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