Tag Archive for: LinkedIn Connection

Best Grand Junction Real Estate Agents

Choosing the Best Grand Junction Real Estate Agents

Whether you’re a first-time homebuyer or a seasoned home seller, choosing the best Grand Junction real estate agents is crucial for a successful real estate experience. Buying or selling a home is not something most people do very often in their lifetime, so you shouldn’t be expected to know how to choose the best Grand Junction real estate agent without some guidance.

Here are nine important factors for finding the best Grand Junction real estate agent and how to make the most out of your property search or home sale.

1. Experience Matters

One of the most important qualities of the best Grand Junction real estate agents is their profound knowledge of the current real estate market. Only consider an agent that works full-time, that is on top of this ever-changing market. What worked to buy or sell a home a year ago may not work today. The best Grand Junction real estate agents will have years of experience and hundreds of transactions under their belt. Understanding how to make your offer stand out in a competitive market, or creatively market your home to get top dollar are skills gained through experience. They are skills that are honed over hundreds of transactions. Use my 23+ years of experience assisting hundreds of home buyers and sellers to your advantage!

2. Your Best Interests at Heart

The best Grand Junction real estate agents understand that having your best interest at heart is the most important thing when hiring an agent. But how do you know who that will be? Is it the agent with the funniest videos? How about the agent with the most online reviews? The most years of experience? Or how about the #1 home seller in the valley based on production? All these things can give you a preview into an agent’s true self when it comes down to putting your interest before theirs, but actions speak volumes. Watch this video about what I did for a client, without hesitation. Will the agent you hire do the same?

3. Professionalism and Communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of a successful real estate transaction and real estate relationship. The best agent will keep you informed at every step of the process, ensuring that you are never left in the dark. Look for an agent who responds promptly to your inquiries, provides clear and concise information, has creative ideas, and has excellent negotiation skills. The professionalism you experience from hiring the best Grand Junction agent is not only important to your relationship, but your agent’s reputation amongst other Grand Junction agents can also greatly impact the outcome of your home sale or purchase. With my experience and knowledge of the industry I consistently excel at keeping my clients informed and other agents prefer to work with those who understand the process and know how to communicate. I wouldn’t have succeeded for over two decades without superior communication skills.

4. Client Testimonials or Reviews?

Part of understanding an agent’s reputation is hearing about the experience of working with them directly from past clients. Reviews are a powerful thing, and many agents go to great lengths to get hundreds of online reviews. I’ve always preferred testimonials from my past clients. For the last two decades I have mailed every single client a survey about their experience working with me and asked for a testimonial. I’ve received hundreds of letters back in the mail. This is much different than sending an email asking a client to complete an online review as part of their to-do list at work that day. Reviews feel coerced, testimonials are given.

“Paul Aspelin has helped me with several real estate transactions. He is ethical, knowledgeable and intelligent. He is an outstanding negotiator and always works very hard for his clients. I could not be more satisfied with the service he has provided me.”
-Scott Gordon

“What an amazing experience! This is the second house we’ve bought/sold through Paul and the level of expertise, market knowledge, guidance and professionalism is unmatched!”
-Emrah Oruc

“Paul and the team exceeded all of our expectations during our home sale! After a difficult selling experience with a previous home, we were nervous to sell again. However, Paul was incredibly helpful through every step of the process. His communication with us was excellent, and we always knew he was looking out for our best interests. I would highly recommend Paul Aspelin for any real estate transaction!”
-Haley Bennett Horal

Read more testimonials on my About Paul Aspelin page or my Paul Aspelin Reviews and Recommendations post where I show some of the hand written notes and survey results from my happy past clients,

If you are interviewing agents, ask them what their referral rate over their career has been. Mine is 90% +. The answer you get from agents should tell you everything you need to know before you hire them.

5. Innovative Marketing Strategies

Check out my custom license plate!

Effective marketing is especially crucial in a competitive market like Grand Junction, where highlighting your property effectively can make all the difference. If you’re interviewing agents, there is one question that will separate the best agents from the rest of the pack. “Give me an example of a creative marketing strategy you’ve used to sell a home in the past.” Go ahead…. I’ll wait. You will never see a real estate agent dance around answering a question more than this one. I welcome this question to show you numerous creative ideas I have employed for my clients to create successful outcomes others failed to achieve. Ask me about my scenic overlook sign campaign or my immersive property map.

6. Understanding Your Needs

Every homebuyer has unique preferences, requirements, and constraints. The best Grand Junction real estate agents take the time to understand your needs, whether it’s related to the size/style of the home, specific amenities, or location. The best agents listen first, then tailor their approach to match your individual preferences, ensuring that the properties they present align with your vision for your dream home.

