Alice Dahlgren: Philosophy
Why Alice Dahlgren as your Realtor®? Because Alice Dahlgren consistently outperforms the average Realtor by more than 10 to 1. According to Dennis Curtin of RE/MAX, "Alice has single handedly produced real estate sales exceeding those of entire sales staffs of other companies."
Most everyone knows the old real estate adage, "Location, Location, Location". But for nearly 25 years, Alice Dahlgren has customized the formula to fit her highly service-oriented approach in helping house hunters become homeowners and helping homeowners become satisfied sellers. For Alice, it's "Integrity, Integrity, Integrity".
"Being a Realtor requires high energy, confidence, long days - and long-lasting relationships," says Alice, who has been a licensed Realtor working in the Oklahoma City and Edmond markets since 1981. "My intention is to listen closely to my clients, to always keep their interests paramount, and to approach every part of the transaction from a highly ethical viewpoint."
"Finding a good match between buyer and seller creates satisfied customers."
An associate with the RE/MAX First brokerage since 1990, Alice takes the greatest pleasure in finding a good match between home and buyer. For a selling client, that means keeping a realistic balance between price and marketplace dynamics. And for a buying client, that means finding the best price/property solution - not necessarily the cheapest house.
"By packaging my expertise in thoroughly understanding the real estate market with the best available financing, I can accomplish my primary objective - a 'good buy' both for the buyer and the seller," Alice says.
By being realistic about a selling client's asking price, and by refusing to take buying clients "beyond their financial interests," Alice has built a growing list of satisfied customers.
"I get to know my clients very well." she says. "That makes it very easy to work with them through multiple transactions of buying and selling real estate. In fact, many of my clients refer other family members to me when they need real estate assistance and I often work with several generations of a family."
"We strive to put knowledge, service and technology in action for a pleasant real estate transaction."
Alice, who employs a full-time licensed assistant to make sure she remains accessible to her clients, believes retaining her as a Realtor should result in taking the pressure off her clients. For a selling client, that should mean "all they have to do is pack," she says.
Alice also has made technology her ally, launching and maintaining an independent Web site since 1997. Her full-featured Web site provides in-depth information to visitors, along with the most up-to-date data on postings. Her site has received accolades from Web experts and from Oklahoma Today Magazine as one of the best business Web sites in the state. She not only uses the information content of the Internet to help her be a strong advocate for her clients, but also has obtained the best available digital camera gear, wireless connectivity and computer resources in her office.
"Our client surveys tell us that they are 'very satisfied' with the level of service we provide, that they have had a pleasant experience and that they would refer us to friends or family members," Alice says. "Knowledge and service are really all I have to sell. So I make sure I offer the highest quality service."
Buying and selling real estate obviously is the largest financial transaction in which most people are involved, so Alice provides an extraordinary commitment to the hundreds of details involved in such a complex endeavor.
"First, we make sure sales information associated with the property is precise. Something as routine as square footage often is recorded inaccurately at the courthouse, so that figure is double-checked", she says. She retains relationships with a cadre of inspectors, title experts, investigators, builders, developers, professional organizers, other Realtors, and more.
"I take a problem-solving approach," she says. "I help my buying clients arrange the best available financing and my selling clients schedule inspections, make repairs, generally prepare the house to sell.
"While I enjoy dealing with people, I take my job very seriously. That means no 'after-closing surprises,'" she says. "If there are any hidden issues, it's my job to help the closers resolve them so the transaction can be completed to everyone's satisfaction.
"It's also very important to maintain relationships with other Realtors. Egos sometimes get in the way. But I'd rather be service-oriented than ego-driven. You never know where your future business is going to come from."
Alice has watched the arrival of so-called "discount service" real estate companies that offer a property owner a place in the Multiple Listing Service but not much more. And she also understands some property owners hope to save money by listing their home as "for sale by owner."
She recommends that property owners consider those options with great care, since they may offer false economies. A seller's market driven by low interest rates may allow limited success without the help of a full-service Realtor. But the complexity of such a significant transaction always benefits from the guidance of a highly trained, experienced, licensed professional.
"In a real estate negotiation, information is power," Alice says. "I've invested many years acquiring the information necessary for both buyers and sellers to feel they have engaged in a fair and mutually beneficial transaction."
In addition to being a Licensed Realtor recognized by the National Association of Realtors, Alice is an Accredited Buyer Representative, a Certified Relocation Professional, a Certified Residential Specialist and a member of the Graduate Realtor Institute.
