Critical Reasons why You Need a Realtor when Selling your Home
If the time has come for you to sell your home and you are trying to
make the decision between listing it with a real estate agent or selling
it on your own, it is important to consider several important reasons
for using a realtor.
First, consider why you're tempted to try it on your own. For most
homeowners it is the lure of being able to save the cost of the
commission; a fee that ranges between 5% and 7% in most states. That can
sound like a hefty amount of money to save, but keep in mind that in the
end you may end up spending more than that trying to sell it on your
own.
One element that many homeowners overlook when they decide to sell their
home on their own is the fact that it can take up a lot of their time to
properly market their home and then individually meet with each buyer
that is interested. If you work a full-time job that means you will need
to either take time off from work or only show your home when you're not
working; something that can severely restrict your home's exposure to
prospective buyers.
There is also the matter of marketing to consider. Most homeowners
simply do not have the type of exposure and resources that realtors can
bring to the table. A realtor is able to offer a variety of different
marketing methods, both digital and print that can ensure your home is
exposed to the largest group of prospective buyers possible. In
addition, your realtor can tap into numerous cooperative marketing
networks, including exposure to other realtors. Studies have shown that
more than 80% of all real estate sales occur as a result of contact with
a real estate agent.
It is also important to consider the matter of security. When you try to
sell your home on your own, you must deal with the reality of allowing
strangers to come into your home. The same is also true when your home
is listed for sale with a realtor, but the difference is that realtors
take the time to pre-screen and qualify prospective buyers before they
bring them into your home. Also, simply having a realtor present when
your home is shown can help to reduce the amount of risk to your family
and home.
Realtors can also be extremely helpful when the time comes to negotiate
a deal for your home. Realtors handle negotiating on a regular basis and
can help you to work out the best possible deal for your home.
The fact that you must continually deal with a wide number of
professionals when selling your home must not be overlooked either. Such
professionals include attorneys, title companies, inspectors, appraisers
and lenders. While you might not have that much experience dealing with
so many people at once as a homeowner, this is something that a
professional realtor does on a daily basis; ensuring every part of the
home selling process moves along smoothly.
A realtor can also be extremely helpful in ensuring that any potential
problems are smoothed out before they have a chance to stall the sale of
your home. If questions should arise, a realtor can help to work them
out to ensure that your home sale closes on time. This type of day to
day monitoring of a transaction can be well worth the price of the
commission.
You will also likely find that a professional realtor can be invaluable
in terms of providing advice and guidance in getting your home prepared
for sale. The fact is that there are more homes for sale today than in
the recent past and that means more competition. When there is that much
competition in a housing market you must do everything possible to make
sure your home stands out from the crowd. A professional realtor can
offer advice on removing clutter, giving your home curb appeal and
improving the various other distractions that might cause a negative
impression in a prospective buyer.
Finally, consider the fact that a realtor has a comprehensive
understanding of the sales process from start to finish, including how
to effective handle written contracts, negotiations and counteroffers,
home appraisals and inspections and everything related to the closing
itself; elements that can leave the average homeowner feeling confused.
Ultimately, the price paid to a realtor can be relatively minor
considering everything they do and the many benefits they provide a
homeowner.
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