You have probably seen a lot of advertising these days offering to help sell your own for zero or very low commission. You might have thought about skipping the use of any real estate agent whatosever and selling you home yourself known as for-sale-by-owner or FSBO.
But both of these approaches -- either going with a discount firm or FSBO -- there are going to be benefits and drawbacks. The biggest and most obvious benefit is cost. If you are selling a home, real estate agent commissions can often be anywhere from 3 to 6 percent off the sales price. For a home worth $1 million, that's $30,000 to $60,000 -- not a small amount of change by any means.
So let's talk about what you are not gettting. Here are 8 reasons to choose a realtor over FSBO.
1. Realtors might not show it
In a FSBO deal, the buyer's agent knows there won't be a professional colleague on the other end of the transcation. This could result in agents not wanting to make an offer on your home because they are worried the deal will be mishandled without professional representation.
2. Agents avoid emotions
Selling a home is an emotional process, which is why it's helpful to have an agent as a way of stripping that emotion out of the equation. You want to get the most money possible in the deal. That's what the agent is paid to do. Sometimes that involves remaining unattached to the home or taking it personally when people choose not to make an offer.
3. Real estate takes time
You might not believe it. And plenty of people no realtors who don't work very hard. But being a realtor is actually a fulltime job. A realtor will list the home, market the home and arrange for any showings by coordinating with buyer agents. If you plan on taking this on yourself, you might also plan to be taking on another full-time job.
4. With an agent comes networking
Beyong just the one real estate who will serve your needs, choosing a realtor also involves the network of business affiliates that agent might have. These connections will help you to sell your home as they promote the property and offer another level of professionalism as your realtor is someone who is already trusted among their colleagues.
If you are thinking about selling your home, contact us today at Rosetree Real Estate.
5. Weeds out unqualified buyers
Realtors have experience with home buyers and are usually able to weed out any that might not qualify for the home. Agents are trained to ask qualifying questions to determine whether buyers serious. This can save time that otherwise might have been wasted if you were selling your home yourself.
6. Negotiating price
The value of a realtor often comes down to the listing price and the negotation. Pricing a home correclty can be art form. Too high and it lingers on the market. Priced too low and you've left money on the table. Sometimes the best offer is not always the highest price so it's not always as simple as it might seem. Things to consider will be whether they buyer has placed any contingencies such as inspection or appraisal, how fast can the buyer close and whether it's a cash offer or a loan. Working with a shrewd realtor can assure you get the best possible deal in the end on all accounts.
7. Agents can spot flaws
Sometimes when you are selling your own home, you might ignore certain flaws because you see them everyday. A trained realtor will take a walk through of your home with fresh eyes to point out any flows that can help you anticipate how a buyer might react. This can help you choose a correct listing price and foresee any negotiations.
8. Exposure to legal risk
There is a ton of paperwork involved in selling a home and it needs to be completed by an expert. There are closing agents with escrow, loan processers and others that need to all come together to finalize this deal. Real estate agents are familiar with this process. For someone selling their home by themselves, the closing process can seem like a tangled mess, which is why choosing a qualified realtor is so important.
If you are thinking about selling your home, contact us today at Rosetree Real Estate.
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