OK, to be
honest, some Realtors do suck. I have often muttered to myself that my
profession is not filled with brain surgeons. Realtors consistently show up on
the list of least respected professions along with lawyers, politicians and
used car salesman. But think about it, in any profession, you have the good,
the bad and the ugly.
This is the
biggest financial transaction most of you will make in your lifetime. Take a
few moments to vet your Realtor before committing. Ask about experience. How
many years in the business? How many deals have they done? Can they provide
references? You can check whether any Realtor has a current license and whether
they have faced disciplinary action at
http://www2.dre.ca.gov/PublicASP/pplinfo.asp
What a good
Realtor brings to the table.
1.
Realtors are where the market is. - In 2013 88% of home buyers and
sellers used a Realtor. If you eliminate
transactions between friends, neighbors and family members, that number is
closer to 99%. If you are a seller, is
it worth it to exclude 99% of the market in order to save a commission? If you
are a buyer, the reverse is true, 99% of sellers are in contract with a
Realtor. There is no advantage to not using a Realtor unless you can strike a
deal with a For Sale By Owner, less than 1% of the market. Don’t pass up
dollars to scramble after pennies. Take advantage of a Realtor.
2.
Time Management. - Buying or selling a house is like
a part time job. Constant monitoring of new listings, arranging viewings, going
to open houses, researching neighborhoods, all takes a deceptive amount of
time. Once you get in contract, there are hundreds of details to attend to.
There are contracts, disclosures and reports to understand. There are always
issues and trade offs to consider. A good, experienced Realtor can save you
tons of time by helping you organize the process in a way that deals with the
critical issues effectively.
3.
Pricing Strategy and Expertise - A good Realtor will not only know
what price your property will sell for, but also how to price the property and
manage offers in order to maximize the value. A Realtor can also suggest low
cost improvements to help your home sell quickly and for top dollar.
4.
Negotiation Skills - I often tell my clients to prepare
for 3 rounds of negotiations. First and most obvious is the purchase price, but
be prepared for a request for credit for repairs. To top it off, especially in
an appreciating market the property may not appraise for the purchase
price. A skillful Realtor will have a
plan for each phase and implement smoothly.
5.
Keeping you out of trouble -
Although most Realtors are not lawyers, inspectors or contractors we
have the experience and training to recognize the danger signs and call in the
experts. Every neighborhood, every type
of sale and every type of property have their own typical set of issues. We
help you recognize the issues quickly so you have time think about it and react
from an informed perspective.
6.
Process Management -
From start to finish there are literally hundreds of details that need
to be taken care of. There are many people involved; Buyers, sellers, agents,
loan officers, advertisers, appraisers, escrow workers, title workers,
inspectors and contractors to name a few. There is a mountain of paperwork to
complete and extensive records to maintain. If all these details are not
managed promptly and correctly, it will cost you money, create doubt on the
other side of the transaction and may put your goal of buying or selling in
jeopardy. Your Realtor becomes your project manager, making sure all people and
actions are managed and coordinated in an effective and timely manner.
In summary, a
good Realtor will increase your chances of buying or selling at the best price
possible. We can save you tons of time and effort and counsel you toward best
practices to avoid conflict and potential legal hassles. Using a Realtor is
safer, less stressful and may even save you money. It is kind of a “no brainer,”
don’t you think?
