When it comes time to sell a home, many people choose a realtor within an hour and don’t spend the time researching what they really need and want. If you were going to buy a car you wouldn’t just choose the first car you see on the lot. You spend weeks or months researching which car suits you best. So when deciding, here are 5 questions you should ask your potential agent.

1) How many sellers are you currently representing?

A realtor with many sellers is a great sign that they are a good realtor and trusted, but too many sellers can result in the division of their attention.There is no set number that is too many, it really depends on the individual realtor.

2) How many homes have you sold in my target neighborhood?

This is an important question because you want someone who is experienced in your area. When you ask a good realtor should have a comparative market analysis or a list of homes recently sold or for sale on hand. Luckily, many agents focus their work on specific cities or neighborhoods, making them the best candidates for selling your home.

3) What price do you think my house will sell for in the current market?

This question will give you an idea of your agent’s knowledge and thought process. An experienced realtor will take data from the current market, data from a pool of comparable homes, and your home’s condition and amenities. Don’t be too concerned if the number they give you is lower than expected. Many times sellers believe their home to be worth more than it actually is. But if you really feel the price given is way too low, don’t be afraid to cross check with other home valuation sources.

3) Who else will be working with me?

Agents usually work with a team of people, but most of the time spent should be with them personally. It is good though to find out who the others are on the team.

4) What are your marketing and advertising plans for my house?

This is important in understanding the expertise of your agent. Marketing and advertising methods should go beyond just listing your home on multiple listing services. There should be a mix of online and offline methods. And don’t be afraid to ask for previous examples of their sales material from previous sellers.

We specialize in helping our clients find or sell historic home in beautiful Long Beach. For more information visit us 244 Redondo Ave, Long Beach, CA 90803 or call at  1(562)577-5021.

Long Beach has a long history that can still be seen and witnessed today. The city boasts  many historical districts that are still standing and can occupied by current residents. Many don’t know the history behind these beautiful landmarks that make up our city but it began to take shape into its modern layout in the late 1800s by developer John Bixby.

In the 1880’s, John Bixby first bought the land that is known as Alamitos Beach from farmers following a bad drought. Bixby was trying to capitalize on the Southern California’s land boom when he suddenly died. The land was divided up by three different parties. Before Bixby died, he had originally given the streets Spanish names. The land was annexed to the city of Long Beach in 1905 and the street names were changed. Descanso became Orange Avenue, Independencia became Cherry Avenue, Kalamazoo became Kennebec, Modjeska is now Molino and Naranjo was renamed Temple.

A streetcar line was established on Ocean Blvd to transport people to the newly developed communities on Naples Island. Bluff Park was donated to the city in 1919 by the Bixby family. Soon after, the boom of the movie era began and Long Beach became a central area as Balboa studios opened at 6th and Alamitos Ave. Many silent film stars began to move to Long Beach because of its temperate climate and luxury homes. Clark Gable and Carole Lombard first began their love affair at the Weathering Heights mansion on Ocean Blvd. Marie Osborne Yeats, who was the first child movie star, pre-dating Shirley Temple by 20 years, lived and shot movies around this area.

Today, the historical districts are the more desired and exclusive neighborhoods in Long Beach. The area has no businesses, churches, or public buildings. Many of the homes there were built between 1903-1949 and have a variety of architectural styles from Victorian to Old English to Spanish Colonial Revival. In 1990, guidelines were established to ensure the preservation of the historical district and keep it from becoming over-developed.

We specialize in helping our clients find or sell historic homes in beautiful Long Beach. If you are interested in finding the right home for you contact us at (1562)577-5021 or check out our websitemike@mikenorton.com.