Chris Harden Broker

I love showing buyers homes. They are usually so excited to get out and see homes that they may moving into. Kind of like car-shopping and that new car smell...there is just something about it. Then they find a home they want, get really excited, talk to their mortgage person, and wait...what's this...they find something on their credit they didn't know was there and that balloon that was inflating has just popped. I always have buyers talk to a lender first and have them know their credit situation. The lender should go over what they can afford, different options and what are the expected payments. This should be done before a buyer ever looks at a home. This sets all the criteria for a Buyer's agent because now we know what the price limits are, how to right the contract, and how serious the buyer is. Buyer pre-approval is the absolute first step.

Open houses are always a topic that is brought up to realtors when listings appointments are taken. Sellers think that realtors don't want to do them. Open houses don't bother me and I will do them. Reality is...you have one 24/7. The internet and our marketing gives buyers a virtual open house 24hrs a day. Through the listings personal website, virtual slideshow tours on MLS, Realtor.com and RE/MAX.com buyers can see your home without sellers having to leave their home for hours and the possibiltiy of theft of items and prescriptions that seem to be targets. Open houses are going the way of magazines and newspaper advertisements as they are becoming outdated. If there is a new way to promote a property we will do it. Speaking of that buyers ca view all our virtual listings at our YouTube channel The Harden Group and McKinney TV.