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Why
Use a REALTOR®
A successful selling process begins with a determination of a
reasonable asking price. Your 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.
Marketing
The next step is a marketing plan. Often, your agent can recommend
repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of the
property. Marketing includes the exposure of your property to other real estate
agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real
estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than
yours brings in the buyer. Your agent acts as the marketing coordinator,
disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a
Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses
for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize
these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.
Advertising is part of marketing. The
choice of media and frequency of advertising depends a lot on the property and
specific market. For example, in some areas, newspaper advertising generates
phone calls to the real estate office but statistically has minimum
effectiveness in selling a specific property. This is particularly true in the
Cleveland County area. Overexposure of a property in any
media may give a buyer the impression the property is distressed or the seller
is desperate. Your real estate agent will know when, where and how to advertise
your property. There is a misconception that advertising is the only thing that sells real estate. The
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales
are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends,
family and personal contacts. That only leaves 18% for all other methods,
including advertisement, open houses (only about 2%), etc.
Security
When a property is marketed with an agent's help, you do not have to
allow strangers into your home. Agents shoud pre-screen and accompany
qualified prospects through your property.
Negotiating
The negotiation process deals with much the same issues for both
buyers and sellers, as noted above under the buying process. Your agent can help
you objectively evaluate every buyer's offer without compromising your
marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of
appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your agent
can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely
to make it through the process.
Monitoring,
renegotiating and closing
Between the initial sales
agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example,
unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is
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 closing (or settlement).
Why use a REALTOR®?
All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate
licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly
called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR®"®" logo on the
business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed
to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict
code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the
process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that
84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.
You be the judge
Real estate transactions
involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their
lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had cancer, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a
Doctor?
If you had a legal problem that could cost or save you hundreds of thousands of
dollars, would you represent yourself, or would you hire an attorney? If you Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it
would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional
assistance of a REALTOR®!
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color,
religion, sex, handicap, familial status, or national origin.”