If you’re considering selling your home, you need to hear this. Representing yourself as a seller could look like it’s going to save you a lot of money at the outset, but it could mean leaving thousands more on the table if you don’t know how to handle it like a pro.
If we haven’t met, my name is Katie Crawford and I’m a Realtor that specializes in the Spruce Grove, Stony Plain and Parkland County areas. Stick around to the end to hear the biggest risk you take in not hiring a Realtor to sell your most important asset.
If you’re watching the video, stick around until the end to hear the most important reason to work with a Real Estate Agent on the sale of your home.
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Risk #1 – Unappealing Home Presentation. Your home is
your castle, and so it’s no surprise if you don’t have the objectivity required
to take a step back and make the necessary changes needed to get it
market-ready. A sellers agent has the expertise to advise you on repairs and
upgrades that will get you the most bang for your buck when selling your home.
Risk #2 – Lack of Marketing and Exposure. A Realtor
will have access to online marketing tools that an unrepresented individual
will not, giving you tens if not hundreds of thousands of online impressions. It
is in their best interest to make sure your property has as many eyeballs on it
as possible. A great Agent will also have access to a network of other Realtors
that they can market to, so that you can get top dollar in the least amount of
time possible.
Risk #3 – Lack of Time. Real Estate is a full-time
job, and the last thing you want to be doing is spending all of your free time
booking and accommodating showings, getting the word out that your house is for
sale, and navigating the important deadlines that come with an offer to
purchase your home. I’m willing to bet you have your own job to deal with, so
it makes sense to hire this one out.
Risk #4 – Poor Negotiations. Negotiating the terms of
a Real Estate transaction are not like negotiating when you go to buy a car.
This is a complex sale, and you need to be represented by a pro that
understands the nuances that go along with it. An agent will also act as a
buffer for you because the negotiation process is an emotional one. They can
make the insult of a low ball offer easier to counter and the stress of the
sale more manageable, so that your emotions won’t get in the way of you getting
the most out of the sale of your property.
Risk #5 – Incorrect Pricing. Nothing will prolong your
time on the market leading you to ultimately get less for your home than
pricing it too high. When buyers see that a house has been on the market for a
long time, they attach a stigma to it. “What’s wrong with this house and why
hasn’t it sold?” they ask. Ultimately, it’s you as a seller that determines the
price of your property, but a good agent won’t be afraid to give you their
opinion if that number is too high. As a seller how will you know how to price
your home? Your agent will equip you with the market data you need to determine
the best price, taking the emotion out of the equation. The current market is
what will dictate the value of your home, not what you paid for it.
A recent press release from the National Association
of Realtors in the States said, “FSBO homes
(For Sale by Owner homes) sold at a median of $260,000 last
year, significantly lower than the median of agent-assisted homes
at $318,000”.
Crazy!
So there you have it, my top reasons why it’s
important to sell your home under the watchful eye of a Realtor. So now you
might be wondering, how do I know which agent to hire? Check out my next video,
“How to Hire the Right Agent For You.”