I'm Not Using a Realtor and You Can't Make Me!

I'm Not Using a Realtor and You Can't Make Me!

In this computer and internet age, more buyers and sellers are asking themselves, "Do I really need an agent to buy or sell my home?"  There are some that are becoming downright hostile to the idea of using a flesh and blood agent. 

Technology is a wonderful thing, it really is, but ask yourself this.  When it comes to the most expensive comittment you'll ever make in life, not to mention the lengthiest, is it wise to solely trust artificial intelligence along with your own inexperience to represent your best interests?   For buyers the "do over" on a mistake purchase is hardly an option once escrow has closed.  For sellers it can cost them thousands upon thousands of dollars of time and money as their home stubbornly sits on the market for months while other nearby agent represented homes sell around them. Crazy thing is, in some of those cases, the homes weren't nearly half as nice as theirs.  Why is that?    

BUYERS:
In a home purchase transaction, there is one party that GIVES most of the money (buyer) and one party that TAKES most of the money (seller).   Which party has the most to lose in that situation?  Right the first time! A BUYER HAS THE MOST TO LOSE.  Can a computer personally tour each neighborhood and perform walk-thrus of homes comparable to the one you are purchasing to strategize what offer price will work and why and for how long?  Will a computer generated app warn you that there have already been talks to build a freeway within the next year or so directly in the path of the area you're thinking of purchasing in?   Will a computer fiercely negotiate on your behalf to get a seller to pay for repairs or bring down a sales price based upon the firsthand knowledge an agent may already know about the home's condition or issues on title?  Will a computer provide accurate and updated comparable sales history so that you are submitting the best offer possible that will make yours stand out above all of the other offers? 

SELLERS: 

Selling a home is more than simply putting a sign on your lawn and running a few Craigslist ads.  Just ask the FOUNDER of ForSaleByOwner.com Colby Sambrotto who just last year found out the hard way after trying to sell his own home for nearly 6 months using his own site, classified ads and marketing campaigns (mostly performed using the latest internet tenchnology I might add).  Again, this is the FOUNDER and DIY For sale by owner guru who has coached others for years to sell on their own only to find out that even he needed an experienced real estate agent and HUMAN representation to sell his NY home.  

Having to publicly admit that knowing the media and business model backlash it would entail had to take some guts...and a little desperation!  But guess what?  Swallowing his pride made him nearly $150,000 more than his asking price.  Why?  Because he used an experienced Realtor that most likely knew the strengths and weaknesses of his market, understood his home's competition when it came to pricing, interior/exterior amenities offered, and also knew neighborhood sales trends to strategically price and market his home to those who could not only afford to buy it, but who were ready to buy it NOW. 

Using a Realtor is a choice.  A wiser choice if you ask me...not that you did.  I guess I just don't understand how a person wouldn't blink when it comes to hiring representation in a court case where $200,000 or $600,000 of their own money was at stake, yet turn around and scoff at the idea of using professional real estate representation when it comes to the same amount or more when buying or selling their home. 

If you are looking for an experienced Realtor professional that can and will help you buy or sell your Los Angeles, Long Beach, Downey, Lakewood home, do not hesitate to call us 310-508-4354 for a free consultation or visit us at AndiGrant.com.  

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Pouting lady and for sale by owner sign courtesy of Creative Commons for Flickr  

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