Selling your home is a big step and it takes a big commitment to do it right. Sure you could opt for the DIY home sale and do For Sale by Owner (FSBO), but is it really worth your time and money? While you’re weighing the benefits of working with a real estate agent or not, don’t forget to consider all of details of a home sale they help out with including paperwork and contracts, marketing, negotiating and more.
If you’re ready to start looking for an agent to work with then check out our tips for how to choose the best one. And if you’re still on the fence about whether or not you want to go it alone, just consider these 5 really good reasons you will benefit from working with an agent.
Handling the paperwork and tricky contracts
Selling your home requires a large amount of paperwork. If you don’t fill out all of the paperwork correctly you can lose a buyer or worse – face legal action.
There is the sales contract, property disclosures, tax records, homeowners insurance, escrow paperwork, pre- and post-occupancy agreements and more to get in order. Take a look at these 9 surprising things home sellers need to disclose and you’ll start to understand that not all of the paperwork is self explanatory. It takes an experienced professional to know everything you need to prepare for your home sale.
A real estate agent is trained to deal with real estate contracts, paperwork and the legal jargon. They’ve filled out the papers time and time again and they know how to use a contract to protect you. The best way to protect yourself is to work with a real estate agent. An agent can save you the headache and help you avoid any legal troubles as well.
Marketing your home
The most basic way to market a home these days is by listing it online through websites like Zillow, Trulia, Realtor.com, etc. Each website has it’s own way of entering properties, some only allow agents to upload and others come with a fee. If your home isn’t getting in front of searching buyers, you’re not going to get offers.
Not only does an agent get your listing sent out everywhere it needs to be online, they have their own network of contacts, potential buyers they can refer to your home, other agent friends who are working with buyers, past clients, etc. They know to host open houses to get foot traffic, and every other trick in the book to get your home in front of a larger range of buyers.
Negotiating on your behalf
Most people believe they are good negotiators but will you be able to keep you cool when the biggest asset of your life is on the line? It’s takes a professional to go back and forth with possibly dozens of offers to find the best one to work with for your home.
And remember, you’re not just negotiating a selling price. You’re negotiating closing costs, repairs, a timeline, inspections, appraisal; the list goes on and on. The value of a real estate agent isn’t just in hooking a buyer, it’s in negotiating until you get the best deal possible. Plus you can let your real estate agent be the bad guy. A hard-nosed agent will represent your interests without turning off potential buyers who want to haggle with price.
Take a look at these 7 negotiating tips from professional real estate negotiation trainer John Wenner to learn more about the task ahead of you.
Setting the right price
Setting the right price for your home is quite possibly the most important decision you will make during your home sale. The right price will attract the right buyers and have the offers flowing in. The wrong price will make your home a sitting duck on the market.
Studying market trends is the best way to set a price, something real estate agents do on a regular basis. An experienced agent lives their professional life in the local market, so they know better than anyone what price is right. Working with an agent to help you set the price will give you an invaluable leg up and set the tone for a successful sale.
Dealing with all the hassle in between
Not only do agents help you deal with contracts, marketing, price, and general negotiating, they help you deal with all the calls, emails and other busy work in between. They’re like your own personal secretary to field calls from interested buyers, answer questions, make appointments and keep the show running smoothly.
Buyers might move on if you don’t respond quickly enough. Your agent is there to do the quick reply and rush over to your home to give a showing. There’s a reason why we have real estate agents – this gig is a full time job!
Before you make your decision, sit down with an agent and decide for yourself if you want to work with a professional. Find an agent online or contact us and we’ll set you up with a top agent in your area to go through the benefits of working with a First Team agent on your home sale.
