If you are considering selling your house on your own, you may want to reconsider. Hiring a REALTOR® has many benefits and will most likely net you more money, even after paying commission. Houses sold with an agent net an average of 6% more than a FSBO (For Sale By Owner).1
When negotiating a contract and other real estate documents as an owner/seller, you leave yourself open to legal jeopardy. A real estate professional is educated in real estate law. Even though a REALTOR® is not an attorney, they have experience and expertise in negotiating and drafting real estate documents for the best interest of their client.
When selling a house, there are many people involved in the process from start to finish and the transaction can become very complex. A REALTOR® has the experience in dealing with every phase of the transaction. There are many more parties involved in a real estate transaction than just the seller and buyer. You will potentially have to deal with the buyer’s agent, multiple inspectors such as home inspector, termite, gas line and septic inspectors, bank appraiser, land surveyor and closing officer at the title agency. REALTORS® are used to navigating all details of the sale transaction; they are familiar working with all these different parties. They are experienced in coordinating every step of the transaction from listing to SOLD.
Another reason you will want a REALTOR® on your side is that they know about fielding buyers. They make sure buyers coming through your house are serious buyers and are preapproved or have proof of funds. Real estate professionals know your time is valuable and that keeping a house clean for showings can be stressful. The last thing you would want to do is waste your time with a buyer who can’t actually buy. By screening buyers, your agent can remove that unnecessary stress.
Some people become very attached to their home, so the thought of selling can be very emotional. A REALTOR® is a third party and therefore is someone who is emotionally removed from the situation who can guide you with clear and logical insight. You will be glad you have this sounding board when times get emotional or stressful.
Coming up with the right price to sell your house is very important. You don’t want to undersell, but also don’t want to over price and scare away strong potential buyers. A REALTOR® has tools at his or her hands to determine the best marketable price based on comparable sales in your area. Listing for a competitive price is a crucial first step in getting you the most money in a short amount of time. REALTORS® can provide you with a report called a CMA, Comparative Market Analysis which shows what comparable homes have sold for in the last 12 months. This report also will show you the current competition to be sure you are pricing your home strategically. Relying on a real estate professional to help determine the listing price will help maximize the price you get for your home.
The majority of buyers search for homes online. Gone are the days of traditional ads in newspapers. A real estate professional has many online venues where he or she will advertise your home. A REALTOR® has a marketing plan to get your home sold quickly which is not something most people are prepared to handle alone.
Here is a testimonial from one of my previous real estate clients in regard to having the assistance of a REALTOR® to help with her real estate needs: “I’m so glad I had Beth to help walk me through this whole process. I knew selling and buying a home, especially in the recent market, would be a challenge and she made it so easy and seamless. I had so many questions and she helped walk me through every step from pricing to inspection to all the necessary documents. Working with Beth really gave me peace of mind that everything was being handled properly and with integrity”.
I would like to help reduce the stress for you and sell your home quickly and for the highest price. Please reach out to me so we can get together and discuss your upcoming home sale and possible purchase. You can contact me here. REALTOR® with Dwell Real Estate.