Tuesday 26 April 2016

Ed Sarfo - Things to Consider Before Buying a New Home

Ed Sarfo is a real estate broker and agent living and working in Lexington, Kentucky. He is the principal broker at Commonwealth Real Estate Professionals and has five real estate agents working under him. Ed Sarfo is experienced in both buying and selling and advises his clients on what is best for them. Here are a couple of things you need to consider before you sign the deal on your new house.

What Suits Your Needs
When looking for a new home, you will have several options to choose from. You can choose from a family home, multi-family house, townhouse, condo, etc., but whatever you choose, you will need to make sure it is something that suits your needs. Buying a home that does not suit your needs will leave you either paying more than you can afford, or trying to make renovations which will cost you more money.

Specific Features
Your new home is probably one of the biggest purchases you will be making, so you want to make sure you know exactly what features you want your home to have. Make a list of specific features you like to have in your home, including kitchen and bathroom layout, neighborhood, etc., and let your real estate know about what you expect.

How Much Mortgage You Qualify for?
Before you start looking for a house to buy, you will need to have a clear idea of how much mortgage you qualify for. While you might think you can afford to purchase a $350,000 home, your lender might think you are good only for $250,000. Your monthly income, debt, time worked at your current job, and other factors will determine how much your lender is willing to give you for your new home.

Ed Sarfo grew up in Ghana and studied in Germany before moving to the United States.

Monday 18 April 2016

Ed Sarfo - House-Hunting Mistakes You Don’t Want to Make

Ed Sarfo has been in the real estate industry since 2004 and knows that buying a house can be an emotional process for some people. Allowing your emotions to get the best of you may cause you to fall prey to several mistakes homebuyers make. Ed Sarfo is an experienced professional who takes the time to advice his clients on what is best for them. Here are some common house-hunting mistakes you don’t want to make.

Choosing a House You Can’t Afford

One you find a house you like; it is very hard to go back. You then start imagining the things you want to do in the new house, and how to add things to your lawn, or to the kitchen. However, if you cannot afford the house, you will have to find something else you can afford. Avoid the temptation to go over your budget as it can cause serious problems with the payments later on. It is best to look at homes in your price range.

Assuming There is Nothing Better

Unless you are looking for custom homes, chances are that there are other homes available for sale. Don’t make the mistake of assuming that there is nothing better and jump at the first house you see. Take the time to browse through the listings your real estate agent shows you and look at a couple of houses before you settle on the one you like, and which fits your budget.

Being Desperate

If you have been looking for a suitable house for some time and have not found anything you like, don’t let your emotions get the better of you and become desperate. If you move into a house without being fully satisfied with it, you will have a hard time trying to sell it later. If you do, you will end up paying agent’s commission and closing costs on your mortgage for the new home. Do not make a decision just because you are desperate to get a new house.

Ed Sarfo is knowledgeable in both buying and selling homes and advises his clients on what’s best for them.

Source: ​http://www.investopedia.com/articles/mortgage-real-estate/09/buy-house-emotion-free.asp

Monday 11 April 2016

Ed Sarfo - Tips for Real Estate Agents

Ed Sarfo has been in the real estate industry since 2004. He grew up and studied at the American Baptist Missionary School in Ghana, West Africa, and pursued his higher education in Germany before moving to the United States to become a real estate agent. Ed Sarfo is a licensed real estate agent and broker living and working in Lexington, Kentucky. Here are some tips real estate agents can use.

Sphere of Influence

One of the ways real estate agents can build contacts and generate leads is through a Sphere of Influence (SOI) business model. This method of building contacts and generating leads works through the contacts you know, including friends, family, co-workers, business associates, classmates, and other vendors. The ideal way to keep track of the names and contact information is to use a spreadsheet program or commercial software. With an SOI database, it is easy to add new contacts as you meet them, through mutual acquaintances, or community events. The more people you have on your list; the more chances you have for a referral. You can send out “new agent” announcements to the contacts on your list through email, text, phone, or mail to build your client base.

Marketing

As a real estate agent, you will need to market yourself. You can use marketing software to keep track of your marketing efforts. Marketing strategies could include business cards, postcards, door hanger, property flyers, email campaigns, and brochures. Be innovative with your marketing strategy and you will start getting new clients.

Ed Sarfo has excellent communication skills and knows how to deal with different clients.