I first picked another agent because their fee was 1% lower and they included staging for free. My house sat on the market for 96 days with zero offers. Those 96 days cost me more than $15,000. I learned the hard way that choosing an agent based on price alone can be an expensive mistake.
I met Ginger Hebert while I was renovating my house in Olmos Park Terrace. From the start, I was impressed by how much she knew about historic homes, the neighborhood, and the small details that could help sell the home. She was never pushy about getting the listing. Instead, she freely shared information and pointed out opportunities I never would've known about on my own.
Two of her early recommendations proved to be incredibly valuable. She encouraged me to apply for the city’s Historic Substantial Rehabilitation Tax Incentive. This saved me money and could be passed on to a future buyer. She also suggested that I hire an appraiser to measure the house. The appraisal sketch revealed that my house was 654 square feet larger than county records showed. That extra square footage was vital in justifying the price I thought the home deserved.
I really wanted Ginger to list the property, but a colleague recommended another agent who offered to list it for 1% less and include staging at no additional cost. I was trying to be financially responsible, so I chose the less expensive option. Unfortunately, that decision ended up costing me far more time and money than I saved.
When I finally called Ginger to relist it, the difference was night and day. She didn’t just relist the house at a lower price. She came in with a complete marketing plan and pricing strategy. She arranged professional photography and realistic virtual staging, created marketing materials that showcased my home, and compiled a detailed property binder. It included information about the house, its renovations, and the neighborhood, so buyers had everything they needed in one place.
More importantly, Ginger understood the challenges with my property and knew how to address them. My home is close to a busy street and commercial areas, and construction on a major city project had just begun nearby. The VIA Green Line project is expected to take approximately two to three years, so I knew buyers would be concerned about construction, traffic, and property values.
Ginger didn’t shy away from those concerns. Instead, she got ahead of them. She personally hosted the open house and explained the potential long-term benefits of the VIA project. She also talked to buyers about the history of Olmos Park Terrace, neighborhood clubs, community events, and other details most agents simply wouldn't know.
Just two days after that open house, we received an offer from buyers who had attended with their agent. Ginger had my home under contract in just 13 days!
From that point forward, she made the transaction very smooth and kept me informed every step of the way. Because I was living out of state, I needed someone who could take charge and fight for my best interests without me needing to manage every detail. And Ginger did just that. She negotiated so well that I didn’t have to make a single repair and we closed a week early!
In the end, my house was on the market for only 25 days, and it sold for the highest price Olmos Park Terrace had seen in more than two years!
Looking back, I can say without hesitation that the agent you choose matters. Saving 1% on commission sounded appealing at the time, but my first listing ultimately cost me more money, more time, and months of unnecessary stress.
What Ginger brought to the table was worth far more than the difference in commission. She had a strategy, knew how to market my home, and was a strong negotiator. She knows historic homes, she knows this neighborhood inside and out, and she knows how to use that knowledge to get results.
I can't recommend Ginger Hebert highly enough.
