A real estate agent can
help you understand everything you need to know
about the home selling process.
Not all real estate
licensees are the same; only those who are
members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®
(NAR) are properly called REALTORS®. They
proudly display the REALTOR "®" trademark on
their business cards and other marketing and
sales literature.
REALTORS® are committed to
treat all parties to a transaction honestly.
REALTORS® subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics
and are expected to maintain a higher level of
knowledge of the process of buying and selling
real estate. An independent survey reported that
84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR®
again.
Real estate transactions
are one of the biggest financial dealings of
most people’s lifetime. Transactions today
usually exceed $250,000. If you had a $250,000
income tax problem, would you attempt to deal
with it without the help of a certified
professional accountant? If you had a $250,000
legal question, would you deal with it without
the help of an attorney? Considering the small
upside cost and the large downside risk, it
would be wise to work with a professional
REALTOR® when you are selling a home.
If you're still not
convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are
more reasons to use one:
1. When
selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you
up-to-date information on what is happening in
the marketplace as well as the price, financing,
terms and condition of competing properties.
These are key factors in getting your property
sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum
hassle.
2. Often,
your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic
work that will significantly enhance the
salability of your property.
3. Your
REALTOR® markets your property to other real
estate agents and the public. In many
markets across the country, over half of real
estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a
real estate agent other than yours brings in the
buyer.
Your REALTOR® acts as the
marketing coordinator, distributing information
about your property to other real estate agents
through a Multiple Listing Service (MLS) or
other cooperative marketing networks, open
houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of
Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these
cooperative relationships when they benefit
their clients.
4. Your
REALTOR® will know when, where and how to
advertise your property. There is a
misconception that advertising sells real
estate. NAR studies show that 82% of real estate
sales are the result of agent contacts through
previous clients, referrals, friends, family and
personal contacts. When a property is marketed
with the help of your REALTOR®, you do not have
to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR®
will generally prescreen and accompany qualified
prospects through your property.
5. Your
REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every
buyer's proposal without compromising your
marketing position. This initial agreement
is only the beginning of a process of
appraisals, inspections and financing – and a
lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help
you write a legally binding, win-win agreement
that will be more likely to make it through the
process.
6. Your
REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home.
Issues may arise between the initial sales
agreement and closing (also called settlement or
escrow), for example, unexpected repairs might
be required to obtain financing or a title
problem is discovered. The required paperwork
alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your
REALTOR® is the best person to objectively help
you resolve these issues and move the
transaction to closing.
