©2004.Shawn M. O'Regan. TheMiamiDream.com.
Shawn M. O'Regan provides expert real estate opinion and representation
in Miami and Miami Beach including South Beach, Coral Gables, Coconut Grove and
Aventura.
As a veteran broker and Dade county Realtor Shawn assists buyers and sellers interested
in
waterfront condominiums, luxury estates, new construction, developments and vacation
investments Selling real estate is exciting. The possibility of profiting from
what is probably your largest single investment appeals to all. Increased market
value can provide the financial resources to realize your dreams.
But today's market is challenging. Owners are competing for the best buyers- those
ready to buy and willing to pay top dollar. Being successful demands much more
than putting a sign in the yard or running a few newspaper ads.
Buyers have many options, from resales to new construction, in many appealing
neighborhoods. Properties that sell quickly and for the highest prices are in
excellent condition, priced competitively and have owners who are flexible and
realistic in their expectations. Success requires salesmanship, thorough market
knowledge and preparation. Scroll down or choose from the topic headings above
for valuable advice.
The Agent's Role
Real estate agents assist sellers in preparing their property for market and
spreading the news that it is available. Agents also manage the selling time
and keep inconveniences to a minimum. They adapt to any special needs or circumstances,
negotiate the contract terms and coordinate inspection, mortgage, title and
closing paperwork. And working with an agent provides additional security; anticipating
problems or delays and screening the many more or less strangers who request
access to your property.
Reaching all potential buyers requires a variety of marketing tools including
the internet, Multiple Listing Service (MLS), display and classified advertising,
color brochures, direct mail, word of mouth among fellow agents and the agent's
personal network of contacts.
Successful agents have learned through training and years of experience how
to best present a property's features, minimize the competition's appeal and
overcome objections. They accurately qualify buyers' motivation and financial
qualifications- and most importantly their desire to make an offer acceptable
to the seller today!
Many owners feel they can sell on their own, without an agent. Buy Owner sellers
often believe agents do little more than open the doors and turn on the lights.
This is not true. More than 90% of all sales involve real estate agents. Even
many By Owner sellers end up working with an agent. Either one representing
the buyer or finally, after possible lost sales opportunities, with a seller's
agent.
Top agents are familiar with all the competing properties on the market as well
as recent sales. Their knowledge enables them to accurately position a property
in the market compared to other similar properties also available for purchase.
Mistakes in pricing a home or evaluating its condition relative to the competition
cause lost sales opportunities and cannot be reversed. back
to the top
Selecting an Agent
When selecting an agent, require that they be a broker- not simply a salesperson.
This distinction demonstrates a commitment to their career and their profession
as well as more stringent licensing requirements. The real estate industry is
easy to enter, requiring only an eight week course and basic state exam to obtain
a sales license. A broker license is substantially more demanding, requiring
more extensive education, experience and testing. One half of all licensed agents-
50%- will drop out of the business within their first year. You want to work
with someone established and experienced.
When interviewing brokers, look for one who is active and has made recent sales
in your neighborhood. Agents too often accept listings outside their area of
knowledge. This is a disservice and could cost you time and money. There are
literally thousands of licensed agents in the Miami area. Some are dedicated,
experienced professionals. Most, unfortunately, are inexperienced and not equipped
with the skills needed to succeed in a highly competitive environment. They
do not know how to overcome objections, adapt to changing market conditions
or seek feedback from prospects in order to stay focused. Sellers must use caution
and select a broker with a history of experience and success, a dedication to
excellence and a commitment to a long-term career.
There is no added cost to working with a broker and a single agent, so why not
gain every competitive advantage you can? Contact Shawn and The Miami Dream
team to learn more about the subtleties and "behind the scenes" of
this business. If you’re preparing to buy (and sell) in the near future, you
can email
an Information Request. The information you provide is confidential
and will not be shared or used for general solicitation. Also, the Resources
area is full of great ideas and advice.
Shawn’s expert Real Estate knowledge provides exceptional service and success.
When representing sellers, he often makes record-breaking sales, delivering
owners the highest prices paid. Shawn has also made a habit of selling properties
other agents were unable to sell.
When representing buyers, Shawn uses his knowledge of the market to aggressively
seek out the best purchase opportunities. He puts his client’s needs first and
focuses on the particular circumstances unique to each buyer’s situation.
A broker (not merely a salesperson) since 1991 and multiple sales award winner,
Shawn was owner of Real Estate firms in Chicago and New York City. Shawn represented
new construction projects for more than four years of his career. Appointed
to $14 and $38 million (1992-1995 dollar) development sales teams, he gained
thorough familiarity with the issues and problems unique to new construction
contract negotiation and purchase.
Shawn commented during a recent interview, "Many buyers feel they can negotiate
with the builder directly, hoping to gain a discount on the purchase by not
having an agent represent them. They do not realize that having an agent does
not cost them a penny- the builder has spread the commission expense across
the entire project, not individual units. In fact, having an agent familiar
with the new construction sales environment will likely save them thousands
by negotiating a better deal while protecting them from the pitfalls inherent
in working with builder sales teams. The people in the sales center work for
the builder, not the buyer. I’ve lost count of how many buyers I’ve met over
the years who’ve overpaid, missed out on upgrades or were bound by restrictive
contract terms they could have avoided if they’d worked with me. Unfortunately
the expensive lesson costs them more in the end."
While in Chicago, Shawn was selected by Fannie Mae (Federal National Mortgage
Association) as a foreclosure agent and handled over a dozen REO sales before
leaving for New York. In addition to determining market value and selling the
property, he was responsible for maintaining property condition and managing
needed repairs (obtaining bids, reviewing work contracts, approving lien waivers
and making payments) while keeping all utility and tax accounts current. Shawn
sold 50% of the properties to his own clients, successfully representing both
buyer and seller parties simultaneously to bring about the sale. Shawn notes
this intensive experience is particularly useful in working with relocating
buyers and sellers.
Before establishing his own company here in Miami Beach, Shawn was one of Wimbish•Riteway
Realtors’ most consistent and frequently commended brokers and selected to their
Winner’s Circle of top-producing agents. After the acquisition by Coldwell Banker
in 2002, he was appointed a Luxury Properties Specialist. He credits his success
to his thorough knowledge of property values and deep understanding of marketing
and contract negotiation strategies.
Prior to his Real Estate career, Shawn was a top performer with AT&T at their
Chicago-based executive headquarters, specializing in account management and
contract negotiation. While in New York City, he gained invaluable technology
and interactive marketing experience working with Ziff-Davis Publishing on the
1997 launch of its internet commerce web network, now part of ZDNet.
Later, he was a founding member in a commercial mortgage company. This experience
along with his Fannie Mae relationship enables Shawn to offer an unusually detailed
knowledge of the mortgage finance process to his customers. He creates purchase
and sale opportunities where others thought none existed and prevents financial
problems or deal "fall through".
When not working, Shawn has spent time in more than sixteen countries, exploring
different cultures and customs. He is particularly skillful at adapting to the
varied business and decision-making styles of his clients; a characteristic
he attributes to his world view.
Shawn explains, "There is a difference among real estate agents. If someone
has their license, it only means they completed a simple eight week class and
passed an exam- in many instances not on the first attempt. Having a real estate
license does not prove a person has the skills and abilities necessary to properly
handle a major financial transaction. I am an experienced broker, not just a
licensed salesperson. A diversely-skilled and extensively-trained marketing
professional with the highest expectations and standards for myself and my clients."
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