Over the years, I’ve encountered some people who feel a Realtor is not necessary to sell their house. With the internet, many sellers are able to get their own homes online and show them to the world. My response is:
You need your Realtor the most AFTER you already have a buyer.
This may seem contrary to the notion that a real estate agent is someone who just finds a buyer for your house. That simplistic definition is misleading, because a good real estate agent does much more. A Realtor’s job, however, is mostly “behind the scenes” as they say. Phone calls to potential buyers, emails, showings, marketing, and advertising are all things agents do which may or may not be noticed by a seller. But none of these are even the most important service that a Realtor provides.
The single most important service that a real estate agent provides is expert negotiating. It’s the difference between a seller and buyer both getting what they want -- or a deal falling through. The best transactions conclude without either parties feeling cheated or negative toward the other. Poor negotiators can alienate or scare off potential buyers. A good negotiator is able to please all sides of a transaction and make each person feel that they are getting what they want.
Not every Realtor is equipped to negotiate a difficult transaction and its hurdles. Moreover, there is no way to distinguish what will turn into a difficult transaction until problems occur. Unknown issues may come to light from a home inspection, or a buyer’s financing may fall through or change. It’s imperative to choose the proper Realtor with years of experience.
If a seller negotiates on their own, they are too emotionally invested and unable to negotiate objectively. Real estate agents do daily negotiating and can help keep more money in a seller’s pocket. Many studies over the past few years show consistently that transactions involving real estate agents get a higher selling price than those which were “for sale by owner.“
If a seller hires a Realtor, they know they have a professional negotiator, whose best interest lies in getting them the highest price possible for their home. What could be better than that?
Comments(3)