| I used to encourage people to try selling | | | | criteria into the MLS and email to the buyer |
| their home for-sale-by-owner before calling | | | | a list of homes within that criteria. And |
| me, then play the superhero and swoop in when | | | | every time a home comes on the market that |
| all else fails to save the day. Not anymore. | | | | fits within that criteria, the Realtor's |
| That's because although they may "save" some | | | | system will automatically email the property |
| money on the front end of the deal, it's the | | | | information to the buyer. Additionally, the |
| lawsuits and contractual disputes that'll | | | | MLS reaches buyers who are not represented by |
| bleed them dry in the end. | | | | a real estate agent by also posting the |
| | | | listing on |
| No, not every FSBO contract ends in court, | | | | |
| but too many of them get so distorted by both | | | | Another avenue of marketing not available to |
| parties inexperience and stubbornness that | | | | the general public is the Homes magazine. |
| they're unrecognizable as legal transactions | | | | This is a publication offered to the |
| and oftentimes result in more than one person | | | | community at no charge, and the full-color |
| scratching their head and wondering what made | | | | pages can sometimes attract genuine interest. |
| them do this in the first place. For example, | | | | |
| a buyer and seller may just skate through | | | | Yard signs, open houses, websites and ads in |
| negotiating the repairs after a home | | | | local papers work too, but another excellent |
| inspection without wringing each other's | | | | resource is simply word-of-mouth. Realtors |
| necks, only to find that the buyer's lender | | | | talk. We talk at meetings, classes, through |
| requires more repairs to be done to bring the | | | | email, charity events and even while giving |
| property condition to a certain standard. | | | | feedback on a showing. We send mailings to |
| Neither the buyer nor seller knew about it, | | | | specific neighborhoods, past clients, and |
| but the seller feels he's already compromised | | | | family and friends. We've met hundreds of |
| too much and refuses to make any more repairs | | | | people and worked with dozens of real estate |
| and the buyer feels the same and won't settle | | | | agents. We get around. What better person to |
| for less. They're at an impasse. How do you | | | | talk up your home than someone with |
| make it work so both parties are satisfied? | | | | connections? |
| How do you get out of the contract without | | | | |
| inviting breach of contract? Who gets the | | | | As Realtors, we also have access to all the |
| earnest money deposit? Who has the legal | | | | paperwork necessary to make the home-selling |
| right-of-way? | | | | process both legal and painless. We have |
| | | | contracts, addendums, request for repair |
| Realtors aren't miracle workers, but we've | | | | forms, seller disclosures, one-time showing |
| got the know-how to answer those questions, | | | | agreements, lead-based paint disclosures, |
| as well as combat just about any crisis that | | | | listing agreements, contingency forms, smoke |
| may arise. We have extensive schooling, | | | | detector affidavits, release of contract |
| followed by required classes in real estate | | | | forms, etc. You name it, we have access to |
| and real estate law. We keep up-to-date with | | | | it. |
| as much information as we can. There are very | | | | |
| few things that can surprise a Realtor. | | | | Realtors also negotiate on your behalf. |
| | | | Oftentimes a seller doesn't know when to push |
| Showing home after home after home after home | | | | and when to back off, when to accept an offer |
| to our buyers has also enlightened us as to | | | | or counter an offer or where to draw the line |
| exactly what buyers are looking for . . . and | | | | on inspection repairs. Years of experience |
| what scares them away. Most of us won't claim | | | | interpreting subtle (and not-so-subtle!) |
| to be professional stagers, but we do know | | | | nuances in negotiations has equipped us to |
| that the armoire crowding the stairs has got | | | | read most situations and act appropriately. |
| to go, the dirty siding needs to be | | | | For example, if we know that a buyer has |
| power-washed, the junk on the dresser just | | | | already sold their home, that tells us that |
| needs to be boxed up and stored, that couch | | | | anxiety might be setting in and they may be |
| needs to go there and that chair needs to go | | | | more amenable to negotiations. If we find |
| over there, trim that bush, paint that door, | | | | that a buyer already backed out of a contract |
| caulk that baseboard, change the color on | | | | because the sellers refused to make any |
| that wall and remove the wallpaper on that | | | | repairs after the home inspection, we take |
| one, and the list goes on. Surprisingly, | | | | that into consideration as well. If the |
| sometimes it's the little things that can | | | | buyer's agent says that the buyer is only in |
| drive a buyer away. | | | | town 24 hours, we can presume that they're |
| | | | hoping to find a home and make an offer on it |
| Pricing is another area where we can really | | | | all in the same day. Everything comes into |
| shine. The method we use to value a home is | | | | play in negotiating, whether it be the |
| the very same method a licensed appraiser | | | | obvious, or even something as simple as a |
| uses to value a home. Word of caution, | | | | dejected tone in the buyer's voice. And if |
| though: if you already had an appraisal | | | | you decide to play good cop/bad cop, we'll be |
| because you've decided at some point to | | | | the bad cop! |
| refinance, we won't use it. Most appraisals | | | | |
| resulting from refinancing are high, very | | | | The icing on the cake is that Realtors will |
| high. On the flip side, we shamefully use it | | | | often go way above and beyond what's expected |
| to better sell your home, as in "Priced below | | | | of them. We've let the dog out while our |
| appraisal!" | | | | sellers are on vacation. We've waited for |
| | | | contractors to let them in the house. We've |
| But that's not where we really excel! Years | | | | even hired neighborhood kids to mow lawns. |
| of experience have taught us everything we | | | | We've cleared backyards of dog poop and |
| need to know to market your property | | | | scrubbed kitchen sinks to make the home more |
| effectively. First and foremost is our access | | | | presentable. To sum it up, we go that extra |
| to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The | | | | mile to sell your house. Our goal is to |
| MLS is the #1 vehicle to selling your home. | | | | develop relationships with our sellers that |
| Buyers working with Realtors have available | | | | will last not only through the final |
| to them through the MLS an automated search | | | | paperwork and closing, but a lifetime. |
| engine. The Realtor will input the buyer's | | | | |