dtsen@sutton.com
    778.241.6663

David TsenDavid Tsen

Realtor serving Abbotsford, the Fraser Valley and Greater Vancouver area.

  • Home
  • Buying
  • Selling
  • Videos
  • About

8 Real Estate Hacks Everyone Should Know

1. Hire the Best People
This one will depend on your situation, but the principle applies everywhere. If your home is ready to sell this will just mean finding the best agent in your area to sell it for you. “The best agent” isn’t necessarily the highest selling agent in your area (although that’s a good place to start). Check out their reviews, their photography and videography work, and call or meet a few different realtors to see if their personality is a good fit.

If your property has potential, but needs some TLC, find the best developer to help you get extra value from your property, or the best investor to purchase it as-is. This also means finding the best mortgage advisor (hint: it’s not always the one at your bank) if you plan on getting a loan.

Finding exceptional people is always worth the time and the slight increase in cost, especially when it comes to dealing with your home. Real estate is one of those industries where there are exceptional, motivated, creative agents, but there are also plenty of mediocre ones who don’t even like their jobs. Find someone who treats you like family and stick with them. They’ll return the favour by continuing to give 110% and giving you the most value for your money every time.

 

2. The Rule of 3
The rule of three applies to everything in real estate, and the concept is simple: get three bids. This is the single greatest advice I can give someone when dealing with real estate, but it’s amazing how many people disregard this. If you’re thinking of getting hardwood floors, talk to three different companies, not just Home Depot. If your home needs a new coat of paint, get quotes from three different painting companies. If your property needs a landscaping overhaul, talk to three landscaping service companies.

Always get three quotes, because you’ll get three totally different responses. When a company knows there are other companies presenting bids on a job, they’re going to give you both the best price and the best service. They know what the industry standard is, and it shows professionalism on your part as a homeowner. If a contractor isn’t willing to submit a bid just because they know you have another offer, you shouldn’t be working with them anyways. This single rule will save you a lot of headaches when dealing with your home.

3. When Selling Your Home, List on MLS
Many people try to list their home on Craigslist for free, or on cheap listing sites like Zillow or free2list. These sites are free for a reason, and only give your home exposure to a tiny slice of home buyers.

If you’re really looking to sell your house at an accurate market price, being a “For Sale by Owner” isn’t the answer. List on the MLS, get an accurate home evaluation, and get your home exposure to the whole buyers’ market. If you’re upset about paying the commission, the bottom line is you’re being greedy. Hiring the best ensures that you’ll get the most value for your home, so even if you pay the usual commission you’ll still get more than if you tried to sell it yourself.

 

4. As a Seller, List Low
When you list your home on the low side, you create the opportunity for a multiple bidding situation, where several prospective buyers see that your home provides the best value in the market, and they’re willing to pay above your asking price. There are a few ways realtors handle this. One is delaying offers for a few days, at which point everyone submits their best offer, and you go with the highest one. This type of approach can be useful, as no buyer knows what the others are offering, and submit the highest bid they can as a result.

List Price
On the other hand, listing your property too high can ruin your home’s chances of getting any offers at all. Listing your home too high will make sure that it won’t get any showings and sit on the market. Once a property goes stale, buyers automatically assume that something is wrong with it, and it becomes an unwanted listing.

Buying agents don’t like when a house is priced low, because bidding wars make the agents work to submit an offer they hope will be higher than the competition. The Rule of 3 is coming back into play, and it works just as well for selling your home! Getting three buyers all bidding gets you the best offer possible. If your realtor’s suggested list price seems low to you initially, consider saying yes, and trying to get that multiple offer situation going.

 

5. Your First Offer is Your Best Offer
Some people get a solid offer in the first day or two, but think it’s too early to say yes, and so they hold out in the hopes of getting a better offer down the road. A buyer who is submitting an offer right away is usually your best bet. Your first buyer is usually the most qualified, and also your most interested party.

A Helpful Tip
The first offer you get on your home isn’t always perfect, but it’s important to realize that this is the type of person you’re looking for. From there you can always submit a counter offer, and work with the buyer to reach a deal. There’s always exceptions to this, and again, hiring the best people will help you navigate this, but overall, your first offer is usually your best.

 

 

6. Verify Everything!
When buying a property, always assume the worst. It’s always safe to assume that someone is lying about the properties of a home unless you verify it yourself. For example, if an offer comes in, and says they’ve been approved for a mortgage, ask for a proof of funds statement, and call the mortgage broker yourself to make sure everything is in order. If a seller says the house is move-in-ready, get an inspector to double check. While realtors are generally very trustworthy, the buyers and sellers involved often only move homes a few times in their lifetime, and aren’t as concerned about maintaining a relationship.