7. Negotiation Skills

Real estate transactions often involve negotiations, and having a skilled negotiator on your side can make a significant impact. Top Grand Junction real estate agents possess strong negotiation skills, advocating for your interests and securing the best possible deal. Whether you’re buying or selling, an agent who can navigate negotiations effectively is an invaluable asset. Who has better negotiating skills? An agent with hundreds of successful transactions over two plus decades or a part-time agent doing a handful of deals each year.

8. Accessibility and Availability

Lot For Sale by The Christi Reece Group. I have new construction experience and can walk you through the entire process of building a new home!

The real estate market doesn’t operate on a strict 9-to-5 schedule. Look for a Mesa County real estate agent who is accessible and available, understanding that your property search might require flexibility in terms of viewing schedules and communication. An agent who is committed to being available when you need them demonstrates a genuine dedication to your real estate goals. Being the top real estate agent is the most inconvenient job on the planet. I am on call every day of the year at all hours of the day and night. But do you know what? It’s how I make my clients successful. I am always there when it matters most.

9. Educational Guidance

It doesn’t matter if this is your first time buying or selling a home. I am here to educate you on today’s real estate market. If you’ve got previous experience with buying or selling that will help you to understand the nuances of the process. However, nothing can replace the guidance and education you receive from hiring the best Grand Junction real estate agent in the Grand Valley. You’ve got a handful of choices, and I’d like to show you why I should be one of your top agent picks to interview. Your move is too important to leave in the hands of just anybody.

Let’s Get Started

As you start your search for the best Grand Junction real estate, follow these nine tips and I assure you that your next choice will be the right choice. With the right agent by your side, you’ll have an enjoyable and rewarding real estate experience in Grand Junction, Fruita, Palisade or in all of Mesa County. There are some great agents in the Grand Valley, I just need to make sure that you know at least one. Call me with confidence to assist with your relocation, your home purchase or sale. Learn why I chose The Christi Reece Group and what I learned by living in Grand Junction Colorado. Search this blog for other posts about Mesa County, Fruita, Palisade and Grand Junction, Colorado.

Connect with me on LinkedIn

PAUL ASPELIN, REALTOR®
GRI, SRES®, CNE
The Christi Reece Group
Hot Property Listings and MLS Search: paul.christireece.com
Text/Call 612-306-9558

by Paul Aspelin, REALTOR

Wealth is Where Your Friends Are

Guest Post by Michelle Aspelin

Have you heard the phrase “wealth is where your friends are”? I first read about it in a book called How to Retire Happy, Wild and Free by Canadian author Ernie J. Selinski. The author didn’t focus on retirement finances and investments in his book but more on happiness and lifestyle. He describes retirement, or pre-retirement, as a time to become much more than you have ever been. He explains how important it is to discover the world around you while you still have your health and physical capabilities to explore all you want to see and do.

Mailbox painted by Emma Aspelin close up

Your friends will send you mail!

Chapter 6 is titled “Your Wealth is Where Your Friends Are”. I think it applies to the concepts on this website about moving to Grand Junction, or Mesa County in general. Above all, friends make life complete. For some, moving to the Grand Valley means they are moving towards family or friends, and that’s fabulous! But for others, it means you are moving away from family and friends. To a place where you know very few people, if anyone at all. Let’s talk about that.

Moving away from your home town

When Paul and I moved to Grand Junction it was a little of both. Of course, we were leaving our friends in Minnesota, and my parents, sister, brother-in-law and nephews along with Paul’s mom. Our parents are in their early 80s and it was tough to move away from them. However, we were also moving towards our children. Our oldest daughter graduated from Colorado Mesa University in 2022 and she still lives in this area. As of 2023, our youngest daughter lives in Tempe, AZ while she’s finishing up her degree at Arizona State University. They both chose the southwest. We were in Minnesota. When they said they were not planning to move back to Minnesota after they got their degrees, we were shocked at first. We always thought we would grow old with lots of family around us.

Now, you are probably familiar with the fact that Minnesota winters are cold. Maybe you’ve even heard of a polar vortex. Minnesota winters are also long and dreary with lots of cloudy skies and don’t get me started about wind chill factors. You can google it if you aren’t familiar. Let’s just say it gets so cold your face hurts on your way to the mailbox at the end of the driveway. So, we understood why our kids didn’t want to settle in Minnesota after living in the southwest and we started to ask ourselves why we were staying too. It took us a long time to come to the decision to move, and lots and lots of research until we finally chose Grand Junction.

