When you hire a real estate professional, you don’t need to know everything about buying and selling your home. Also, you will be free to spend your time on other activities. The key is to find the right person.
“A good agent will field the calls and will be able to separate the serious buyers from those who just want to look,” said Carolyn Roberts, a past president of the Ocala /Marion County Association of Realtors.
“A good agent who doesn’t know the immediate answer will know where to find it,” Mrs. Roberts said. “They can identify comparable sales and then deliver the information to you. They also understand market fluctuations and can guide you in setting your price.”
Here are at least 10 reasons why you should trust a professional real estate agent with the sale of your home:
- They can list your home in the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), which is open only to licensed real estate brokers and agents. In this way, your home will get a lot more exposure, not just locally, but across the country.
- You might waste your money on newspaper ads and other marketing tactics. A good Realtor will know when, where and how to advertise your property. Your agent should aggressively advertise and market your property and will know when and where to advertise.
- You may be limited in your resources. The National Association of Realtors studies show that 82 percent of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients and referrals.
- Your pool of potential buyers is limited. Due to a reduction in commission or perceived difficulty in dealings, buyer’s agents typically will avoid showing their clients “FSBO” or homes listed for sale by owner.
- People who do their own selling tend to overprice their homes. A real estate agent can provide a current market analysis and other information regarding competitive sales.
- You might not be aware of what makes a home marketable. A real estate agent can provide improvement tips and services that will make your home more competitive.
- Potential buyers spend less time in a for-sale-by-owner home than when they tour with an agent. They might refrain from asking the homeowner questions that they might ask an agent. And, they will be less likely to make an offer directly to the seller.
- Selling your own home could lead to a legal chaos. An experienced real estate agent knows how to work through the tangle of legal requirements and documents.
- You might not possess the necessary negotiating power that a real estate agent has. These might include price, date of possession, necessary repairs, and investigations of the property.
- The closing process is intimidating and difficult. A Realtor knows how to guide you through the process.
Real estate agents have an advantage over self-sellers in that they are involved in a network with other professionals in the business. Not only do they communicate easily with buyer’s agents, they also can recommend various services to handle legal issues or necessary repairs and improvements.
Real estate agents are skilled negotiators. They remain unemotional while maintaining confidentiality and professionalism in the transaction.
Finally, a professional will be able to handle the reams of paperwork that often are riddled with confusing language. Even the smoothest closures can bring issues down the road. A good agent will be available to assist you long after the dust has settled around your sale.
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Selling a home in Ocala, Florida? Roberts Real Estate specializes in personal service backed by a deep knowledge of the local community. We have professional, knowledgeable, and dedicated agents who follow through from the beginning to the end of the transaction. Call (352) 351-0011 to speak with one of our agents today.
