Don't Walk Into a Model Home Without Me....Here's Why...

 Have you ever gone into a model home by yourself? Here is what will happen: they will ask you for your name. It seems harmless. Everyone asks for your name! BUT, that automatically assigns you to an agent you do not know… that works for the builder! After that, I will not be allowed to help you with that deal in any way as a real estate consultant. They can also do this if you inquire online through chat rooms, if you call them, if you go to a website, if you inquire about anything from the yard sign... they will assign their agents to you after ANY contact. Seem unfair? It does to me too! We don’t know how builders are able to get away with this, but they are! 

The danger of having the builder’s agent work for you is... just that! They are the builder’s agent! So, how can you protect yourself to get the most out of your real estate experience? You can call me first. Let me know that you want to go to a model home or are interested in building and we can work through the process together. By showing up with me as your agent, you are showing up with representation. Here are four HUGE reasons you need your own representation: 

1. You have to use the builder’s lender. THIS IS A PROBLEM! They know how much money you have, what you qualify for, and everything about you. This gives the builder all of the cards! You are left unprotected because the builder has the upperhand. As an experienced agent, I avoid the builder’s lender at all costs (if they are the best deal, we will do it, but usually they aren’t)! If they know that you can pay more, they will raise their prices without you knowing! It may appear they are offering you thousands of dollars for options or closing costs, but believe me, they pass the costs on to you, usually in the form of higher interest rates or higher loan costs.

2. Questions that benefit YOU are important! Having an agent with experience, who is only representing you, not only means that you get to ask questions, it also means that your agent will be asking questions of the builder/seller that benefit you. It means that you have someone who knows which questions to ask to ensure that you are getting the best deal possible. Builder contracts and the building process are different from buying a resale home, so different questions have to be asked. 

3. Having your own agent from the beginning ensures that you get the right builder for you! Some builders do not have the best reputations--you want an agent that can help you find a reputable builder, and you don’t want to have to commit to the first builder you come in contact with.

4. Having your own realtor means that you have someone advocating for you. I once did a final walk-through with a buyer before they closed on their new home and the builder’s agent was not pointing out problems with the home. I noticed that the stucco was missing flashing and it was done poorly, so I pointed it out. You need someone who can recognize problems and advocate for them to be fixed prior to closing. An agent that works for the builder will not point out problems with the home because that agent is focusing on selling homes for the builder. Another experience I had with this was when a builder did not put safety brackets on a deck. My buyer noticed (yay!), but the builder would not listen to them. I had to go to bat for them and get the builder to fix the deck (without adding additional costs to the price of the home). This all has to be done BEFORE closing, because once you close on the home, the builder will not have any incentive to fix a problem that you notice. 

This being said, new construction is NOT bad! WE LOVE NEW HOMES! The only problem is when you have to work with their agents. But the point is… DO NOT TALK TO ANYBODY OR CONTACT ANYBODY in any way until YOUR agent registers you with that builder. Even if you call them and avoid giving them your name and contact information, they are allowed to use your caller ID information to register you with their agent, which you now know is dangerous. You have my contact information, and if you don’t I’ll put it at the end of this post because you deserve to be represented in your real estate transaction! 

TONJA MASINA

Broker and Realtor, Paradise Real Estate

801-808-5084

tmasina@gmail.com

Christ is at the Center

Take a few minutes to really ponder your life. How is your life different because of Christ? Why is Christ important to you? What are you willing to do for Him?

I hope you and I are willing to do everything and anything for Him. We must live our lives in a way that show Him that we love, honor, and respect Him and that we are grateful for His sacrifice.

If we follow Him and His promptings we will one day reach a greater potential than we now dare to imagine.

My new companion is Hermana Fernandez, from Ecuador. ADORABLE!! She is brand new in the mission. Yes, that’s the same name as my last comp from Colombia!  Good thing though, because the stockings my mom sent for me and my comp that I received after transfers had a letter for “Hermana Fernandez” in it!

At first when I was transferred back to Antofagasta, I wondered why I didn’t go somewhere else instead. But I have seen the reasons, the miracles and the outpouring of love that have happened with this transfer and I have no doubt it is where I am supposed to be!  Heavenly Father is a caring and loving God. He knows what He is doing!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!! 🎅

Umm, the timer wasn't set long enough for him to make it into the pic jaja

Gratitude Is Expected In November...What About March?

Often in the pressure of the daily grind, we take many of life’s blessings for granted. We accept the teaching of our teachers, the leadership of our leaders, and the friendship of our friends. Each of these people has contributed to us being who we are, but we often accept their contributions without noticing.

This spring, along with our sense of renewal, hope, and promise, let us also remember that one of the greatest gifts we can give is to acknowledge someone’s contribution to us. The following story is a reminder of how powerful that gift can be.

A university professor began reflecting on the people who’d had a positive impact on his life. In particular he remembered a schoolteacher who’d gone out of her way to instill in him a love of poetry. He hadn't seen or spoken to her in many years, but he located her address and sent her a letter of thanks. A short time later, he received this reply:

My dear Willie,

I cannot tell you how much your note meant to me. I am in my eighties, living alone in a small room, cooking my own meals, lonely, and, like the last leaf of autumn, lingering behind. You will be interested to know that I taught school for 50 years and yours is the first note of appreciation I ever received. It came on a blue-cold morning, and it cheered me as nothing has in many years.

The teacher’s note brought the professor to tears—and then he began searching for others who’d shaped his life, just to say thanks.

Who in your current or early life deserves your appreciation? This March as we’re coming out of financial crisis around the world, there is much to give thanks for. Don’t forget those who’ve made you possible.