Ruthie Gallardo-Owens is a Realtor with Keller Williams Elite, but her other professional experiences across the OKC metro have shaped her knowledge of the area’s home-buying market.
In the following Q&A, she offers important considerations for home buyers and home sellers. She also explains how she approaches her goal of being the best Realtor in OKC.
What are the most important things for potential home buyers to consider?
There are many things to consider when buying a home, but I will share the three that any home buyer should consider:
- Location. It’s the most important factor because it’s the one thing about a home that you can’t change once you buy it. So consider your and your family’s geographical needs.
- Commitment. The next most important consideration is how long you plan on living at this particular property. It’s typically unwise to purchase a non-rental house unless you’re willing to live in it for at least five years.
- Money. Buyers must consider how this purchase will affect their finances short and long term. Add in a little cushion when estimating your monthly mortgage and bills, because you never know what will need a repair or upgrade.
What can people who are selling their homes do to increase the value of their property?
It’s incredibly important to make sure the basic cosmetic needs of your home are met. The home needs to be very clean from top to bottom. Make sure you declutter the home. In addition, dust and clean light fixtures and windows to allow a bright presentation. A fresh coat of paint and a nice lawn will complete the ready-to-sell look, so don’t be afraid to spend a little money upfront to increase the speed and price of your sale.
How do you try to be the best Realtor you can be in any situation?
I want people to think of me as the best Realtor in OKC, so I listen to the needs of my customer and do my best to make sure those needs are in the front of mind at every stage of our time working together.
You’ve worked in public schools, both as a teacher and a teacher trainer. How has that experience helped you transition into the world of realty?
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My passion for education is at the forefront of my real estate career. The most rewarding part of being a Realtor is being able to educate my customers on the market and their options for buying and selling.
Being able to help clients solve a problem through information and education makes me feel right at home.
How do you view the realty market right now in May 2016?
It is great! The time to buy or list a home is right now. The Oklahoma market is incredibly strong, and May is the month when inventory is building for the summer.
What are the strongest incentives to buy in the OKC metro?
The biggest incentive to buying in OKC is the opportunity to grow along with this amazing city. Our city is in the midst of a dynamic transformation, and being a part of that is the best thing for anyone wanting to develop roots in a great place to live. Plus, it doesn’t hurt that the property values steadily go up!
If there were a movie about you as a Realtor, what actor would play you and what would be the plot?
It would be a comedic-action movie written by Tina Fey, and I would be played by her, of course.
As for the plot? Single-mother lottery winner Amy Poehler and I have just five days to close on a Kansas City mansion formerly owned by Craig Kilborn. During inspection, however, we find a secret tunnel that leads to the United States’ strategic milk reserve bunker.
I won’t spoil how it ends.
