HOME MORTGAGE TRENDS FIRST HOME MOVING UP REFINANCING FORMS BUILDING WEALTH CONTACT US


To List With A Realtor® Or Not

           In a "Hot" real estate market some people are tempted to try and sell their homes themselves. You may be thinking that way too. You just might be able to do that

But:

• Real estate transactions have grown increasingly more complex. What do you do for a living? Would you say that your job is quite a bit more complex than it might look to an outsider? Could I step in tomorrow and do your job for you? Probably not. It undoubtedly takes a lot of training and experience to be really good at it. It's the same way in Real Estate.

• Consider the possible cost to you of selling the home yourself. Are you prepared and confident that you can wade through all the Legalities, the Disclosures, the Inspections, etc., just to name a few of the possible roadblocks realtors encounter every day?

• With the extra complexities involved in selling a home today, you can easily open yourself up to lawsuits, the cost of which may far exceed a Realtor's commission. A substantial portion of your assets could be impacted by mishandling just one step.

• A Realtor has liability insurance, whereas you are probably completely unprotected.

• Do you realize that private offers tend to come in 7% - 10% below your price? A "For Sale By Owner" sign or ad in a headline to a prospective buyer screams "BARGAIN." The buyers are trying to save the same money you are, plus some...

• Are you willing to spend every weekend holding your own house open, hoping that a "REAL" buyer will show up? An infinitesimal number of "Open Houses" ever get sold to someone who wanders through it on a weekend.

• Do you know what marketing strategies work in your particular marketplace besides holding an open house? Are you able to write your own marketing flyers and brochures? Do you know precisely why your home should be priced above or below the others in your neighborhood?

• Do you know how to qualify prospective buyers. Many a "For Sale By Owner" has ended up listing with a realtor after 1 or 2 "deals" failed because the buyer wasn't qualified to buy.

• Do you know competent and fast professionals who will solve contract contingencies right away so the transaction can close? Things like home inspections, termite repair, furnace repair, new carpet installation all can cause problems if you don't have somebody to take care of them. A realtor has a group of professionals with proven track records to call on when necessary.

Realtors earn their commissions as you can see by the above points. We think you should carefully weigh the benefit of trying to sell your home yourself against the possible short and long term costs to you. If you don't know a good realtor to list your home with, we know many of the top Realtors in the area. We would be happy to refer you to one.

Top