We have in excess of 10 years experience between us. We love working with buyers.  We've been buyers ourselves.  We LOVE first-time home buyers. We are also often reminded of how little the regular folks know about what a real estate agent really does and how we work for you.

Myths abound as to the secret lives of Realtors. So, in an effort to clear things up, we decided to let you in on 7 secrets of highly effective Realtors like us:

1. We don't/can't work 24/7 any more than you can. If we did that, we would be no good to you. we are available 24/7 by email and cell phone.  If you have an urgent problem, our team can usually get back to you quickly.

2. We do not work on salary. We only get paid at the closing of a sale we have worked on.  We are not paid hourly, by the mile, or by the number of showings we do. So, if some of our inquiries of you seem "intrusive" it's just that we want to make sure you are not contracted with another real estate agent.  Our business plan only allows us to work with two or three buyers at any given time actively, but we can probably assist you in other ways like setting up automatic searches and planning for the right time to buy if you are not ready to get in the car just now.

3. Clients are not HANDED to us. Our company does not simply hand us clients ready to sign a contract. This was a big misconception that many have.  Where does our business come from?"  Answer:  through referrals, networking, and smart marketing. We like to ask our clients when we first begin working with them to keep us in mind for anyone they know who needs our services. That way, we're not spending all of our time working to get more business, we can focus on the clients we have and do a better job for them in the end.  Do you know anyone else who can use our service right now?

4. There is no crystal ball. we don't know what price the seller will take. we don't know how long it will take a home to sell or how many houses we'll have to look at before you find the right one. We do know how to find out as much information as possible and give that to you. It is our due diligence to help you research property, to obtain disclosures and as much info as we can get from the other agent to help you make informed buying decisions.  Information is powerful, helps to relieve stress and enhances negotiations.

5. We work for YOU! There may be some less than truthful agents out there that spoil it for the rest of us, which is why you need to do a thorough job of selecting your agent. We consider it our JOB to protect YOUR best interests. We will not go behind your back.  We will not lie or deceive you. It is not in our best interest to do that. It would only hurt our relationship with you, in turn, stopping any kind of referrals you might send our way. We subscribe to the high standards of the Realtor's Code of Ethics on this one!

6. We can sell homes not listed by us or our company....That is the benefit of belonging to the local MLS. By being an MLS member we participate in broker reciprocity - we can all show each other's listings, thus allowing us to uphold our duties in #5.

7. We can help you in other cities OUTSIDE of the city that our office is located in. Just because our office is physically located in Hillsborough County, FL, doesn't mean we can't sell outside these limits. Ask us what areas we serve. Chances are, we can help you in that city or help you find a reputable agent that does.

We hope knowing the basics helps you interact better with us!  We have a buyer's market here in Tampa Bay! Things couldn't be better for finding your dream home...Let's get started.