Mike & Peg C. said, “Chris has handled a number of purchases and sales for us over the last 20 plus years at Lake Hopatcong. He has always been extremely knowledgeable, having done his homework in advance, and in every case professional in being OUR advocate in the transaction. Chris is straight forward and honest and does not over sell to close a deal. His realistic assessments of pricing have always been accurate and his knowledge of Lake Hopatcong lake front homes is second to none.”

Determine his or her knowledge of the area. Real estate is VERY area specific – so much so that a neighborhood can vary from street to street. The key to buying the right house is location, location, location. You need to know everything about the potential neighborhood you are considering – the ranking of the school district, the crime rate, historical appreciation rate, the ratio of owners to renters. Find out how well the agent knows the area and how many homes they have sold in the neighborhood. Remember to choose wisely as your home will be the single largest financial commitment you make in your lifetime.

This is where Chris shines!

Barbara G. said, “Chris is amazing. He has detailed knowledge of the area and even the specific homes. Especially impressive is how candid he is – he tells it like it is and if he doesn’t think something is worth the price, he tells you…” Na and Dmitri said “We decided on using him after we read about how he is so connected to Lake Hopatcong. We were not disappointed.” Lisa and Ivan M. said, “He knows every square inch of the lake and everyone who lives on the lake […]. He is a wealth of invaluable knowledge and knows how to translate that into successful deals for his clients.” Douglas S. said, “I have found that it really pays off to speak with someone who really understands both boating and lake front property.” Glenn & Candy D. said, “We could not imagine anyone more knowledgeable about the area! It took a lot of stress out of the experience knowing he had ‘the inside scoop’ on every property we saw.”

Be specific about what you’re looking for. Discuss the location, type, age, size, and condition of the house you are looking for. Is the agent familiar with this type of house, and can he or she find listings that match your desire? Be realistic. Finding an exact match may not be possible; however, a good agent will listen to you and show you homes that have at least some of the qualities you’re looking for. As you explore these houses, it is extremely helpful if you tell the agent exactly what you liked and did not like about each house.

Ken & Jess B. said, “We want to thank you very much for helping us to find our dream lake front home on Lake Hopatcong! Your honest, straight forward and creative approach is what helped to get the job done. You showed us properties that we did not even pick out of the listings and demonstrated an understanding of what we were looking for that even WE did not have!”

Establish guidelines to house hunting. Each person has a different style of house hunting. Some people like to look at every house with the realtor, some prefer to screen the house themselves before going with the agent. Let the agent know your style, as well as your schedule and availability. (Note: in a hot real estate market, you may need to be more flexible to get the best deal.) If you prefer some information before seeing the house, ask for a short description of the house from the Multiple Listing System or “MLS.”

Jeanne & Jerry F. said, “I first starting looking for a Lake Front home on Lake Hopatcong with another realtor. When that did not work out we found Chris Edwards. We noticed a difference right away.”

Know and share your timeframe. Although real estate agents are motivated to show houses, they don’t have the time or the desire to work for free. If you are ready to buy or sell a home, TELL THEM! An agent will be very motivated and will prioritize working with you if they know you are serious, especially if you have a short timeframe to buy a house. As with any relationship, communication is extremely important – be upfront and honest and use these guidelines to find the right realtor for you.

Carey & Kay L. said, “[…] our house went from listing to closing in 23 days! It was really nice to experience working with an “authentic” Lake Front specialist.” Lisa & Ivan M. said, “Chris was able to list our old home, put under contract, and out of attorney review in 6 days!!! […] We had to sell our old home to buy our new home, and I was a little nervous about it, but Chris handled it like a pro and it was a problem-free process thanks to his hands-on approach.”

To summarize, Glenn & Candy said it best. “Finding a house is hard, choosing the right realtor at Lake Hopatcong is easy! Chris is simply the best.”