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Why Use a REALTOR®?

Some homeowners think that selling their own home will save money and give them an advantage of the REALTOR® using majority. This is normally not the case. Before you start down this complicated path, here are a few reasons why using a real estate professional is important:

1) You will be drastically limiting your exposure to potential buyers, which means it can take between 10 and 15 times longer to sell your home. Houses that take a long time to sell usually sell for less because buyers believe there must be something wrong with them.

2) Most buyers find negotiating with sellers extremely awkward, and therefore avoid For Sale By Owner situations.

3) Most buyers use a REALTOR® in their home search, and most buyers' agents will typically not work with FSBO's because they will not be paid. This means you will have to offer a selling commission to attract buyer's agents, which will cut into your expected "savings".

4) Lack of negotiating experience can result in a lower selling price, or worse, a bungled contract and possible lawsuits. It is probably unwise to pit your negotiating skills against those of experienced professionals.

5) If you plan to use a lawyer to help you negotiate, your lawyer's fees could be considerably higher than a REALTOR's commission. Unlike REALTORS®, lawyers do not get paid for proactively representing your best interests or mediating delicate situations.

6) You only pay a commission to your REALTOR® if they successfully sell your home at a price you are happy with.

According to the National Association of REALTORS®:

"The median home price for sellers who use an agent is 16.0 percent higher than a home sold directly by an owner; $230,000 vs. $198,200; there were no significant differences between the types of homes sold. "While many unrepresented sellers are motivated to save on paying a commission, we think the price difference speaks for itself,"

Stevens said. "Owners without professional assistance also have problems in understanding and completing paperwork, prepping the home for sale, getting the right price and selling within the time planned." Survey data doesn't explain the price difference, but Stevens offered some context. "Agents know best how to prepare a home and maximize value, agents provide broader exposure to the market and are more likely to generate multiple bids, and the portion of sales that are between private parties are likely to be at a lower price than those on the open market." "Copyright National Association of REALTORS®, Reprinted from REALTOR.org with permission."

Marketing

While selling your home, you I will be able to expose your property to the biggest market to ensure the fastest sale at the best possible price. Your home will be included in the MLS, it will also have national and local promotion on the Internet, yard and neighborhood signs, as well as ads in various newspapers and real estate publications. I will promote your property through my contacts and database via e-mail, I will provide you with the appropriate marketing brochures, and will see to it that the property is properly advertised in various print markets. I believe a home sells much faster with exposure. The MLS system allows up to 25 photos of the property, I will utilize this to its fullest. Recent studies show that 80+% of buyers “shop” online for their next home before ever setting foot through the door. I realize that different properties warrant different marketing techniques and I will discuss the different options available with you.

Pricing

Pricing your home correctly in the beginning is very important. Sales statistics show that properties that are initially priced too high eventually sell for less than properties that were correctly priced in the first place. Also, over-priced houses can take months or even years to sell, while properly priced houses usually sell in a matter of weeks or even days. Although everyone’s goal is to sell there home in the shortest amount of time possible for the most money, different pricing strategies apply for each seller.

Preparation

I have had many home sellers prepare their home for sale, and “fall back in love” with their home. While you don't have to keep your house 100% clean all the time, you should make any necessary repairs and perform all major cleanup work BEFORE you start showing your home. There are hundreds of small things you can do to make your house more attractive for a showing, ranging from opening all the blinds and tightening loose doorknobs to displaying fresh-cut flowers and baking a loaf of bread. Most importantly, you should not be present during showings so that prospective buyers can explore your home freely. I will be able to provide a checklist of things you can do to make your home more attractive to buyers. Upon our initial listing meeting, I will walk through your property room by room to discuss what needs to be done in each room to maximize the showing of the property.

Communication

Good communication is the cornerstone of any successful relationship. I will communicate with you on a regular basis and follow up with feedback from other agents that show your property. I am available by e-mail and via my cell at any time.

Every one of my clients is unique, and that is exactly how I treat him or her. I'm proud to say that a high percentage of my business comes from past clients. I don't measure my success by sales, but by the relationships I build along the way. Call or email me today for a free CMA. I look forward to working with you!