Selling your home can be an emotional experience. It's a place where you've built memories and it can be hard to put those emotions aside when selling your home. That is just one of the many reasons why hiring a Realtor can help you maneuver through what for most, is the biggest financial process they'll experience in their lives.
How much do you sell your home for? The most important step is pricing your house accurately. You want to get the fairest price for your property. Pricing it too low isn't effective and if your price is too high you won't get buyers or other Realtors to see it. The longer it stays on the market, the more buyers question what's wrong with it. Many homeowners tend to over value their home. Unfortunately, buyers aren't going to pay more for a feature in the home just because you feel it is special. What might have drawn you to the home when you bought it may not be the same thing today's buyers find important. That is why it is important to have a Realtor on your team so they can see the big picture and what buyers are looking for.
When selling a property, you need to have awareness of the Real Estate market, especially in your own neighborhood. A Professional Licensed Realtor will have experience with laws, contracts, forms and negotiations. Your Realtor can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and how it affects your property. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price.
Are you available for a showing at a moment's notice? If listing your house privately, you have to be available to show the house at different hours of the day to make sure everyone that may be interested in it will get to see it. If you hire a Realtor, they take care of scheduling the appointments and showing it on your behalf. Many homeowners tend to dwell on certain items without even realizing they are doing it which usually isn't in their best interest or in the interest of selling their home. By having a Realtor, you won't have to put your life on hold in order to not miss any showings.
How can you generate interest in your house and be able to get the word out? There are some options out there for homeowners looking to advertise their property but it does not even begin to reach the many different areas that exist for the most exposure on your property. An experienced Realtor will not only list your home on MLS, but will have many other resources and marketing strategies in place for increased exposure for your property.
Can you be patient and understanding with criticism? You will need to be able to handle all different types of personalities and be able to keep your "cool" under pressure. You need to have patience and the right temperament for criticism, questions, and repeat showings. A buyer may say critical things about your home that you don't want to hear. It isn't personal or about you. Buyers will point to property flaws which may be difficult to hear. It may be difficult to remember that buyers are not looking to be your friend but this is a business transaction. A realtor can be the neutral person to discuss issues within the home which can be a very difficult role for an owner to take on.
Can you be available to answer questions by phone, email, text, meetings and be sure you are answering them correctly? Buyers may not respect your time and may want immediate answers to their concerns. By you answering any of their concerns in the wrong manner, it can cause the deal to die very quickly. Having a Realtor as part of your team, they are trained to deal with any concerns that arise and deal with them in a professional manner that can keep a deal alive.
Are you ready and willing to "settle"? If you sell your house on your on your own, buyers will be looking for a deal from you. If a Realtor was listing your home, you can expect to get the highest true market value for it. Some sellers may believe their home is worth more and in turn, that will eliminate many potential buyers because it's not priced competitively.
If you don't use a Realtor, how are you going to attract out of town buyers? You might be eliminating a large group of buyers that will never see your house because relocation buyers won't know about it. They rely on Realtors and names they recognize such as Re/Max to help them find a home in a place that they are unfamiliar with.
Do you have a large networking community? Realtors network with other professionals in the industry, many who can provide services that you may need. Realtors can give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection. Realtors also network with other Realtors who may also be showing your house.
Do you understand the legalities of selling a property & can you close the sale of your home without being overwhelmed? Another important function of a Realtor is to make sure that all the paperwork is handled correctly. You don't want to find out in the end that something could have been avoided and is now a deal breaker. Your Realtor should be with you throughout the entire process and is the best person to objectively help you resolve any unforeseen issues and move the transaction along as smoothly as possible until the closing.
Selling without an agent is a challenge. Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime so by using a Realtor you will have the best possible advantage in selling your house. For a sale to end well, both parties need to find common ground and that is part of the job of a Realtor. Your Realtor should be a person that you trust and will be honest with you in all regards of the selling process.
Remember the goal when you put your home on the market is a sold sign in the yard. And when the sold sign goes up, you'll be able to move forward easily to the next chapter in your life.