Why do I need a Realtor?
A lot of people ask me this question. I usually have the same answer: Realtors know real estate.
If you have never done sold your home before, I would strongly suggest you use a Realtor. It seems pretty easy from the outside, but selling your home is more than just sticking up a for sale sign on your yard or putting your ad in the paper or a website. It requires financial resources, a considerable amount of time, and knowledge. Knowledge of the market, legal mambo jumbo, and marketing.
Your home is probably one of the biggest investments of your life and it also involves your family. Why would you risk such a big investment? You will most likely get the best results from a skilled real estate professional. Realtors know what will sell, why it will sell, and how to make your home sell.
Realtors have access to thousands of potential buyers through advertising and the MLS. Major real estate companies have referral networks nation wide and that exposes your home even more! How many people do you think will see your lawn sign? Wouldn’t you agree that maximum exposure = the highest price?
But the commissions are so high you say. Well lets take a look at what is included in the commission. You first have the skill and experience that Realtors possess. It also covers all the advertising expenses as well. And think of it this way, if the house does not sell, you dont pay a dime! That’s something that does not happen when you spend your marketing dollars when you try to sell privately.
I wont touch on it much here but there are also the legal ramifications that can happen if you don’t pay attention to the legal stuff. There are countless stories of private sales that have resulted in TENS of thousands of dollars in damages and litigation. Good Realtors are very detail oriented and know how to avoid these HUGE problems.
It all comes down to the two factors of money and peace of mind. If you try to sell your own house you’ll find it can turn into a full time job. And even if it doesn’t take up all your time it will certainly take up all your spare time. You have to ask yourself, “Am I able to learn the real estate business overnight? Am I willing to spend a considerable amount of money that might not result in a sale? Can I allocate the necessary time from my schedule? Am I willing to surrender my privacy?”
People use the services of professionals all the time that they feel is overpriced. People can do their own taxes, but they still hire accountants or go to a place like H&R Block. When people go to court, they usually hire a lawyer. They can do all these things on their own but they choose not to. Same reasoning applies to hiring property managers to manage rentals, hiring painters, any renovation trade, wedding planners, and the list goes on.. It is because people pay for the talent, skill, experience, and knowledge that those professionals possess. It is the same thing with real estate.