Why Pay a Realtor when I can do It ALL Myself???
The title of this blog may be a little misleading but often times sellers ask themselves this question when they are toying with the idea of putting their home on the market FSBO.
If you think putting your home on the market is a good idea then be sure to answer these questions before you decide to take the leap into uncharted waters.
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Do I have the knowledge and ability to market my home/Do I have access to what buyer agents have access to?- Short and sweet the answer to the second questions is NO I can assure you this. In order to have your home accessible to your cites MLS you MUST be a Realtor with a Realtor License. Putting your home on the MLS attracts buyers that are working with agents. If your home isn't on the MLS agents are most likely going to have zero knowledge your home is for sale. DO you have access to a professional camera or photographer who can take photos of your property? Do you have knowledge of how to create a visual tour, flyers, webpages, etc. for the property? Keep in mind a good Real Estate Agent with have all the systems, programs, etc to make this happen. - Do you have TIME?Since your home isn't in the MLS and not set up for a showing service (one who makes and cancels appointments to view the home) do you plan to make your home accessible ALL the time? How will you open the home for agents and their clients, will you be allowing buyers to come in without an agent? DO you plan to change the locks every time an unrepresented buyer come in? DO you plan to open your home each time someone wants to see it? After all the only way to get your home sold is to allow people to actually look at it. Agents have access to Supra Key boxes. When you list your home your agent with place a keybox on it and in order for anyone to come through the home they will have to go through a showing service or your agent. This way you will always know who has been through your home.
- Do you REALLY know the market value of your home? Yes you painstakingly put so much love in that master bedroom bath but did it add value to your home? Is your home any different than homes that have sold around you? A Real Estate Agent like myself will do a comparative market analysis on your home and will be able to guide you in the correct price to list your home for a sale.
- Are you ready to work with a buyers agent? Are you read to spend ALOT of time on the phone and in person with the Buyers Agent? Now, you may have decided not to use an agent but you can't make that decision for a buyer. If the buyer has an agent as a seller you should offer the buying agent the typical commission of 3% of the sell. If you are not offering the Buyer Agent a commission then you Will most likely see a shrink in the pool of potential buyers.
- Are you ready to negotiate? Are you ready and willing to negotiate the sell of your home? NOW this isn't just the price of your home, you may have to negotiate repairs, closing costs, etc. Are you ready to take on the responsibility of negotiations? If listed with an agent you will not be alone in this process!
These are just a FEW of the many things to consider when opting to put your home up-for-sale ALONE. As a selling ans buying agent I bring expertise and years of experience with negotiations, marketing your home, bringing buyers to view, and SO MUCH MORE! I am here for you from start to finish!
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