Why you should hire a real estate professional when selling your home
It’s natural to focus on maximizing profit when it’s time to list your home for sale, and selling your home yourself may seem like the easiest tactic. However, there is a reason nearly 90% of sellers use a listing agent: Selling a home takes time, knowledge of neighborhood trends, and negotiating skills. Statistically, a home on the market listed “For Sale By Owner” (FSBO) takes longer to sell (and eventually sells for less) than its real estate pro–represented counterparts.
Here is our list of top reasons why most people use a real estate agent.
Real estate agents have market knowledge. Because of their access to the most recent market data, agents are able to give you advice on realistic purchase and listing prices. Plus, they can provide you with a report of comparable homes for sale and historic market data, so that you can ensure you’re getting the most for your money.
The fastest and most affordable way to sell your house is to price it correctly. Price too high, and you risk your home’s becoming a stale listing. Price too low, and you lose money.
Negotiation is one of the most difficult tasks when buying or selling a home. Selling your home is a major business transaction. The sale process has three significant negotiations: the initial offer, the counteroffer, and the postoffer period, which includes inspections and requests for concessions. You need a skilled and objective negotiator on your side during these discussions.
You want your home to get the maximum exposure to the greatest number of potential buyers. Your agent will prepare all the marketing materials, coordinate the Internet marketing, host open houses, and network regularly with other agents who may have interested buyers. A real estate agent will be there for you when a last minute showing comes up in the middle of the day or when you need to schedule 15 appointments on a Saturday.
Real estate agents will connect you with trusted partners. As you buy or sell a home, you may need to hire additional professional services. Let your real estate agent recommend people that they have a good reputation in your community.
