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Realtor Advice

10 essential questions to ask your real estate agent before buying or selling a home

CultureMap Create
Oct 17, 2017 | 12:08 pm

Part of buying or selling a home is doing your due diligence, and that extends to choosing a real estate agent. That person will be marketing your home, pre-screening available listings, and guiding you through every step of the process, so you should absolutely ask questions before putting your future in his or her hands.

What should you ask? Austin Portfolio Real Estate has this handy list of 10 questions, with helpful answers supplied by its agents, to make finding your new buying or selling partner easy — or at least easier than picking the right paint color.

1. How long have you been in the real estate business?

Francie Little: Real estate agents mostly learn on the job, so the more sales an agent has completed, the more he or she knows. Sellers should look for agents with enough sales under their belts to comfortably handle deals from listing to closing. Education is also very important, so look for an agent who seeks to further their skills and knowledge by acquiring designations and certifications.

2. What will you bring to the table to help me buy or sell a home?

Martha Small: I believe in navigating buyers and sellers through the real estate experience. No two transactions are the same, and I learn something new from each one. Years of experience can help a client get the best possible outcome from purchasing or selling a home.

3. My house has already been on the market and didn’t sell — what will you do differently?

Ronda Prothro: There’s more to selling a house than simply putting up a sign and listing it on MLS. In addition to determining the right price, the home's overall appearance is critical. Professional staging, high-quality images, and polished marketing materials are often overlooked but can make a difference in whether or not a home sells. It’s also important for your Realtor to have relationships and networking opportunities with other real estate professionals.

4. Is your marketing global?

Kathleen Bucher: Austin Portfolio Real Estate is part of the largest worldwide company, Keller Williams Realty, so we can personally pick up the phone and call all the Keller Williams Realty International agents worldwide to market our properties.

5. What makes you an expert on this city, and how long have you been a Realtor here?

Shannon Schmitz: This two-part question is very important. First, you only want to deal with an experienced Realtor who has 10-plus years of experience, because a seasoned agent will have the knowledge and understanding of the market to negotiate strongly on your behalf and anticipate issues during the sales process before they arise. You want an agent working for you who has "seen it all before," so you don’t wind up with problems that could have been avoided. The second part is making sure your agent knows their city like the back of their hand. People aren’t just looking for a house to buy — a great agent can properly match a client with the neighborhood and surrounding community that complements their lifestyle, which leads to quickly helping the new house become their home.

6. If you work for a luxury brokerage, do you still represent properties in my price range?

Carla Umlauf: I work with all level of buyers and sellers and provide the same level of service regardless of price range or area of town. I often sell homes that I can't afford myself! Working at luxury firm means that your Realtor has done well in the profession, and why wouldn't you want to work with one of the best Realtors in the industry?

7. Will I be working directly with you, or will you hand me off to someone on your team?

Susan Avant: Your are hiring the agent and should expect to have a relationship with that agent. If you will also be communicating with someone else, your agent should tell you that — and who it is — from the beginning.

8. What percentage of your listings were taken off the market in the last 6 months?

Marielle Quaid: Properties are withdrawn for a number of reasons, but often agents will simply agree to a seller's higher price in an effort to win the listing. Too many sellers waste valuable time chasing the market after pricing their property too high. It is important to have an agent who understands the market, believes in their ability to sell your property for its highest value, and communicates that message accurately to the seller.

9. How will you create opportunities for my property?

Jeannette Spinelli: Ask your agent if they are personally proactive in their outreach, or if their assistant does the heavy lifting. Is the agent willing to communicate to you regularly and give you the personal attention you need? These basic expectations should not only be met, but exceeded.

10. How do you feel your Realtor experience has prepared you for Austin's housing boom?

David Haynes: Austin is really still a small town with a big reputation. A knowledge of home pricing, inventory, and neighborhoods, and the effect these have on price and value, is crucial to an agent's ability to serve his or her clients.

Buying or selling is a big step, so make sure your agent is up to the task.

