Selling your home on your own, puts you at a decided disadvantage. On the other hand, selling your home through a REALTOR® will bring you as much or more profit – with none of the attendant problems and headaches you can expect when you try to sell it on your own. I realize that many homeowners think that by not paying a commission to a Realtor will save them money, that is usually not the case.
Besides having knowledge of the market and the skill to suggest realistic prices, the REALTOR® has built up a list of prospects that no homeowner can possibly match. Prospects who are honestly interested in finding a home and financially able to buy versus the casual looker or snoopy neighbor. The Realtor knows how long to hold out, whether to take a second mortgage, how to handle earnest money, whether to lease with option to buy or sell on contract.
Your REALTOR® will recommend how to stage your home, provide a to do list to improve the curb appeal for example, and correctly price your home for a quicker sale. Once you have a negotiated agreement in hand your REALTOR® will be knowledgeable about all necessary inspections, paperwork needed to close on time, and negotiate any repairs if necessary. As a “For Sale By Owner” you can not list your property on your local MLS. (Multiple Listing Service) FSBO’s are locked out of many home search engines including the gigantic Realtor.com. Sure, a determined FSBO can put a for-sale sign in is or her front yard and run an advertisement in the local newspaper, but the home won’t receive nearly as much exposure as it would on the MLS. Plus, when you list with a Realtor you do not pay for advertisement – your Realtor does.
The REALTOR® is knowledgeable on real estate transactions and will most likely keep their client out of legal trouble. Let your REALTOR® handle your home selling and believe me – listing with a REALTOR® will save you time, stress, and make you money.
FYI:
“REALTOR®” and “real estate agent” are not interchangeable, although some real estate agents might like them to be. The term REALTOR® is a registered certification mark that identifies the quality of services rendered by licensed real estate agents who are members of the National Association of Realtors. All real estate agents are not REALTORS®, but all REALTOR® members are real estate agents. REALTOR® members are committed to a strict code of ethics known as the REALTOR® Code.
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