I know it sounds cynical, but buyers and sellers will do whatever it takes to make a sale. I’m not talking about realtors, mortgage brokers, and investors – who all rely on their reputation to do business, but make sure to verify anything the buyer or seller says for yourself.

 

7. Buy Less Than You Can Afford
Anyone who’s owned a home for a few years will tell you, there’s always unexpected costs. The floor will need replacing, windows break, you’ll need a new furnace, and before you know it you’re on YouTube looking at DIY fixes and spending all your weekends at Home Depot. Expenses are part of the deal when you own a house, so factor that into your decision when you make your purchase.

 

8. Be Able to Walk Away
Buying a house is exciting, I know. In the midst of all the excitement it’s always important to be able to just let go, and walk away if something is wrong.

For example, if the home inspector tells you there’s problems with the house, or the appraisal comes back 50K under value, it’s important to know when to walk away from a house. If you’re the seller, and a deal comes in that just isn’t right, being able to walk away is an invaluable skill, but is one of the hardest things to do.


Article Courtesy of Victoria Homes:

https://victoriahomes.com/8-real-estate-hacks-everyone-know/

Posted in: FVRB_Article

Post navigation

« 30 Smart Tips to Get Your Home Ready for Fall
Real Estate Rebound Continues for Fraser Valley »

Contact David

Sutton West Coast Realty
2790 Allwood Street
Abbotsford, BC, V2T 3R7
778.241.6663
604.855.0800
dtsen@sutton.com