Austin house for sale
Photo courtesy of Austin Portfolio Real Estate
Buying or selling is a big step, so make sure your agent is up to the task.
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Well Read

All Austinites are BookPeople at the indie book store's 52nd anniversary party

Brianna Caleri
Nov 8, 2022 | 3:09 pm
BookPeople interior, graphic designer holding book.
BookPeople/Instagram
BookPeople is known for a huge selection and diverse curation from staff.

Austin is home to many independent businesses, but no one carries the torch of small business quite like BookPeople, a 52-year-old independent bookseller that claims the title of the largest of its kind in Texas. It still resides at just one highly praised location on North Lamar Boulevard, where it’s been since 1995, and there, it will host new and old friends to celebrate its anniversary on Friday, November 11.

Although it’s partially known for an unusually pleasant browsing experience — with a coffee shop, high effort displays for curated selections, and a truly gigantic inventory — BookPeople fits so snugly into the community by championing local and diverse authors. Most notably, it paired with the Austin Public Library in June on a banned book series, Banned Camp.

“The best part about this year is bringing those events back,” says CEO Charley Rejsek, reflecting on the revitalized calendar since pandemic shutdowns. “Everybody wants those experiences with authors that they know and love. We tried to translate them digitally, but that's really challenging. So having the events back and creating those experiences with readers and authors makes all the difference in the world.”

There’s no substitute for face-to-face connection, but the company’s Instagram page maintains its own outreach system, namely through several series including Gay Book of the Week, Sci-fi Friday, a BIPOC writer subscription box, and miscellaneous staff reviews. It puts out constant recommendations for all kinds of observances: Disability Pride Month, Voter Registration Day, Juneteenth, and more just in the past six months.

The anniversary festivities across the store’s three floors include book trivia, a raffle, a photo booth, and special merch sales. Book trivia is the main event, allowing participants to form teams to win $200 in BookPeople gift cards and $100 in CoffeePeople gift cards. The cafe will be open and serving a special-edition birthday drink.

Visitors get one raffle ticket at the door and can purchase more in hopes of winning signed books, posters, and even unreleased books. There will also be a silent art auction, selling pieces by local artists with all proceeds going back to the creator. A call for participating artists is active on the event page.

“BookPeople is definitely a community staple, and people look to us as a community gathering spot,” says Rejsek. “We, just like many other businesses, work hard to diversify our selection and the voices that we amplify, and that's just always ongoing. It never ends.”

The 52nd anniversary party will be held at BookPeople (603 N. Lamar Blvd.) on November 11, from 7-9 pm. More information about the event and BookPeople is available at bookpeople.com.

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score big

Austinites score a ton of fun at CultureMap's first-ever Tailgate party

Lindsey Wilson
Nov 8, 2022 | 2:45 pm
Austinites score a ton of fun at CultureMap's first-ever Tailgate party
Photo by Guillermo Rosas

Spencer McGee, Amy Cole

Austin's biggest sports fans partied overtime at CultureMap's newest signature event, The Tailgate.

Held at Distribution Hall on November 3, the celebration of all things sports attracted a crowd ready to have some game day fun.

And they certainly didn't go hungry. Past CultureMap Tastemaker Awards winners and nominees brought snacks galore, from sliders to grilled corn to chicken wings and more.

Guests could vote for their favorite munchies, leading to San Antonio's The Jerk Shack taking home the trophy for their Caribbean ceviche and rum raisin brownie bites. Bratwurst with beer onions from Koko's Bavarian and cookies and milk from Mare Made cookies also earned raves. Drool over a full list of the snacks here.

Those looking to scoop up ideas for their next watch party could sample catering from Whole Foods Market, then walk away with a stadium-approved clear backpack filled with snacks, samples, and coupons for future purchases.

No one's cup ran dry, thanks to bars stocked with Real Ale Brewing Co. beers, Austin Cocktails, and specialty drinks featuring Dripping Springs Vodka and Brothers Bond Bourbon.

Three previous Tastemaker Awards Brewery of the Year winners were serving up suds samples to thirsty tailgaters: Meanwhile Brewing, Dorcol Distilling & Brewing Co., and Blue Owl Brewing.

