Why Hiring a Skilled Realtor is Like Having a Poker Pro on Your Side

Dec. 02. 2024

Navigating the real estate market is a lot like playing poker: strategy, timing, and a good poker face are critical. Let me share a story that highlights why hiring a skilled negotiator—like a professional Realtor—is essential when buying a home.

A Case of Showing Your Hand Too Soon

Recently, some repeat clients of mine were exploring the idea of selling their home and upgrading to a new-build property. Like many buyers, they were drawn to the benefits of new construction: modern features, warranties, and flexible move-in timelines. They visited a new home community several times on their own and fell in love with a particular model. While they had the best intentions, they didn’t loop us in during these visits.

Here’s where things got tricky:
By the time we were brought into the conversation, the builder’s sales rep already knew how much they adored the home, the exact floor plan, and the lot they wanted. Their excitement inadvertently weakened their negotiation power—there was little room left to push for additional incentives or a better price. I have some other negotiation tactics HERE on my YouTube as well.

Had we been involved earlier, we could’ve approached things differently:

Controlled the Narrative: Positioned them as considering multiple options, not just one.
Maximized Incentives: Negotiated for better pricing, upgrades, or closing cost contributions.
Protected Their Interests: Kept emotions out of the equation to ensure leverage during discussions.

Negotiation is what we do best, and we take pride in getting our clients the best deal possible. Want to know more about building a home vs buying a resale? We got you covered–HERE.

Open Houses: Another Poker Face Scenario

Exploring open houses on your own? Great! It’s a fantastic way to learn about neighborhoods and homes. However, if you find a home you love, here are some tips:

Play it Cool: Keep your interest under wraps. Instead, gather intel like property disclosures, how long it’s been on the market, and the seller’s motivation.
Reach Out to Your Realtor: Let us take it from there. We’ll dig deeper into the property’s history, market value, and seller’s circumstances to craft a competitive offer.

When you stay strategic, you leave room for us to do what we do best—negotiate on your behalf.

An oldie but goodie on my open house tips HERE.

Trust the Pros to Do Their Job

In life, we all lean on experts: accountants, hairstylists, physical therapists, and more. Why? Because their experience gets us better results. Real estate is no different. Trusting an experienced Realtor means trusting someone who’s negotiated countless deals and knows how to save you money.

For example, in the last three buyer transactions my team handled, we negotiated a combined $50,000 off asking price and repairs. That’s the power of hiring someone who knows the market, the players, and how to keep a straight face when it matters most. Hey, look we handle a lot of business, check out some of our listings and buyer represented deals HERE and we have some amazing clients–read our reviews HERE!

Let’s Work Together to Win

The bottom line: Having a skilled Realtor is like having an ace up your sleeve. We know when to push, when to hold back, and how to ensure you get the best value—whether it’s your dream home or a savvy investment.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling, let’s connect. My team and I are here to strategize, negotiate, and ultimately WIN for you.