Google Reviews

David Tsen - Personal Real Estate Corporation
David Tsen - Personal Real Estate Corporation
5.0
Based on 242 reviews
powered by Google
Cale Bechtel
Cale Bechtel
16:38 21 May 20
David is a very genuine, professional, patient, and knowledgeable realtor who helped me and my wife through the process of buying our first home. Buying a first home is an overwhelming investment and David made the process much more manageable as he was always there at any time of the day with a response to any inquiry, issue, or guidance on how to proceed with the purchasing process. David is honest and will do anything to ensure you get everything you want as he truly only wants the best for his clients. If you are unsure or on the fence about a realtor like we were... don't be! Call David and he will be there with you every step of the way and help you find a home!
Michelle Carrick
Michelle Carrick
16:18 16 May 20
David was INCREDIBLY helpful every step of the way! He went above and beyond in helping me not only find the perfect home for me but also the whole process of the purchase from start to finish. He is professional and kind and keeps going until he finds you that perfect place. If there were ten stars to give on this review I’d give David ten for sure!! Thank you for everything you did in helping me find my beautiful home David!!!
andy sulivan
andy sulivan
03:59 16 May 20
David was amazing to deal with! He got top dollar for our house in such a quick turn around. I would not hesitate to use him again.
Richard Belleza
Richard Belleza
16:00 04 May 20
We have bought multiple properties but we used David to list a property for the first time. He was patient and thorough from start to finish. He was able to answer all our questions and address all our concerns. We told him that tenant management was key for us as our property was a rental and he went above and beyond in that regard. COVID19 was something that no one could have ever seen coming and we are so thankful that he encouraged us to list when we did. Everything worked out perfectly and we are so thankful that we made the right choice to list with him.
Neelam Brar
Neelam Brar
02:41 22 Apr 20
It was so great working with David throughout the process of buying & selling. David's an amazing realtor; he's knowledgeable, honest, and passionate. He created a great friendship with our entire family. Definitely recommending to our friends and family!
Delaney Parsons
Delaney Parsons
18:27 30 Mar 20
We picked David after reading some very positive online reviews. And after meeting with him the first time, we knew it was a good choice. David is exceptional at his job. He took the time to ensure we understood the process as first time home buyers, scheduled viewings and meetings to fit with our busy lives, really listened to our requests, stayed in constant communication, and always seemed to put us first even though we know he had some very important events going on personally. He made home buying easy, and most importantly, stress-free. We couldn't have asked for a better realtor!
Shelvin Krishna
Shelvin Krishna
23:54 19 Mar 20
David and his team are great to work with. He helped me with my first purchase. Would definitely recommend! Answered any questions I had promptly, whether It was a call or in person. Again thank you!
Annie Bechtel
Annie Bechtel
03:49 06 Mar 20
David is an INCREDIBLE realtor! He is so genuine, professional, patient and knowledgeable. Being first time home buyers it is quite overwhelming and scary, but David eased our minds and took care of everything! He provided us support, guidance and represented us during the process of purchasing our first home! He is very patient and quick to respond to any of our questions and concerns. David is honest and truthful, he doesn’t just tell you what will benefit him but what is best for his clients. We truly are so incredibly happy to have David as our realtor and I would 110% recommend him for anyone!
Katy B
Katy B
02:57 26 Feb 20
David is the most hardworking, caring, passionate real estate agent. He goes above and beyond to ensure that his clients are well taken care of. He truly puts his clients first and makes the whole process as easy as possible.
Rachel Cavallarin
Rachel Cavallarin
23:51 27 Jan 20
David was such a pleasure to work with. He found us the perfect house without us even having to tell him what we were looking for. He checked all the boxes for us and we could be happier. I would 100% recommend him to anyone looking to purchase or sell a home.
shubneet bhinder
shubneet bhinder
16:59 16 Jan 20
It's a pleasure working with David. As an interior designer working along side David, I can see that he is passionate and committed to his clients. He will go the extra mile to make sure they are 100% satisfied with the end result. I can also say that about him as a colleague. He is always eager to lend a helping hand when needed, even when there is no benefit to him. His willingness to help others succeed is a trait only few have and it does not go unnoticed!
Jasmine McPherson
Jasmine McPherson
23:55 09 Jan 20
David was so patient and supportive through our long road of browsing to buying. He always made us feel like a priority and we fully trusted that he had our best interests in mind.
Rachael Van Patter
Rachael Van Patter
21:07 21 Dec 19
As first time home buyers , we were very overwhelmed with the whole process. After meeting and working with David we felt our worries disappearing quickly when we realized we had a realtor who genuinely loves helping others and making them happy even when it gets stressful. Very impressed and grateful for everything he did for us and we are so excited to move in to our new home!
lucas sharpe
lucas sharpe
20:39 21 Dec 19
David went above and beyond expectations with finding us our first home. Made sure it was as painless as possible and helped out with every aspect that he could. Would recommend him to anyone I know looking to purchase or sell a home
Jason Kataria
Jason Kataria
04:48 18 Dec 19
It was great working with David. He was very helpful and understood all my needs. He truly puts the customer first!
Richard Earles
Richard Earles
00:08 16 Nov 19
David is by far one of the top real estate professionals in the Fraser Valley. Dealing with him directly on the sale was one of the smoothest transactions I've ever experienced. His duty to his clients is like no other and I highly recommend David for those looking to buy or sell real estate.
andy dunsui
andy dunsui
20:22 15 Nov 19
Amazing Realtor thanks so much for helping me with the purchase of my condo Downtown!! Trustworthy, reliable, competent and most of all HIMSELF. Doesn't put on an act ... I would highly recommend.
Ryan Dhaliwal