In between bites and sips, guests browsed a silent auction stuffed with valuable sports memorabilia, with a portion of proceeds benefitting our nonprofit partners.

Attendees could also learn more about and donate to each of the event's nonprofit partners.

Save Muny co-chair Scotty Sayers, board member Ed Clements, and local golf professional Joe Beck were talking all things golf for Save Muny (The Muny Conservancy). As the first public course in the South to racially desegregate, Lions Municipal Golf Course is listed in the National Register of Historic Places. The Muny Conservancy was created in 2019 to help permanently preserve and improve this iconic Austin recreational green space, and to help make sure all 141 acres are saved for future generations to enjoy, with affordable golf, public accessibility, the civil rights history of the site, and promotion of the game in mind.

Former Longhorn legend Derrick Johnson signed autographs and posed for pics in support of his foundation, Defend the Dream. Started in 2012, the foundation connects low-income and inner city youths with better resources and opportunities. Recently, the foundation presented Austin’s first Discovery Den to Oak Springs Elementary School. Defend the Dream has been installing Discovery Dens in other schools for years, transforming school library spaces into well-stocked, football-themed reading areas with bright colors and lots of seating.

Austin Tailgate 2022

Photo by Guillermo Rosas

Spencer McGee, Amy Cole

Spotted among the sea of jerseys were David Lyne, Amber Hart-Lyne, Ashley Nwonuma, Dominique McLeggan, Gina Dhaddey, Dom Powel, Amy Cole, Spencer McGee, Lauren Glanzer, Dana Plumpe, Richie and Carlie Berry, and Sabrina and Ricardo Cortez.

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Wurst Week

Beat the crowds for a weekday jaunt through Wurstfest in New Braunfels

Brianna Caleri
Nov 8, 2022 | 12:46 pm
Sausage
Courtesy of Wurstfest
If you can't relax with some sausages, when can you relax? Wurstfest doesn't have to be a weekend marathon.

New Braunfels is a bit of a drive for Austinites, but fans of German beer and food have a great incentive this week, especially if they value shorter lines.

Wurstfest is in full swing again, coming out of its first weekend of 2022 festivities. This year’s fest runs from November 4-13, spreading that massive population influx across two weekends, and shorter days in between. Sweetening the pot, admission is free from Monday to Thursday.

Realistically, although the German food is at least half the draw, Wurstfest could be called Bierfest with the sheer volume of beers it serves. And they’re not expecting too many visitors drinking before business hours end in the rather quaint New Braunfels. So, Wurstfest starts at 5 pm on weekdays, but the five hours it’s open (ending at 10 pm) offer plenty of ways to pass the time.

All weekdays start with live music at 5:30 pm on all five stages across the old German grounds. (For those who haven’t visited, this is basically a theme park: visitors wander through timber framed beer halls, past many, many concession stands, down the Comal River to a fairground, all without stepping out of Germany, it seems.) From those opening sets, there’s near-constant music on three of the stages.

Most of the entertainment comes from live music and the novelty of wandering around amongst the lederhosen and dirndls. (Those drinking less than friends should strongly consider bringing a book — this is from experience.) But there is some light programming every day to break up the drinking and dancing, especially for visitors with kids.

Monday promises a science show and masskrugstemmen (beer holding) contest. On Tuesday, more beers are held and Rapunzel and Flynn Rider make an appearance. Wednesday brings, you guessed it, more beer holding, and a magic show. On Thursday, kids can hear some storytelling, and Friday, Veteran’s Day, honors veterans with a salute. Following crowds will also bring visitors to shopping, sausage-making demonstrations, and children’s fair rides.

Perhaps needless to say, the food is legitimately excellent; this is, at its heart, a culinary event, and serves more than standard fried fair foods. Obviously, sausage is a great choice, but there are potatoes, gravy, pickles, and sauerkraut to go around. Returning revelers are thrilled to share their best recommendations for the food and imported beers. Pacing yourself, three to five hours is a very reasonable stretch for trying as much as possible and returning to old favorites.

Wurstfest tickets (free Monday to Thursday, $18 online for the weekend) are available now at wurstfest.com, along with more information and entertainment schedules.

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