There has been alot of buzz on ActiveRain about "Mulligans" and re-posting a favorite past post.  I decided to play along, and post a blog that I had written several months ago.  It's almost fall in Lancaster County, a time for new beginnings and a fresh start after the stale summer real estate market.  If you are considering selling your Lancaster home this fall, this post might be of interest to you.

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Are you thinking of hiring "Just a Real Estate Agent"?  Or are you considering hiring a "Professional"?  

If you are thinking of selling a home in Lancaster County, PA, you need more than "just a Real Estate Agent".  You need a Lancaster Real Estate "Professional". 

If you hire "just a real estate agent" you might be no better off than going FSBO.   Sure, you can stick a sign in your yard.  Go ahead.  They're probably in Aisle 3 right next to the door locks and door hinges in your local Home Depot.  That's easy enough.  "Just a real estate agent" will probably do the same, except it might have prettier colors and their name and number on the sign instead of your phone number.  They'll also stick your home's information in the Lancaster Multiple Listing Service, and then might forget about it altogether, and you'll never see them again.  After all, that is what they promised you and they are busy with their "other" full-time job.  You might as well go FSBO in that case, and who could blame you if this has been your past experience.   Does "just a real estate agent" even do any other marketing for selling their listings? 

Of course, if you do go FSBO, you'll have people come by and look at your home, knocking on your door while you are having dinner or tring to put the baby to sleep.    After all, everyone wants a bargain and a FSBO screams of bargain to most home buyers.  Are you prepared to just let anyone into your home?  The excitement of having someone interested in your fine dwelling might cloud your judgement.  It can be dangerous to let just any Joe waltz into your home, even though you might follow them around.  Are they really looking to buy?  Or are they scoping the place out for easy access for when you're not home?  And how can you tell the difference?  There's no easy way to tell. 

Perhaps they are wasting your time as they might be unqualified for a loan (even though they told you they just got approved on LendingTree.com).  "Just a real estate agent" might not be much better, and is very likely to bring you the same unqualified buyer prospects as well, if any at all.  

If you are selling FSBO, are you adhering to Fair Housing Laws in your advertising?  Just because you are not using a real estate agent does not mean that you can ignore the law.  Just today, I witnessed an ad in the Lancaster Sunday News of a cute home being advertised FSBO stating "perfect for a small family".  Believe it or not, that statement goes against the fair housing laws.  What if a "large family" wanted to make an offer -- would you turn them down?  Would you turn down a showing to a single person without a family?  You must be very careful how you choose your words in your advertising, or you could find yourself in a lawsuit.  "Just a real estate agent" might not be any more knowledgable about the laws than you are.  So, "just a real estate agent" is putting you and themselves at risk!  Not worth the savings, if you ask this "Professional" Realtor's opinion!  

Are you prepared to negotiate an offer while removing yourself emotionally from the transaction?  Will you be offended if the prospective buyer wants to tear out that knotty pine paneling you had installed in the den just a few years ago and is offering a lower price because of the remodeling they foresee?  It's hard to detach yourself emotionally from what you consider your home, but negotiations can get very emotional.  "Just a real estate agent" may not be as keen at negotiating on your behalf, either.   On the other hand, a "Professional Realtor" is trained to not only know how to negotiate on your behalf, but to do so while removing the emotional attachments.  Years of experience and training have made this possible.  Is this true of "just a real estate agent"?  Absolutely not.

You need someone with years of Professional Real Estate experience, someone with a proven track record of sales, someone with a long list of previous satisfied home sellers and testimonials.  You need a Professional.    If you have been selling your home FSBO, it is completely understandable.  Everyone needs to save money any way that they can in this unstable market.  There is no harm in trying.  If you have not been having luck with your own marketing and are considering hiring a Realtor to effectively market your home, it's time to call a Professional, rather than "just a real estate agent". 

Anyone can be "just a real estate agent".  But a Full-Time, Professional Realtor is the only one who will:

• Provide you with the exceptional service you expect, and who can effectively negotiate the best terms on your behalf. 
• Guide you towards a effectively pricing your home to sell in today's market.
• Have your home staged to effectively attract the right buyer for your home. 
• Assure that only pre-approved, qualified buyers are viewing your home. 
• Will bring you to a successful transaction, freeing up your time and most importantly, freeing the equity in your home in a faster timeframe than "just any real estate agent".  

Contact Me if you feel it's time for you to call a Professional Realtor. 

No gimmicks. 
No sales pitches. 
No lines. 
No promises I can't keep. 

Just the Professional Real Estate services you expect and deserve for the sale of your Lancaster County home.  

Jeannie Kontis, Realtor
The Bob Wells Realty Group
Long & Foster Real Estate, Lancaster Real Estate Sales
www.JeannieSellsLancaster.com
www.WellsRealtyGroup.com
Email Jeannie:   Jeannie@JeannieSellsLancaster.com
 Call Jeannie:  717-330-5137 direct

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