Ryan Dhaliwal
00:55 07 Nov 19
Pleasure working with David on our first deal together. David represented his Buyers purchasing my clients Condo a few months back, and won the sale as a backup to the original deal after multiple offers. I can tell that David is definitely someone who will go the extra mile for his clients, which I love to see. A true professional, and top notch agent. Great choice for anyone looking to buy or sell!
tanya sehgal
tanya sehgal
00:44 23 Oct 19
David is one of the best realtors I have ever had. He is a very genuine and helpful person. I can’t believe that he helped me sell my appartment within fraction of 3 days. He also helped with the purchase of the house. He is unbelievably organized and on top of things. Highly highly highly recommend him for your next purchase. You will not regret this decision. He made the whole purchase and selling so easy and stress free for me. Thank you so much David.
Terry Owen
Terry Owen
20:05 18 Oct 19
I highly recommend using David and Sunny as your next realtors. These two gentleman are not only very professional throughout the experience, their also extremely personable and make the process fun and easy. If i could give them 10 stars i would!
Leticia Buxton
Leticia Buxton
18:16 08 Oct 19
David was always available whenever I had a question or concern. He was reliable honest and great to work with. I would definitely recommend working with David
Guy McPherson
Guy McPherson
17:18 17 Sep 19
Great Realtor! David stuck with is over the long haul while we looked at different types of properties and different locations. When we finally found our perfect home he made selling and buying easy. Professional, friendly, and fun.
Ali Tariq
Ali Tariq
03:19 13 Sep 19
David was great. My wife and I were on a short trip to Vancouver and were interested in some places in Abbotsford. Not only David was very prompt in response, he also took time to show us multiple properties and didn't hesitate at all. He also knew we were not going to be buying for at least a year or two but that didn't stop him for showing us around. I highly recommend him!
Tim Craig
Tim Craig
17:05 01 Sep 19
I first met Sunny and David at an open house around the corner from our house. Upon seeing their professionalism we immediately knew we wanted them to represent us on any future real estate transactions. David and Sunny did not disappoint and exceeded our expectations. They are hard working agents who hustle to work for the needs of their clients. We will absolutely be using them for our next sale or purchase as each step in this progress revealed their tireless work and admirable integrity. Lastly... they know their markets and I encourage all prospective sellers to LISTEN to their advice with respect to the listing price. They advised us on the price in relation to the comparables in our neighbourhood and our house was sold the day it hit the market. Thanks again fellas, on behalf of my family we appreciate all you did.
sunny bhalla
sunny bhalla
18:45 28 Aug 19
He is an amazing realtor we sold our apartment with him and bought a house he is super knowledgeable and he is always on top of everything. It was no rush to find our house he made us feel super comfortable and he always gives you a feed back.Really good realtor we had an amazing experience with him,I hope to work with him in the future
Crimea McGowan
Crimea McGowan
18:17 29 Jul 19
We contacted David because we were interested in a home he was selling. He wasn’t able to represent us, but recommended another realtor to work with. The realtor he recommended, Sunny Ahuja, was wonderful and we will use him again if needed! His recommendation gave us a great experience purchasing our first home. We communicated with David often as well through the process and found him to be very professional, honest and helpful!
Maggie boyd
Maggie boyd
02:23 24 Jul 19
David is the epitome of a how a real estate agent should care for their clients. He was extremely kind, patient, and helpful throughout every step of the process. Anytime we had any questions or concerns he would take the time to explain everything to us. He made calls, sent emails and even texts on our behalf. To truly sum it up, he held us by the hand and walked us through a very stressful situation. Thanks again for all your help David. We wish we could rate you 6 stars, you deserve it.
jlpabc
jlpabc
07:05 18 Jul 19
He helped us purchase our first home.. we had picked out 3 condos to look at but none of them were perfect, he found us the perfect one we both knew at first glance that the place was meant to be. Great realtor !!
Morley Braun
Morley Braun
21:40 15 Jul 19
David Tsen.....Never met him before. Wish I had. He’s enriched my life. You know David, you know... Amazing young man. He came by recommendation when I was seriously interested in purchasing a condo. I had just recently lost my husband. A thousand thanks to you who introduced him to me. He became a friend, an advisor on all things purchasing my home and my agent. He showed his excellence in all three. He is a kind patient man, an amazing agent. He is a man of integrity and wisdom. He is a master at his craft. He is full of real estate knowledge and up to day on what what is going on in the market. He goes to the heights to look out for the best for his clients needs. Never pushy, a gentle conviction,and never indifferent or too busy to give his all. Even if it cost him hrs of working late to give the same commitment to his other clients. Very dedicated to his call. He has a great knowledge and understanding of the complex world of Real Estate- then has a way of making it easy to understand. Work ethic? Exceptional !!! He went way beyond his work description to help his client and did more than best to make this an informative, pleasant, trustworthy experience for me. He takes all aspects of his career and applies integrity, knowledge, commitment, and humor to excellence. Love that about David. David, there are 5 stars. Fill all 5 in for me cause they wouldn’t let me into the pages. You get them all! If it were that I could give you 10 or 20... I would. In fact I’d give you much more. A thousand more. To you, David. You know!!! I appreciate you soooo much. Amazing journey. Morley
Peak9Productions
Peak9Productions
18:31 09 Jul 19
David is very professional and easy to work with. I would highly recommend him if your looking for a house in the Fraser Valley.
hardev gill
hardev gill
02:25 25 Jun 19
David is reputable and very thorough when it comes to real estate. David worked hard in selling and finding a new home for our family. Thank you David and keep up the good work!
Shea Wilson
Shea Wilson
02:38 22 Jun 19
