Probably
the largest single purchase that an individual will make in their
lifetime is buying a house. It amazes me how many people will spend
hundreds of thousands of dollars without getting the professional
advice of a realtor. It costs nothing to work with a reputable agent
who can guide you through the complicated process of buying a home, and
quite possibly may save you considerable money and stress in the end.
Selling
a house can be more stressful than buying a home, and sellers can be
quick to sacrifice using the services of a professional, to avoid
paying a commission. A home owner needs to wear many hats in order to
sell a home effectively. They need to have a good sense of design, as
the house has to be show worthy; they need to be marketers and pay for
the expensive ads required to merchandise their home; they need a good
working knowledge of the real estate market, as the selling price needs
to be realistic (not too high or too low); and there are legal concerns
that must be dealt with as well. This is a complex process, and you
don't want to sacrifice getting the best price for your house or
becoming involved in an unnecessary legal battle, due to lack of
experience. Here are a few ways you can benefit from working with a realtor: Professional
Experience: You could stumble through your house transaction; learning
as you go, or you can tap into your agent's knowledge and professional
experience. Let them assist you by walking you through the buying and
selling experience, ensuring that you are meeting your goals,
discussing your financial options and advising you of your legal rights
and obligations. If they don't have all the answers, they can quickly
direct you to the person who does. Pricing:
This is their business, a professional agent is aware of the current
market, when the best times are to buy and whether you are paying a
fair price. When selling a house, they will provide you with
comparative studies to ensure you are selling your house at the best
price for your market. Networking:
Drawing on a realtor's networking resources can be an invaluable tool
for a prospective home buyer. Through dealings with other realtors,
they may learn about new properties coming up, or get little known
facts for the buyer that the seller has not divulged. I
remember shopping for my current home; it was perfect, but the owner
was selling it along with a parcel of land, and as a result, it was out
of my price range. My agent discovered that the seller had three
previous deals that had fallen through due to lack of financing, and
may consider an offer on the house, minus the property. This strategy
worked; I got my dream house, for a lower price than I expected, and
the seller sold her house and soon after, her parcel of land. This
turned into a win-win situation for everyone, thanks to the advice of a
good realtor. Marketing:
A professional realtor will look after marketing your home by providing
signage, placing ads in the local papers, advertising on the internet,
submitting your property to a Multiple Listing Service and organizing
open houses. They will often take detailed photos and/or videos of
every room for viewing on the internet. A reputable agent, with an
effective web site, often has a regular following of prospective buyers
viewing the site. A
good realtor will also advise you on home improvements before you sell;
how much is too much, and what sort of return you'll get for your
renovating dollars. They can give you valuable staging advice and
provide simple tips for improving the showing of your home. Negotiation
Skills: Probably most important of all, is the realtor's role as
negotiator on your behalf. The goal is to sell your home quickly, for
the highest price possible, and they work closely with you to complete
this process. This also includes providing the legal contracts and
negotiating offers and counter-offers. If
not executed properly, what may seem like a simple real estate
transaction can turn into a nightmare. Anyone who has experienced this
understands the importance of using a professional agent to protect
their assets and guide them through the sale or purchase of their home.
Let your agent work for you to ensure your new home transaction is a
positive one.