In retirement, as well as in life in general, being near friends and family is important for our happiness and wellbeing. If you are moving to Grand Junction because of a job relocation or other opportunities, and you don’t know anyone here except the contact with your employer, I want to say, don’t worry.

Discovering the Grand Valley

I took this photo of Grand Junction from the Colorado National Monument

What we discovered is that everyone in the Grand Valley is very helpful, friendly, and more than willing to share their experiences with you. We moved here in the month of September, which was the perfect time for hiking. There are many short trails for us beginners and we met people along the way as we started to hike in the area. We discovered that many people have a story about when they moved to Grand Junction too. It’s fun to learn about where they lived before and what brought them here. Paul even has past clients he served in Minnesota that now live in Fruita.

Here’s the best part. Because there is so much to do in western Colorado and eastern Utah, we have friends and family already making plans to visit us here from other states. We made sure our new place had a guest room to encourage visitors and we’ve hosted three different couples in the first three months we were here, with the promise of more to come! Read my post about what I learned in the first three months of living in Grand Junction.

Why Live in Grand Junction, Fruit or Palisade?

Another advantage of living in Grand Junction, Fruita, or Palisade is that they all have very active Chambers of Commerce, business groups and clubs, events and nonprofits. Once you start to follow their Facebook pages, browse their websites, or follow them on LinkedIn, you’ll see there are so many opportunities to become a part of the community. You can attend events, volunteer, join groups or clubs or just hang out at popular local establishments and parks.

Paul and I are on LinkedIn, and we find it a very useful tool for connecting with other local business owners and professionals, learning about local events, and staying in touch with our network connections back in the Twin Cities too. Connect with Paul on LinkedIn. One of our first connections was with our local banker when we opened up our new bank accounts here in Grand Junction. Ask Paul about our new local, community-focused bank! Read our post about Why Move to Grand Junction.

Take Advantage of Local Rental Shops

Paul on a 4 wheeler (ATV) in Moab, Utah near Canyonlands National Park

There are plenty of rental shops for bikes, ATVs, RVs, etc. so don’t feel like you need to buy a lot of stuff to experience the outdoors when you get here. I like the phrase “try before you buy” and there are a lot of choices here for that. Even the Outdoor Program (OP) at Colorado Mesa University offers equipment rentals to the public at very low rental rates. The OP is CMU’s headquarters for outdoor adventure and education. That’s how our daughter got started as a CMU student with camping, backpacking and climbing equipment. And after she graduated, she and her friends went back to “the OP” to rent canoes and larger coolers for a weeklong trip down the Green River in Utah. Colorado Mesa University students, staff, faculty, and alumni receive discounted prices! Might be a great place to work when you move here!

So, please don’t worry about leaving your friends and family when you move to Fruita, Palisade or Grand Junction. It’s a very welcoming community with so much to see and do locally and within a few hours’ drive of the Grand Valley. You too will soon have a wealth of friends around you and who knows, some may even follow in your footsteps and move here too after they hear you talking about all the wonderful things you are experiencing in Grand Junction and western Colorado!

Learn about the local area

Below are a few links to local TV stations you can follow as well as see the local news topics and weather report. Ahh, the weather, that’s a whole other blog post about this “high desert” climate. Let me just say, we are very happy to leave the humidity and excessive mosquito population behind in Minnesota. Hardly any bugs here and the mild climate is absolutely wonderful. Something we are thankful for every day we are here. And most of those days boast a brilliant blue sky and maybe some white puffy clouds.

KKCO is a television station in Grand Junction, Colorado, affiliated with NBC and Telemundo.

KREX-TV is a television station in Grand Junction, Colorado, serving as the CBS affiliate for Colorado’s Western Slope region.

KJCT-LP is a low-power television station in Grand Junction, Colorado, serving Colorado’s Western Slope region as an affiliate of ABC and The CW Plus. Owned by Gray Television, it is a sister station to dual NBC/Telemundo affiliate KKCO.

Get Started

Ready to take the first step toward your move to Grand Junction? Visit the Get Started page or learn more about Paul Aspelin and why he chose the Christi Reece team first, then give him a call! He would love to tell you about the area and share our research and experience when we decided it was time for us to move to a warmer climate.

P.S. Chapter 8 in this book is called “Relocate to Where Retirement Living is Best” Uhhh, Check! And Chapter 9 is “Happiness Doesn’t Care How You Get There” Check again! Grand Junction checks a lot of boxes as a wonderful place to live, work and explore!