Had a great experience taking some photos for David and his clients. David’s passion for his career was clearly demonstrated by his professionalism and thoroughness. It was a pleasure working with him.
Terry Singh
Terry Singh
20:10 03 Jun 19
David has outstanding knowledge of the field and was always on top of any questions I posed. Found the perfect home to match my needs. A pleasure to do business with.
Sunny Pamma
Sunny Pamma
17:59 14 May 19
I had the pleasure of working with Dave on a few transactions. He is the utmost professional and handles all objections and tasks brilliantly! I would highly recommend anyone looking for a great realtor and true professional.
Emma Kreisch
Emma Kreisch
03:07 14 Apr 19
Being first time home buyers we didn't know the first thing when it came to purchasing a property. David was and absolute asset in finding our perfect first home! He had no problem asking the hard questions and gathering important information for us. David listened and helped us find exactly what we were looking for. He was always available and quick to reply whenever we needed anything however small it may be. He walked us through the whole negotiation process and got us in well below the asking price. Very helpful and knowledgeable on all the little (and big) questions we had. Would recommend David 100% to anyone looking to purchase a new home!
Diem Nguyen
Diem Nguyen
14:37 10 Apr 19
Update: Thank you so much David for your outstanding efforts on making our dream a reality! David is very knowledgeable and informative. He is quick to answer enquiries. He is patient and listens to what you are looking for. I highly recommend David.
Matthew Smit
Matthew Smit
17:02 26 Mar 19
David worked with myself and my girlfriend to help us find the perfect home that fit our needs. He was always available for questions and worked within our schedule to show us homes whenever it was best for us. We were first time home buyers and he made each step easy to understand and painless. From the first step to the last, he was there to help and make recommendations for what we needed to do next. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend David to anyone I know looking for a Realtor. He was always friendly and professional.
Amit Soin
Amit Soin
17:50 28 Feb 19
As a Mortgage Broker, working with a good realtor is key to providing top quality client experience. David is one of the best realtors I have had the pleasure to work with. He is very knowledgeable and incredibly generous with his time (takes calls mornings, afternoons, and evenings). He keeps all parties in the loop and makes the process seamless. I look forward to continue working with David!
Pablo Paez
Pablo Paez
20:49 25 Feb 19
David is a great agent. I had the pleasure to work with him in the same property. He was the listing agent and I was the buyer agent. He was very easy going and professional. He helped me in all my inquiries and answered all my questions very quick. He made this a very pleasant experience for all involved in the transaction. Hope to work with you soon in another deal.
Kimberly Lee
Kimberly Lee
19:11 04 Sep 17
When making such a big decision, I wanted to work with someone I can trust. David made the process entirely painless. He offered good advice and answered my emails and calls no matter what time of the day. His dedication, hard work, professionalism, knowledge and honesty are much respected and appreciated. David is a fantastic realtor and I would recommend him to anyone!
Nav Jalan
Nav Jalan
04:57 17 Aug 17
We recently hired David as our realtor and we couldn't have been more impressed with his work and ambition to get us the best deals possible. He catered to our individual needs and even after he found us our new home he went the extra mile to help and make sure we were comfortable once settled in. We would definitely recommend this man as a realtor to anyone looking for someone to go above and beyond for his clients. Thanks again from the Jalan Family David.
Jin Calingayan
Jin Calingayan
02:49 20 Jun 17
As an immigrant and first time home buyers, buying a house is not easy but Our dream of having our own home became a reality.With the unconditional , freehearted support and help of our Realtor DAVID Tsen,we are able to have the comfort of our new home. We finally got our home which we amazingly love. Along the process of purchasing our home, he is so dedicated to his work, very knowledgeable about his work , and the most remarkable about David is he ADVOCATES for his clients just as he did for us. Based on our experience, His service as realtor agent is excellent and always aimed to help us achieve our dream, other than these, he is also an educator as he provided us knowledge and understanding on real estate. Our dream house could have been impossible without his determination to help us achieve it.
Judy McTaggart
Judy McTaggart
14:42 08 May 17
Buying and/or selling can be a nightmare! We have had the exact opposite in our experience with David. He has worked above and beyond to get us our forever home and sold our current home without any issues. It went so smoothly, my husband and I still can't believe it. David took care of everything for us including setting us up for financing and a fabulous notary. Nothing you ask is ever too much for David!!! He returns calls and texts almost immediately, he is always always on top of everything. NEVER EVER any pressure! I highly recommend David if you want the buying or selling experience to be very pleasant. So if you are looking in the Fraser Valley or Lower Mainland, he is your man. Thank you David, from the bottom of my heart for making what could have been very difficult, so easy.
joseph hays
joseph hays
08:46 30 Mar 17
I've been through the process a couple times with a few different agents, trying finding a perfect space to call home. Extremely easy to say, the experience I've had with David is second to none. He is very involved in the whole process from beginning to end. It's clear, he really sincerely cares about his clients and he is truly passionate about what he does. He made the buying process a breeze, and actually an enjoyable experience. He was always in constant contact with with me and sending me new listings, always there to answer any questions, while never being pushy or impatient in any way, in fact, just the opposite. He was very insistent on viewing as many places as possible, because when, "you find the one, you will just know. Don't rush it". I took his advice and we left no stone unturned. After viewing many places, we found a place I'm happy to call home. Couldn't be more satisfied with the outcome and that I choose him as my agent. I will be recommending highly to everybody. Thanks David!
Next Reviews