Why Use A REALTOR®?
When you're ready to think about selling your property, you need to ask yourself the following questions: Do you have the time, energy, sources of information, and contacts to do the job yourself? If you are a 'do-it-yourself' person, will the results be as good or better than they would be if you had professional assistance? Will it go more smoothly? Will it give you more personal time? Will you sell for more if a real estate professional was involved? Here are a few ways that having a professional on your side can help:
Pricing Your Property
By putting the local market expertise of a REALTOR® to work for you, a REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms, and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle. And FSBO homes sold at a median price of $310,000 in 2023, significantly lower than the median of agent-assisted homes at $405,000, research shows.
Marketing Your Property
Marketing includes the exposure of your property to other real estate professionals and the public through a Multiple Listing Service like State-Wide MLS, home to RILiving.com. MLS data is shared with other consumer search sites, as well as real estate professionals throughout the globe. So, in addition to traditional advertising means, by using a real estate professional, you can tap into unlimited opportunities to reach your potential buyer.
Negotiating
The negotiation process deals with many of the same issues for both buyers and sellers. A licensed professional can help you objectively evaluate every offer without compromising your position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections, and financing -- many hurdles and possible pitfalls. Your agent can help you navigate the steps, deadlines, and negotiations of the sale to help you arrive at the best possible outcome.
Monitoring, Renegotiating and Closing
Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs may be required to obtain financing, or a cloud in the title could be discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your agent is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to the finish line.