Husband-and-wife real estate team Debbi DiMaggio and Adam Betta recently published what they call an insider’s guide to real estate. It’s called “The Art of Real Estate,” and its goal is to educate both the consumer and real estate agent on the housing industry.
DiMaggio and Betta have been Realtors for more than 20 years. The opening chapter is about the San Francisco Bay Area housing market. It focuses on the Piedmont, Berkeley, Oakland and Montclair areas of the East Bay. The authors describe the differences between each city and lifestyle in detail, so the reader can picture the different distinctions of each city. DiMaggio and Betta also explain the real estate trends of both San Francisco and the East Bay area.
In the following chapters, the authors give a thorough description of the real estate sales process. There are two chapters dedicated to both buyers and sellers. There are common questions and answers each group needs to know. The authors detail why a real estate agent is an important facilitator when buying or selling real estate. They then tackle the financial implications of buying or selling real estate. They have also included an interview with a mortgage loan officer.
Finally, DiMaggio and Betta cover red flags that all buyers, sellers and agents need to be aware of during the real estate process. These red flags are important and are rarely talked about in such great detail. This is good information for both the consumer and seasoned real estate agents.
Woven throughout the book are small icons indicating tips for the reader. These bite-sized tips give technical real estate advice, warnings and more. Here’s a chart of all the icons in the book:
The book also contains useful checklists that buyers and sellers can use throughout the process. There is practical marketing advice for agents, including a section on social media. Each chapter is written in simple language, which makes it easy for consumers to understand.
DiMiaggio said, “We all need to work together: buyers, sellers and agents. We should all be respectful of each other through the process.” As a Realtor, she said that the agent’s role is to be a facilitator, educator and a good communicator. The last thing an agent should be considered is a salesperson, in her opinion.