We have all seen homes listed “For Sale by Owner” throughout our neighborhoods. You may be tempted to think, “Well, if he can do it, so can I!” Even with the wide range of information available online about buying and selling homes, hiring a Realtor® is (by far) the best and most legally protective avenue to choose when buying or selling your next home.
Realtors® Are Professionals in Their Field.
Buying or selling a home is a complicated process. Real estate law changes frequently and is different from state to state, even sometimes from town to town. Realtors® make it a priority to understand all applicable legal requirements and work to ensure that you are in compliance. Realtors® additionally understand how to best market your home as well. Lets look at both these benefits.
Legal Benefits: If one is not in compliance with the law on the sale of their home, and the other party finds out about it (even if it’s years later) one will have a lawsuit worth hundreds of thousands (even millions) of dollars in possible damages due to the non-compliance. Buying or selling a home on your own is like representing yourself in court on a lawsuit (that if lost) will cost you years in prison or hundreds of thousands of dollars. You want a professional fighting and guiding you through both situations. The risk of buying or selling a home on your own is just too high. And odds are you will miss or forget to do something in the selling or buying process that is crucial (most likely a law(s) you didn’t even know about) which will put you and your families assets at huge risk for the years to come.
Marketing Benefits: Realtors® also understand the avenues of marketing that get homes sold much quicker than if you were to market your home without their help. All too often homeowners think that Realtors® simply place homes on the MLS and wait for buyers. If your broker only does this you should fire them immediately. If you hire the right real estate agent they use marketing that includes, direct mail, email marketing, social media marketing, open houses, professional videos, professional photos, just to name a few methods that help move homes as quick as possible. If you are carrying a mortgage payment, taxes, and possibly even assessments on a home, being able to sell it months quicker could mean that your Realtor® has saved you thousands in ongoing carrying costs.
Realtors® Understand the Local Market.
Home buyers and home sellers have distinctly different goals. Sellers want to get the highest price possible, while buyers want to pay the rock bottom lowest price available. With experience in the local housing market, Realtors® can bridge the gap between these divides by giving professional advice and consulting with a “Home Price Analysis” of properties in the area. They will know if your sale price is too high, which will cause your bargain hunting buyers to pass up your listing and leave your property languishing on the market for months. On the flip side, hiring a professional Realtor® will protect you from accepting a below-market offer out of fear and losing out on the equity in your home.
Realtors® Guide You Through the Home Buying Process.
In most cases, sellers have committed to paying the 2.5-3% sale commission that will pay the buyer’s Realtor®. Be wary of a seller who encourages you to complete the process without the protection of a licensed Realtor®. Realtors® handle tricky negotiations, including purchase price, dates of possession, home inspections, legal matters that involve your rights and making sure the seller is adhering to them, negotiations regarding critical repairs, and ensuring that the closing process goes smoothly. The last thing you want as a buyer is to discover you’ve been taken advantage of at the closing table or worse, months after you move into your new home. As a home buyer you are not paying for your Realtor’s® service. As we mentioned that the commission is paid by the seller; thus, not using a Realtor® who is costing you nothing would be foolish to say the least.
For most people, the purchase or selling of their home is the single-most important financial decision and most legally vulnerable situation they will ever be involved in. You would be doing yourself a disservice by not at least consulting with a professional real estate advisor (AKA a Realtor®). Me and my group understand the truth in this, and I promise to provide the highest level of customer service in the industry to ensure that reaching this important milestone will be the most positive experience possible.
Thanks for Reading! And, keep the homebuyer & home-seller referrals coming in Huntington Beach, and Costa Mesa… those people you send allow me to have the time and resources to publish articles like this. Please share this information via: word of mouth, email link, and/or social media. I really appreciate it!
