Home Detail Info

**itgl72** · 01-30-2007, 07:59 PM

I'm new to the business and now realize, going through my MLS forms that a lot of what I see I do not know much about. Example under ROOMS what is a great room, media room, living room, etc. Under CONSTRUCTION there is brick and frame, cedar, frame, stone. Under BASEMENT bath/stubbed, boat door. STORIES theres split foyer, split level. STYLE A-Frame, Chalet, European, Victorian.

I don't know what a lot of these are. Can someone recommend a book, or a online resource to help me study all these options?

I know I can just ask for help in my office, but I would love a resource I can go back and forth to so as to begin recognizing what I see. Any help appreciated.

Thanks

**TJ2007** · 01-31-2007, 11:19 AM

heheheeh

Yeah those forms will drive you crazy...not sure about any reference guide, would be nice if someone had one for all the new agents.

Though in the meantime I would rely on your office assistant - who ever usually enters that info into the MLS...

if that's you then perhaps your realtor association can help you out with a reference or via their website or similar like PlanetRealtor.com

**Thesa** · 01-31-2007, 01:42 PM

you also could go preview the homes that have items you are unfamilar with and see for yourself what they are.

Some one once told me there is never a stupid question just stupid answers - so... ask away and explore the listings for yourself - your clients will ask for specific things - have you seen that commercial when the family does not want a ranch home and the agent shows them ranch after ranch?

**itgl72** · 03-11-2007, 05:16 PM

Well I am starting to understand more and more, after seeing the pictures and looking at descriptions it seems atleast I am making a dent in understanding some architecture.

**FlaGal** · 03-11-2007, 06:36 PM

To go preview homes is good advice, period. First two months I did about 5 previews per day. Not only did I learn a lot about architecture but also about overpricing homes, how to and how not to present a listing.
I made up a little form for every home I previewed, taking notes etc.
As a brand new agent it made me feel good to be able to say "Yes, I've seen that home, bla bla bla" when talking to the pros. I learned a lot that way.

**itgl72** · 03-11-2007, 07:20 PM

I preview by looking at the details, and the pictures in the MLS online. So you are saying you actually went INTO the homes, which I assume were VACANT, you know that's a good idea. I might want to do some of that.

As for speaking to someone for help, I spoke to an old pro that doesn't speak much to any rookies, or anyone for that matter but is always there and is darn good. He seems like a rough edged guy but in our kitchen over coffee we actually spoke for about 20 minutes about my first listing presentation I had the other day. He gave me some info, and ONE of the things I remembered by reading your post was the listing checklist.

He said as he walks around the home initially with the owners, he has a checklist and writes down notes as they show him around, to show them he is really interested if you will. By the time he is done with the presentation his checklist notes clipboard has enough info for him to sit down and fill out the MLS forms for input.

He then got busy, with a call, and we stopped. I never got a chance to ask him if I could see this checklist he uses.

I figured I might be able to find some from somewhere online at realtor.com or here.

Does anyone else use a similar checklist/notes system when first walking into a listing presentation?

**FlaGal** · 03-11-2007, 09:10 PM

I preview as many homes as I can, vacant or not. I've only come across one listing where the seller didn't want anyone to see her home unless they had an actually buyer with them. Needless to say, her home hasn't sold yet and I don't think it will.

I wouldn't walk a buyer into a home that I haven't previewed. I had to the other day when a walk-in requested to see a home that very same day. The home was a mess, stunk of cigarettes, was dingy and dirty. The buyer was turned off. If I had previewed that home before I would have known and could have directed the buyer to something similar but cleaner.

Also, by previewing homes you will establish yourself as the neighborhood expert. You will always be up to date as to what is on the market. Previewing MLS aint' enough in my opinion. Get out there and tour homes, as many as you can!!!

**Alpharetta** · 03-13-2007, 04:37 PM

You cannot preview homes online. You can view homes online that you should preview. There is a big difference as you will see when you get to homes that don't much look like the photos. As for learn the terms, absorb what you can, go to realtor.org and find other info online. A great resource when I first started was This Old House. You will really start to learn a lot about details that you had not thought of. Do you know how an HVAC works? What about the furnace? What's the thing on the outside called? Stuff like that is very important because buyers and sellers will know what many of these things are called and how they work - many won't - but, you don't know who is who.