Thinking of Selling Your Home Without a Realtor?

In today's market, if you're thinking of selling your home without the assistance of a Realtor, you should probably think again!

The average seller doesn't realize all the headaches of trying to sell a home yourself that may pop up. Consider:

1) DO YOU WANT TO BE RESPONSIBLE for being on-call 24/7 to take calls on your house? For making appointments, being stood up, being approached by strangers knocking on your door at all hours who want to view your home?

Realtors use appointment centers to handle the calls from agents who want to show your home and then make appointments to view. Those same centers request feedback from the prospective buyer, which is forwarded to you. Many Realtors also have recorded messages describing your home, with the phone number listed on your sign.

2) DO YOU REALLY WANT TO TRUST STRANGERS IN YOUR HOME to wander around, opening your closets and drawers and cupboards and storage spaces... and more importantly, taking note of all your possessions? Are these potential buyers really buyers? Or are they scoping out if your belongings are easy pickings?

A responsible Realtor vets his or her clients. A Buyer's Agent requires that the client sign a contract. Many require that a buyer have a preapproved credit letter from a lender for buying a home. They've done some research, and they can be pretty sure that they're working with a qualified buyer.

3)  DO YOU REALLY KNOW HOW TO PRICE YOUR HOME TO ATTRACT BUYERS?  Most homeowners overestimate the value of their homes. What you originally paid, what you wish to make, what you invested in it - none of those really impact the sales price of a house. What the buyer will pay is the only important factor. Some things may make a home more attractive to a buyer; but in the end, buyers in today's market want it as inexpensive as possible, and hassle-free.

An experienced and knowledgeable Realtor knows what a buyer will pay in any given market. He can utilize a CMA to evaluate the value of your property compared to homes in the surrounding area. Her day-in, day-out exposure to the housing market makes her invaluable in correctly pricing your home. He can spot those items that might be a detriment to a quick sale: the wallpaper you absolutely love, the worn carpet you never got around to replacing, your teenager's black gloss walls... She can give you important input on easy and inexpensive changes that will make your home more attractive to a potential buyer - and how to price it accordingly.

4) HOW ARE YOU GOING TO MARKET YOUR HOME? Without a robust marketing plan, your home will not be seen by prospective buyers and can take much longer to sell. Yes, you can make a Web site... but how will people find it? Yes, you can put flyers outside on the sign... which will most likely be taken by your neighbors, who want to know how much you're selling your house for. Yes, you can list it on Craig's List... refer to #2.

Realtors utilize a myriad of marketing venues and provide great exposure on Internet sites available only to them. If they're smart, they're using tools that spread the word of their listings on hundreds of sites. They make slide shows and videos and post them on the Web. And in today's world, online listings are the way to go. But they don't stop there. They have their home photos taken by professional photographers. They use staging agents. They utilize print, from Just Listed postcards and newsletters to brochures. Some hold Realtor Open Houses, to make area agents knowledgeable about your home.

5) WOULD YOU CONSIDER BEING YOUR OWN DEFENSE ATTORNEY IN A COURT OF LAW? Probably not; you'd want a trained professional who has your best interests at heart. Well, if you sell your home on your own, you'll be dealing with contract law and addendums and disclosures and lawyers. Good luck in representing yourself.

Realtors have the training and experience to not only assist in negotiating the price and terms of a contract but also to navigate the legal intricacies of buying or selling.

If you have an effective and knowledgeable Realtor representing you, it is worth every penny you pay them in commission because of their advice and guidance in pricing, preparing and showing your home, negotiating the contract, and in the sale and closing. Why would you waste your precious time doing it any other way?

Yours in Smiles,
Abbey

 

Posted at 02:50PM Sep 24, 2010 by Abbey Turner in Real Estate  |  Comments[0]