Advantages of Using a REALTOR® to Sell Your Home

As the real estate industry evolves it seemingly becomes easier to market your house without the use of a professional. Knowing whether to use a REALTOR® or sell privately (FSBO) can be difficult to determine.

It is important to understand what a good agent will bring to the table. Some of the main advantages of using a professional include: emotional objectivity, knowledge and marketing reach. Before you decide to take on the job of selling your house privately ask yourself a few key questions:

 Am I ready to emotionally detach myself from my house?

Sellers generally become attached to their home. Most consider their home a sanctuary where they create an environment of relaxation and exhibit their own style. It is difficult to let go of something that has become a part of you over the years.

A home becomes your canvas; a painting of your life. Albums are filled with photos from 10 years of holiday family events: Christmas mornings, Easter egg hunts and 4th of July barbeques with hamburgers, hotdogs and fireworks. Walking across the floor you instinctively know what boards will creak, how to get the toilet to stop running and how to open the screen door in a second flat when no one else seems to have a clue. While some things may have once seemed like an annoyance they are now a part of what makes a home your own.

Additionally, it can be difficult to maintain objectivity as buyers critique your home. Something you find endearing, that makes it so special to you, may be the opposite for a buyer. It is important to listen to buyer criticisms and to be open to suggestions for improvement. A REALTOR® will serve as an emotional bridge helping you maintain an air of calm during the selling experience.

Do I have the proper knowledge to price my house appropriately?

The first step is reaching a listing price. Some sellers have an unrealistic idea of the price their house may sell. Whether your idea is low or high, your Realtor will play a crucial role in helping come to a sensible price range. After completing a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and examining other data like the Absorption Rate, they will offer their respectful suggestion as to the price range you’ll be able to obtain. Once the listing price has been settled the marketing of your house begins.

Am I able to market my home effectively?

The initial marketing of your house is the most important aspect of the marketing process. You’re not just selling a house, you’re selling the lifestyle and vision a home should make a buyer want. Once I have viewed your house, I begin building a marketing campaign for your home. With Moreland's powerful marketing system, your home will be syndicated and advertised to over 50 websites, it will be made available to thousands of Realtors, and it will appear in social media streams to hundreds of thousands of people.

Can I anticipate and respond to problems quickly?

REALTORS® are trained to anticipate and avoid problems or respond to difficult situations quickly. They’ve handled countless transactions and run into near deal breakers throughout their careers. The ability to quickly handle problems during escrow can be the difference between a closed deal and one that falls through. Real property vs. personal property can present issues during the closing process. For example, if you are selling your home FSBO and do not stipulate your expensive, antique chandelier will be moving with you, you could run into trouble. Likewise if you do not complete all the legally required documentation and disclosure, you could find yourself in the midst of a nasty lawsuit.

Do you have time to show your home to buyers and will you make yourself scarce?

Most often FSBO homes do not offer access to their home via a lockbox. If you do, how will you ensure the security of your home and personal belongings? This cripples the ability for other Realtors to show your home to potential buyers while you are at work.

Further, home buyers generally feel intimidated by the presence of the seller during their visit. They rush through the house and tell you how wonderful it is even if they hate it. They feel uncomfortable looking through every nook and cranny even though this is what they long to do in order to make the decision to purchase your house. Hence, your presence hinders the sale of your house.

These are but a few of the issues sellers can run into during the selling process. And the fact still remains that on average, homes listed by Realtors sell for higher then do those listed by homeowners.

Contact me.  I'll shoot you straigt on the pricing and marketing of your home.