While many feel that they could sell their home on their own without a Realtor, only about 8% actually do. Actually, sure, you can sell your home without a Realtor, but do you really want to? Working with a Realtor will more than likely save you both time and, yes, money.
Below are some of the reasons why you should use a Realtor to sell your home . . .
Preparing Your Home to Sell
What we think looks good might not be attractive to the masses of people when trying to sell your home. Your Realtor acts as a decorator/stager/photographer based on their experience of selling homes every day. Sometimes a little bit of inexpensive advice can save you a ton of money and time.
Setting a Proper Price for Your Home
Realtors pay money to have access to the most up-to-date data that an appraiser would use to give value to your property. For instance, I personally have access to two different sources that tell me all of the homes that have sold that are compared to my subject property. The average person doesn't get this information. You not only need homes that have sold through the MLS, but what about homes that have sold through FSBO (For Sale by Owner)?
Pricing your home correctly is the single biggest reason why some homes sell in a fair amount of time and why some stay on the market for 6-12 months or longer.
Marketing
A Realtor wears many hats, and one of them is marketing. In our digital market, trends change every day, and Realtors stay on top of when and where to advertise your property to give you the most exposure for your home. One of the most crucial forms of marketing in our age is online marketing, so having an agent who is an online component will greatly increase the odds of selling your home quicker. It's all about exposure, and most people who do not use a Realtor will not have the tools to get your listing in front of the most amount of people.
Negotiating Offers
As Realtors, we abide by a set of codes of ethics. One of these codes is to look after the best interest of our client over our own interest.
Wouldn't you want someone in your corner who will only look after your well-being soley?
Depending on what type of market you're in, there may be some vicious negotiations that take place, whether it be about price, repairs, or just personality differences. Your Realtor is your "liaison" between both parties and their agent. Our interest is to get you as the seller the best possible price, in the least amount of time, and with the least amount of hassle. Sometimes this involves asking a lot of questions and going to battle, but you don't have to deal with the stress of it. Your Realtor "goes to bat" for you.
Monitoring the Whole Process
There is a ton of work to be done between the final signing of the purchase agreement to closing, not even including the paperwork. As a Realtor, I oversee the entire process. You have to get the signed documents to the lender as well as the title company. If you as the seller haven't done this already, you more than likely have 7 days to send a mortgage approval letter over to the seller.
You have to schedule the home inspection and make sure that the seller orders the termite inspection, "on time." Once the home inspection is complete "on time," you have to make sure that the Home Inspection Removal Addendum is delivered to the seller in the time allowed. With this addendum, you negotiate further in regard to repairs, if needed, and following everything up with signed documents by both parties.
Once the appraisal has been ordered by the buyers' lender and completed, you may have to work with the appraiser if the value comes in lower than the sales contract. Sometimes, we have to provide sales to the appraiser that they may have overlooked, in order for the appraisal to come in at the right amount.
After all of the contingencies are fulfilled, you have to stay in constant communication with the buyer's agent, the buyer's lender, and the title company to make sure that property closes on the date that the purchase agreement stated. Working with a Realtor will take the bulk of this burden off your shoulders.
Provides Security for Showings
Working with a Realtor will give you peace of mind as potential buyers walk through your home. If you list your home with a Realtor, they will pre-screen all calls that come in and verify that the person calling is actually a Realtor. Depending on what type of lock box is on your home and what is traditional for your area, listing agents are always called first before anyone enters your property. In the worst case scenario, the listing agent at least has the buyer's agent to call in order to find some accountability if something goes wrong during the showing.
Realtors are Connected
Not only are Realtors in touch with local lenders, inspectors, and title people all the time, they have inter-office connections that could be crucial to finding a buyer for your home faster. Just in general conversation with people who are "in the business" gives more exposure to your home. Word-of-mouth has always been an effective method of finding a buyer for your property.
Abide to a Strict Code of Ethics
All real estate licensees are not created the same. Those licensees who take the extra time and money to become a Realtor abide by a common set of strict, moral ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge in working with buyers and sellers of real estate.
They are Your Friend and Confidant
Realtors have a fiduciary relationship with their clients, which means that they put the interest of their client over their own. Yes, we are salespeople, but--unlike sales in other industries--we typically become close with our clients, oftentimes, for many years to come. Working with a Realtor puts someone in your corner and provides you with someone who will fight for your best interest.
Overall Real Estate Expertise
Realtors go through extensive, professional training and on-going, continuing education in order to give you the proper advice for the sale of your home. If you happen to be working with an agent who has been selling homes for years and has hundreds of sales under their belt, you get the added benefit of expertise, longevity, and history.
Please contact me if you're thinking about selling in the Baldwin County AL area. I'd love to work with you, and I know what I'm doing.
About the author: The above Real Estate information on Why You Should Use a Realtor to Sell Your Home was provided by Jeff Nelson of IXL Real Estate – Eastern Shore. Jeff can be reached via email at jeff@livegulfshoreslocal.com or by phone at 251-654-2523. Jeff has helped people move in and out of properties for nearly 12 years.
Thinking of selling your home? I have a passion for Real Estate and love to share my marketing expertise!
I service Real Estate sales in Baldwin County including the cities of Spanish Fort, Daphne, Fairhope, Foley, Gulf Shores, and Orange Beach.
