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Brandi Haddock -Realtor
" When you're ready for the next move...I'll be there."
, Carthage, MO 64836 Office: Fax: Company Website:
Call 417-540-6796
For Sale By Owner vs. Realtor
What is the argument for using a Realtor vs selling it myself?
Can people really successfully sell their own home?......The answer is YES...not what you expected to hear from a Realtor, right? Keep reading...
Questions to ask yourself before choosing the FSBO (For Sale By Owner) pathway.
1. Are you prepared to negotiate a contract and have the required paperwork to do so?
2. Do you know what the legal responsibilities of sellers for your area are when it comes to selling a home to a buyer?
3. Will you need to hire an attorney and how much will that cost overall?
4. Do you know what the actual process is for selling a home, what steps to follow?
5. What kinds of "Disclosures" are you required to legally make to a buyer?
6. How will you market the property-and how much budget will you set aside to do so?
7. Who will take the buyer's inquiries? Who will be available and when on short notice to show the home?
8. How much will you ask for your house? Are you competitive with what has actually sold in your market in the last few months?
9. How will you determine which buyers are solid prospects vs. window shoppers or low-ballers?
10. Do you believe that buyer's will be more open and comfortable with you showing your home to them versus someone who is a more neutral party?
The main question to ask yourself here...will I actually come out ahead if I sell my own home?
Considering your time as a valuable asset, marketing time and costs, availability to show your property, unbiased from the transaction, issue resolution ability, legal advice, and paperwork legally needed for city, county, state, and federally required...
What exactly are you paying a Realtor to do when selling your home?
#1-Advice/ Guidance-THIS is by far the most important aspect of using a Realtor to market and sell your home. Many sellers believe that the primary advantage to using a Realtor is in advertising their property. However, tapping into a knowledgeable and unbiased Realtor for the pricing of your home, the competition it will have on the market, and the guidance throughout the process of closing on your home once it is under contract is far more valuable and worth their commission.
#2-Protecting YOUR legal interests: The days of a one page sales contract sealed with a honest handshake are gone. It has been replaced with several pages of legal real estate terminology with very strict regulations-with more of the burden toward sellers. Knowing your true and accurate obligations and rights makes a Realtor worth their weight in GOLD.
#3-Pricing your home competitively: A professional Realtor can provide you with a market analysis (CMA) of the properties that are similar to yours that have actually SOLD recently and the $$$ they were sold for. When pricing your home to be a competitor-do not look at the asking prices of inventory still up for sale-ask your Realtor what homes are actually selling for similar to yours.
#4-Market your property FULL TIME: Yes! A full time Realtor (one who closes more than 12 transactions a year) will in most cases market your property in a successful manner and in a way that FSBO's cannot. They have access to various marketing opportunities such as: Broker's Opens, Open Houses, numerous websites syndication, and also important community and social ties. Many "buyers" will approach a Realtor "friend" about good properties to purchase and buy through them before EVEN looking at FSBO's.
#5-Negotiate and close the deal! Not very many buyers today are willing to pay asking price-or even close to it. They are more savvy and price conscious...and in many cases are very educated about what homes are actually worth.
Negotiations include more than just price, it includes terms, possession of property, repairs required or requested on behalf of the buyer. Negotiations continue throughout the whole contract period until the very end.
I consider Realtors the glue and grease of a transaction. Realtors also help keep everyone on the same page-moving both parties to the final destination-CLOSING THE DEAL!
Think of it this way....If you received a notice that you were being sued over thousands of dollars-Would you go into court without the advice of a fully licensed, seasoned, and professional attorney? Probably not.
So are you REALLY willing to gamble your biggest asset worth THOUSANDS of dollars to save a few bucks?
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