Meet the Agent - Chris White from Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty

Meet the Agent - Chris White from Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty

This month for 'Meet the Agent' we interview Chris White, a Real Estate Agent at Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty. Chris recently joined the Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty team and discusses what he is enjoying about his new role. Chris also discusses where he is seeing alot of activity in the market currently as well as favourite and best value properties on the market currently. Finally, Chris offers some excellent personal insights and tips for potential purchasers in the current market.

How long have you been in the business? This is my first year as a real estate agent, but I have been a school teacher for the past 17 years. I am new, highly motivated, and very excited to be a real estate agent with Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty!

Why do you like working for Coldwell Banker Bermuda Realty and what’s the favorite part of your job? In the brief time I have been working at Coldwell Banker I have felt nothing but support from the entire team. The management has met with me regularly for training, and the other agents have welcomed me with open arms. It has been a great experience so far, and it has been very encouraging to know that I am a part of such an amazing team of people. In addition, I really enjoy working with clients and customers to meet their real estate needs. I love helping people, and assisting them in achieving their goals is both exciting and rewarding.    

Where are you seeing activity in the market at the moment? Right now, I am definitely seeing the most amount of activity in the rentals market. The demand for rentals is huge, and the supply is having a hard time keeping up. If you have a property that you would like to rent, now is the time to get it listed! There is also a lot of movement in certain areas of the sales market. If your property is listed at a competitive price, there are many buyers out there looking for a place just like yours.

What is your favourite property on the market right now? There are many great properties listed for sale at the moment, but it’s pretty hard for anything to compare to Alongside; a simply stunning 3-bedroom house in Fairylands with a breathtaking view, large covered porch, private waterfront, infinity pool, and tonnes of Bermudian charm.  It is the quintessential dream house, for sure. CLICK HERE TO VIEW

What property on the market right now, in your opinion, do you think is really good value? When I consider good value for money in real estate, I firstly look for a great home in an excellent neighbourhood. If that home is available for a competitive price and offers rental income, then it becomes pretty difficult to overlook. Right now, Villa Maria in Sousa Estate ticks all of the boxes of a home that offers really great value. CLICK HERE TO VIEW

How do you see the Bermuda property market over the next 12 months? The COVID pandemic has caused an unprecedented build up in demand over the past few years, and the ramp up to this is only just getting started as the economy finally opens back up. We can see that demand outweighs supply in almost every area of the market, so I anticipate both sales and rentals will remain strong for at least the next 12 months. 

What are your top 3 tips for purchasers when looking for a potential new home? The tips I’m about to offer come from first hand experience, as I have purchased my first home within the last year. I know exactly what it’s like to go through the emotional rollercoaster of finding and purchasing a home.

1. Make a list of the things that you both want and need from a home. Prioritise them because the chances of getting everything you’re looking for are unlikely. Try your best to look past the things that you may not like in a home, but that are easily fixed with minor renovations. It’s the things in a home that you can’t change that require thoughtful deliberation.

2. Make sure you are aware of all of the costs involved with buying your home. Purchasing real estate requires more than just a down payment for a mortgage, so be sure to talk to your realtor about the closing costs involved. You want to go into this purchase with your eyes wide open and not be caught out by unanticipated expenses.

3. Don’t be afraid to shop around. Purchasing a home is likely going to be the single biggest purchase and one of the most important decisions of your life. You want to be sure to get it right, so have patience, consider every detail, and take note of the things about each home you see that you are not prepared to live with. When you know exactly what you don’t want in a house, it will make the right home for you practically jump out and bite you! 

Finally – do you have any good tips for sellers when preparing their home for sale? When it comes to selling your home, first impressions are key. Any potential buyers will very quickly notice if a house is poorly maintained, dirty or cluttered, and these things can easily discourage people from making an offer.

You don’t need to spend huge amounts of money remodeling your kitchen or bathroom to sell your house. It’s likely that the new owner will want to put their own touch on it when they move in, anyway. However, small things like decluttering, and painting the walls with a fresh, neutral colour can go a long way towards making your house look appealing to the largest number of buyers. Having a well landscaped yard, well maintained exterior and a spotless interior are often the three biggest factors for getting a home sold. You’ll find that spending hundreds of dollars in the right places can be just as (or even more) effective than spending thousands on a renovation that might not be to everyone’s taste. 

At the end of the day, if you truly want to sell your home for the best possible price, then please trust the knowledge and expertise of your realtor. They know what your home will most likely sell for, so listen to what they have to say and try to keep realistic expectations.

To Contact Chris you can e-mail: cwhite@brcl.bm

or phone: (441) 531-3961