Ready to Sell? Why Hire a Realtor?

   In this self-service world that we live in, all of us feel like we can pretty much accomplish anything we need to do on our own. Having new aches and pains? Try Web MD! Looking for insurance advice? There's an app for that. Ready to sell your house? Head on over to Zillow for the best information available! 😆Now, don't get me wrong! I am just as apt to go for the self-service whenever possible. I love online shopping---I buy insurance via an app and I diagnose my headache on Web MD, but when things get serious I know when it's time to turn to a professional!

   Folks, when we are talking about your largest personal investment, the Internet may not be the most knowledgeable source available to you. Hiring a Realtor to help you walk through the tumultuous path of home selling (and buying!) is essential. My least favorite thing about real estate is selling myself, but it is easier for me the longer that I do this because I realize the sheer amount of work and expertise it takes to get through the process of selling a home. It is a confusing process and you want a professional in your corner that is working to protect your largest asset. So, I thought I would compile a straight-forward list of ways a Realtor will help you in the home selling process. Here we go!

Why Hire a Realtor?

1. Right Listing Price💰 Finding the right listing price can be a tricky process. An experienced Realtor can pull a CMA (Competitive Market Analysis) to help price your home to sell. Overpricing your house can result in less traffic and missed sales...and ultimately selling for much less. A professional can also refer you to an appraiser if insufficient information on reliable pricing is available. Trust your Realtor!
2. Staging/Preparing for Sale The fact of matter is simple. We do not live in our homes the way we sell them. An experienced Realtor can give you tips for staging, de-cluttering, cleaning, and improvements prior to listing your home. A well-presented home will sell faster and for more money. 
3. Buyer Exposure In a for sale by owners situation, you can put a sign in the yard, possibly post online and maybe take out a newspaper ad. Not bad! BUT, a Realtor with a HUGE network of agents in the area can provide much more! Marketing is our game. We are well-versed, up-to-date, and work hard to make sure that your home has every advantage available to get it in front of as many eyes as possible. When I list a house, I provide professional photos, videos, and walk throughs. All of my listings are distributed to various nationwide sources as well to capture buyers moving into the area. The possibilities are endless.
4. Navigating Legal Requirements A Realtor will help you navigate the legal waters of homeselling. It isn't a cut and dry realm. Each paper you sign could potentially be legally binding. You must be educated! Trust me the buyers agent that you are working with will certainly be advocating and advising their buyer on the legalities that are involved. Make sure you are protected as well.
5. Higher Profit On average, using an agent will result in a 13% higher net profit than a for sale by owner. Enough said.
6. Negotiations The entire homeselling process is a series of negotiations. First, your Realtor will help to negotiate the purchase contract...how much you're going to get paid and anything that you will (or will not) concede to the buyer. Later, your Realtor will negotiate repairs requested on the Inspection Report. They will help you have a realistic view of what you should or shouldn't consider. Overall, we serve as a buffer and advocate for you during the process. 
7. Closing & Beyond Having your Realtor present at the closing is like their final act to help ensure that you are well represented and protected as you hand off ownership to the new family But never fear, a good Realtor is always available after the sale to help with any questions or issues that might arise. 

   So, there you are! This is by no way an exhaustive list of all of the things that your real estate agent will do for you, but it is a good guideline for some of the highlights. Think Zillow could do that?! 

I would love the opportunity to discuss your situation to help you get your house listed and sold! 

Have a great day, 

Melissa