miles of shoreline is the fact that the homes on Lanier were built by hundreds of different builders or non builders, over a 50 year period, in five Counties with different codes or not, on lots of varying size and shape, in a huge range of styles, with a myriad of different materials. The reality is that as much as Buyers want to look at the house first, the real determinants of value for Lake property are the lot, the water depth, the lake location, the lot slope, the views or not, and the Corps line location..... because those things you cannot change ....but the house you can change. Yes of course the house value is pertinent, but may well not be the primary selection criteria in many cases.
The additional set of property attributes and the enormity of the 1000 feet deep, 692 mile long territory demand the use of a Lake Lanier Expert Agent. Over the years I've worked with many excellent off lake agents, and working together we were able to produce the very best results for our Clients. If you choose to work with that familiar and trusted agent that you know, have them work with a Lake Expert through a referral agreement, giving you the benefit of the relationship you have with that agent as well as the benefit of the knowledge and experience of the Lake Expert. There is is no additional cost to you in this arrangement and you get all the benefits.
Lake Lanier Expert Agent Competencies
So with all the requirements necessary for real expertise in this market how does one evaluate and select a Lake Lanier Expert Agent? The answer is to interview the potential Agents and look for the following five competencies.
1. No less than 5 - 7 years of successful experience working as both a Listing (lists and markets properties) and Buyer's (assists Buyers in purchasing lake property) Agent on Lanier. Each business approach provides experience and knowledge critical to becoming an Expert.
2. The ability to properly determine a winning "go to market" or listing price through thorough due diligence and superior knowledge of the current market conditions and comparable offerings. Their track record of listings sold is the proof statement of their ability to select the listing price that will get the property sold and earn the owner the full value of the property in the current market and a fair price for the Buyer.
3. The communication and valuation skills to build and clearly present a common sense and convincing value proposition statement that properly supports the listing price to Buyers.
4. The ability and skills in the use of photography, print, and internet displays, virtual tours and or video to "show your property in the very best light" meaning the highlighting of those key features that are at the heart of the value proposition in the most attractive presentation wherever the Buyer sees the listing.
5. A superior knowledge and use of the most effective advertising channels and most of all internet technology along with the dollar commitments to show your property on the widest array of real estate web sites, multiple listing services, search engines, social networks, and mobile applications. This is absolutely necessary so that wherever your potential Buyers are located and through what ever portal, web site, application or device they use to search for lakefront property they will see your property in the very best light. The Listing Agent that masters this competency will obviously attract the most Buyers and most Buyer's Agents with Buyers to your property.
Make no mistake that for Lake Lanier property the era of "drive by" real estate marketing is dead! A sign in the front yard and a prayer that a buyer will drive by is simply a plan for failure in this competitive market. When selecting the Agent to hire as your Listing Agent make sure they can clearly demonstrate and present to you how they would use these competencies to market and sell your property. When selecting a Buyer's Agent to act as your representative they should also be able to demonstrate and present how they would use these competencies to find and evaluate the property that best fits your needs and budget, as well as negotiate the purchase and sale price and terms and conditions of the Purchase and Sale Agreement. Remember the best Lake Lanier Expert Agent costs you no more than the novice, so choose the best when making the decision to buy or sell property on Lanier.
