What You Can Learn From Our “Rolodex”

By MICHAEL EDLEN | Special to the Palisadian-Post

Many years ago, a local doctor had asked if I knew anyone who could help him with a minor home repair. It led to conversation that concluded with finding him a great handyman as well as a creative contractor to consult with about a potential home improvement.

He was surprised at how much time I was glad to take to help and wondered why I would do that.

The simple reason is that part of our “role” in this community is to be a service provider in the broadest sense. No doubt, most professional agents feel the same way.

Although we receive compensation when we represent a client in the sale or purchase of a home, many of our hours during the week are focused on sharing helpful information about potential property values, analysis of market conditions and referrals of specialists who can help people with all their home-related needs.

For example, courtesy home value estimations may be useful for people doing a family trust or financial planning, or to have a general idea what their home could sell for in the current market. Also, many people benefit from knowing if some particular home improvement would be a good investment. Others want to know some suggestions about where they could move if they did sell their home, and what price points to expect in those other areas.

I have had the pleasure of discouraging many local senior citizens from selling their homes when it became clear through the conversation that various minor alterations to their current home could resolve their initial reasons for thinking of moving.

Similarly, if it makes economic sense, I am generally biased in favor of a family expanding or modifying their home to accommodate the desired changes, rather than selling it in order to buy a larger property.

Additionally, we have a lengthy list of experts to help clients with all their buying, selling, financing and remodeling needs. We can suggest loan brokers, contractors, surveyors, landscapers, interior designers, pest control companies, painters, plumbers, electricians, roofers, mold remediators, estate sale experts, movers and geologists. Our database even includes Feng Shui and “sager” experts!

I am also glad to research and recommend other professional realtors to assist people in buying or selling in any other area of the state or country.

In addition, our company provides a concierge service at no charge to our clients. They maintain a database of highly recommended people and are also often able to reach out and identify a service provider if one is not already on their approved list.

Michael Edlen has sold nearly $2 billion, 1,200 homes, and his team has more than 90 years combined experience in real estate. He and his team have represented hundreds of families in the downsizing process and provides real estate counseling services to prospective buyers and sellers. More insight and information are available at MichaelEdlen.com. He can be reached at 310-230-7373 or Michael@MichaelEdlen.com