1. A knowledgeable real estate agent has access to the most current information with regards to what your home should be listed for. This means:
· The market place – how will your property stack up with others that have sold?
· Financing – What bank has given the qualifications that will ensure purchase ability? Your Realtor should have knowledge of this.
· Terms and conditions of competing properties that compare to yours. You won’t find this information on a Website! AN ACCURATE COMPARABLE MARKET ANALYSIS CANNOT BE DONE ON A WEBSITE! Most websites with only take into consideration the location and sq. footage; they don’t take into consideration updates, condition, lot size, etc.
· You will save Time and Money – sell your house for the best price, quickly, allowing for a seamless transaction
2. Marketing your Property
· Realtors have access to many avenues for marketing your home. These include both local and country wide advertising. RE/MAX AGENTS are around the world! This is important when considering the amount of relocation that takes place from one country to another.
· Do you have repairs that can make or break the sale? Your realtor will be able to guide you on what needs to be taken care of to make the sale more appealing to prospective buyers.
· Marketing with a Member of the Board of Realtors for your home opens the door to other real estate agents as well as the public.
· BEWARE of Advertising companies who paint themselves as professionals who make promises they don’t keep. They may offer MLS services and a website presence, but at the end of the day what will they really do for you? Almost NOTHING.
· Over 82% of home sales are the result of agent contacts. Agents respect other agents who have respect for the industry and treat them with honesty and fairness.
3. What about the security issue?
· Having your very own realtor means that YOU do not open the door of your home to strangers who may not really be interested in purchasing or may not be qualified to purchase.
· Agents prescreen potential buyers before showing properties making sure that the level of interest is secure and without misrepresentation.
· ASK FOR MY FREE SECURITY CHECKLIST WHEN LISTING YOUR HOME!
4. What about Open Houses?
· Most realtors hold open houses allowing the public as well as other agents to view your home.
· Is your Open House being done professionally? Only a profession real estate agent is versed and knows how to speak the language of potential buyers raising interest in your home.
· Do open houses sell your home? Sometimes this is a very advantageous way to open the door of interest. You never know who will come through an open house either for their own interests or those of family and friends who are seeking out a home. It never hurts to hold a house open, but very CAREFUL about the way that it’s handled. You could turn a buyer off when not handled properly.
· Ask your agent how they handle open houses BEFORE you list your property with them. Do they sit and read and book?; will they watch TV; will they eat lunch? Will they have professionally published brochures? Are they knowledgeable about the house they are representing? Do they allow people to sign in themselves?
· ASK FOR MY FREE BROCHURE; A SUCCESFUL OPEN HOUSE - 16 Steps to Success.
5. What are the determining factors when accepting a buyer’s offer?
· A knowledgeable agent will recognize every buyer’s offer using uncompromising evaluation and protect your listing in the process.
· A knowledgeable agent will be able to guide you through the processes from the beginning. This entails appraisals, inspections, and financing. Without this knowledge you could be facing a disastrous situation not only for yourself but also the potential buyer.
· In a multiple offer situation ONLY a Professional Agent can help you determine the best possible scenario for choosing the best contract. It’s not always the price that is the determining factor!
Don’t Trust the Sale of your home to YOURSELF or an advertising company! Hire a Professional who knows how to deal with the COMPLEX ISSUES OF THE REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY and who has the knowledge and experience to guide you.
YOUR HOME IS THE MOST IMPORTANT INVESTMENT YOU WILL MAKE IN YOUR LIFETIME! Using a professional will more likely than not, ensure that the processes with be handles with Integrity and honesty protecting your best interests.
Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®. (Realtor.com)
