Why should I use the services of a realtor to sell my home

There can be any number of reasons why someone would want to sell their existing home.  But whatever the reason is, the first decision you will need to make is whether or not to utilize the services of a realtor.

When it comes to the sale of their home, most people prefer to rely on the services of a realtor rather than their own. Whether you use a realtor or not you should do your own research.  You have to be careful when doing the research, because there will be proponents from either side who will campaign to have you see that they are the best choice for you. 

“For sale by owner” has become an increasingly popular choice for home owners today than ever before.  The rise in popularity can be attributed to the amount of information accessible to you to help you sell your home more effectively.  Selling your home on your own can be an ideal option; however, it is not for everyone.  You must have a drive and determination to sell your home and you must be prepared to put forth the effort to work.

Today there are several websites that can assist you in your preparation.  These sites go to great lengths to give you the same tools currently available to realtors.  On the surface selling your home on your own seems simple enough, but it is vital you know that 95% of all real estate transactions are done with the involvement of a realtor.  Based on this percentage, you can see that it takes a dedicated type of person to do this on their own.

Selling your home on your own will require proper marketing of your home.  Most successful “for sale by owners” start with proper print ads (which will entail some costs).  Print ads will include local newspapers, flyers, and signage.  The cost for these ads primarily depends on the amount of time needed to sell your home.  Homeowners who use this approach will not have access to the MLS, which requires an individual to have a real estate license before posting a home for sale to the service.  The MLS is a service accessed exclusively by real estate agents, which means your home will more than likely not be seen by any buyers currently using the services of a realtor.  Consequently, print ads will become your primary source for introducing your home to the public.

There are also several internet sites (with modest fees) for a homeowner to use in order to attain additional exposure for their home.  These “for sale by owner” sites will encourage a homeowner to sell their home on their own.  These sites are motivated to keep you away from a realtor because there are profits they earn when you do not use a realtor.  In spite of this motivation posting your home online will be a benefit for you, to attract potential buyers to your property.  Your costs will increase when you choose to market with more sites.

In the system of selling your home you should be aware of the need for conducting an open house. To complete a successful transaction involving “for sale by owners” it will be necessary to include a number of open houses during the selling process.  You can never gauge what type of marketing approach will work best in attracting the right buyer to your home, so administering multiple venues for the sale of your home will be an effective approach.

As you can see there are many steps that can be taken to triumph in selling your home on your own, but you will need to be dedicated and amenable to taking these steps.  Perhaps the most favorable reason homeowners choose to sell their home on their own is the increased profit potential, resulting from the elimination of the real estate fees associated with the transaction.  The total compensation, negotiated by realtors to employ their services in selling your home, is anywhere between 4-6%, with 3% routinely given to the buyer’s agent.  The compensation portion of a transaction is what most “for sale by owners” attempt to save when handling this on their own.

For most people, trying to sell their home on their own is simply not the best option.  It takes a certain type of person to be successful at it, and most people realize and accept this from the start.  These homeowners also understand that the increased profit potential is never as good as it seems.  Using a realtor will burden the homeowner with some additional costs, but most of the costs will be absorbed by the services provided.  

A realtor will have access to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service).  This service is employed by the entire real estate community, and allows your home to be viewed by other realtors, who in turn are able bring potential buyers directly to you.  Homes sold by a trained real estate professional typically sell for more and are sold within less time than a homeowner who uses a “for sale by owner” approach.  This results in a considerable reduction in the savings by doing it on your own.  I wish to point out that this is true for most people; however, some people will be able to sell their home just as fast as a realtor will be able to, but the statistics will not usually be in their favor. 

If you choose to recruit and work with a realtor you will also benefit from their built-in relationships with other components, components needed to complete your real estate transaction.  Realtors will have access to proven title companies, appraisers, mortgage providers, and home inspectors--all of which become crucial in the success of your real estate transaction.  A poor selection with any of these could harm you financially in the long run. 

A realtor will also understand the need to properly show your home, in order to maximize your selling price.  Stagers are often put into service by the realtor to help create the ascetic atmosphere indispensable to transforming your home into someone else’s dream home.  Realtors may occupy the role of stager themselves, but never doubt that they will know how your home must show in order to improve the value for you. 

Finally, a realtor will incur all the marketing costs involved in the selling of your home.  Now let us consider the print ads previously discussed.  Rather than have you accountable for paying for these services, your realtor will incur the associated costs directly from the fees charged to you, as part of the real estate transaction. 

The decision of whether or not to use a realtor may not be a difficult decision for most people.  For anyone who may be on the fence of this debate, it would be pertinent for them to research and investigate to determine what is best.  The decision will not be as black and white as some of the other decisions you make.  In decisions that seem to be inhabited with the shades of gray, the dominant color is green--as in, the grass is always greener on the other side.  Instead of just assuming how much better things appear outside of yourself, try consulting with the trusted people around you and inquiring about what has worked best for them.