Jackie Schoelerman | March 14, 2023
Buyer
If you’re thinking of selling your home this year, one of the many things you might be considering is whether or not you should hire a real estate agent. You think you know a few potential buyers, so you’re being tempted to try to sell your home yourself and just pocket the cash you would otherwise pay an agent. But at the end of the day, will it be worth it?
Knowing a few buyers isn’t the end of a real estate transaction. There are other rigorous steps and processes involved, many of which can be stressful and costly especially when not handled properly. A good real estate professional does much more than just show your home to people. They’ll do everything from paperwork to networking, and make sure they are looking out for your best interests.
Part of your due diligence before putting your home for sale is to at least have a good understanding of your local housing market. Such insight will help you in many ways, including knowing what buyers are looking for in a home, whether your area is a buyer’s market or a seller’s market, recent sale prices in your neighborhood, listing prices vs selling prices, and so on.
Since the housing market conditions are constantly changing, you need all the help you can get. This is where you can tap into the knowledge of a local real estate agent. Aside from having the latest information about national housing trends and your local market conditions, they can explain what all of this means for you as a seller, so you can make better decisions that maximize your profits through the sale.
You know your primary goal is to sell your home for the best price, in the shortest time possible. But the question is, do you have any idea how you are going to price your property? Since it’s one of your biggest investments, you’re more likely to think that your home is worth more and thus, overprice. Such a move is risky because it can deter buyers from checking your property seeing that it is out of their price range. This could lead to your house sitting on the market for longer, losing you precious time and money.
An experienced real estate agent can provide an unbiased eye when they help you determine the right listing price for your house. They conduct a so-called comparative market analysis to study what similar homes in the area sold for. This also includes checking the condition of your home and any upgrades you’ve made, and comparing it to recently sold homes in your area to find the best price. Since pricing can make or break the sale of your home, your agent can help you come up with a number that’s fair but also appealing to prospective buyers.
A good real estate agent has a large variety of tools at their disposal, including but not limited to their social media followers, agency connections and resources, and best of all, access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The MLS is a database used by real estate agents and brokers where they can share information about properties for sale. This ensures that your property gets in front of people looking to make a purchase. Without access to these tools, your buyer pool and your home’s selling potential will be limited.
Stay up to date on the latest real estate trends.
December 1, 2024
Mortgage rates remained flat ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, according to the latest Primary Mortgage Market Survey from Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC).
December 1, 2024
With the holidays right around the corner, homeowners planning to move have a decision to make: sell now or wait?
December 1, 2024
Painting is one of those home improvement tasks that people either love or despise.
November 30, 2024
Though there was already plenty for Allison Hope Kahn to like about working at Mastercard, it was the afternoon she and her colleagues spent volunteering at a nature p… Read more
November 30, 2024
Located on the beautiful coastline of the Gulf of California, Loreto is a year-round playground for fishing, surfing and boating.
November 30, 2024
We Guide Homeowners through the complicated process of selling their home using our 4 Phase Selling Process and 3 Prong Marketing Strategy that alleviates their stress and moves them effortlessly to their next destination. Schedule a 15 Minute Complimentary Strategy Session Today