About Selma and Jennifer - SERVICE YOU CAN DEPEND ON!

Selma Apovian Owner/Broker Realtor NH & MA Licensed in NH & MA to better serve the Merrimack Valley. I will provide that personal touch that is so important in today's busy world. I am very accommodating with flexible hours, I will be there during your home showings to represent you! Because I have lived and worked here for over 30 years, I am well known and respected within the community. selma@selmasre.com Local Business Professional for over 30 years Licensed Broker in NH & MA Greater Salem Chamber of Commerce member Member of Northern New England Real Estate Network National, State, and Local board of Realtors member Member of Property Information Network Services of MA NH Notary Public Licensed in NH & MA Cosmetologist (still practicing) My name is Jennifer Lenfest and it would be my pleasure to work with you to make the purchase or sale of your home a rewarding experience. I am a licensed Realtor with the state of New Hampshire and have had much experience working with buyers and sellers throughout the area. In addition to my expertise as a real estate professional, I am also an teacher at Salem High School in Salem, NH. This affords me an in depth, truly well rounded base of knowledge when working with my clients. As a member of the Selma's Real Estate team I am proud to be able to provide current real estate market information, extremely personalized service, and the latest marketing tools to our clients. jennifer@selmasre.com

Buying a Home In New England

Reasons to Hire an Agent or Broker Education & Experience You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. The trick is to find the right person. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you? We're all looking for more precious time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time. Neighborhood Knowledge They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime or demographics. For example, you may know that a home down the street was on the market for $350,000, but an agent will know it had upgrades and sold at $285,000 after 65 days on the market and after twice falling out of escrow. Price Guidance An agent will help to guide clients to make the right choices for themselves. If a listing is at 7%, for example, an agent has a 7% vested interest in the sale, but the client has a 93% interest. Selling agents will ask buyers to weigh all the data supplied to them and to choose a price. Then based on market supply, demand and the conditions, the agent will devise a negotiation strategy. Market Conditions Information Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will govern your selling or buying process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, median and average sales prices, average days on market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do. Professional Networking Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are skilled. It's part of their job description. Good agents are professionals who are trained to present their client's case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests. Handling Volumes of Paperwork Today's purchase agreements run 10 pages or more. That does not include the federal- and state-mandated disclosures nor disclosures dictated by local custom. Most real estate files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands. In some states, lawyers handle the disclosures, thank goodness! Answer Questions After Closing Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt. Many questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and honest agents don't leave you in the dust to fend for yourself. Develop Relationships for Future Business The basis for an agent's success and continued career in real estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make certain clients are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again.