Why use a REALTOR®

DO YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED A REALTOR® TO BUY A HOME?

There’s no law that says you can’t tackle the process alone.

But the real question is: “Why would you not want to take advantage of the free services of a professional whose whole career is spent helping people turn the dream of owning their own home into a reality?”

In nearly every transaction, the Seller, not the Buyer, pays the REALTORS® on the selling of their home. If you are a Buyer, using a REALTOR® typically doesn’t cost you a dime – but it can save you thousands of dollars!

Some home buyers think that if they don’t use a real estate agent, the Seller will be more willing to lower the price of their home. They mistakenly think that if the Seller has the opportunity to pay less in commissions, they  will share those “savings” with the buyer. While that may seem logical, it doesn’t work that way in residential real estate. When listing their home, the Sellers already commit to paying the REALTORS® fees. Whether you, as a home buyer, use a REALTOR® or not, it is unlikely to change the Seller’s expenses.

WHAT ABOUT “FOR SALE BY OWNERS” (FSBO’S) HOMES?

Without a Market Analysis that a REALTOR® can provide, FSBO’s are often overpriced. Even if you succeed in knocking down the Seller’s price during negotiations, you won’t necessarily being paying less than you would have using a REALTOR® – and you may be paying a lot more than you should! You should take advantage of the professional services of a REALTOR® to get you accurate, complete and relevant information about housing values and the market in general in your area and the expertise to interpret that data.

So, if the issue isn’t really cash out of pocket, and it is most unlikely you are going to get the Seller to split any “savings”, the question is:

Why would anyone want to tackle the complicated process of buying or selling real estate without professional help?

How many of us can negotiate aggressively – yet successfully? Know about financing and financing options? Know what disclosures are required – and what questions should be asked?

When you are buying a home a REALTOR® does all of this for you – and the Seller pays the agent’s fee.

STILL UNDECIDED? HERE ARE TEN SIMPLE REASONS TO USE A REALTOR:

When Buying:

• Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power, explain financing options and refer you to those lenders best qualified to help you.

• Your REALTOR® has unique resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised.

• Your REALTOR® can assist your selection process by providing objective information about each property you wish to see, and making it possible for you to do so.

• Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate the myriad factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment, that come with buying a home.

• Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property, including finding qualified responsible professionals to do inspections and title searches.

• Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process to make sure everything flows together smoothly.

When Selling:

• Your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.

• Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Your REALTOR& will know when, where and how to advertise your property effectively.

• Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer’s proposal and negotiate without compromising your marketing position.

• Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for many sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing.

THE BOTTOM LINE:

It’s extremely important that your find a good real estate professional – a REALTOR® – to help guide you through the home buying process!

A good agent can expose you to areas, home styles and financial options you might not have considered. They might save a you a great deal of money – or save you from a terrible mistake. At the very least, your REALTOR® can help you avoid the numerous potholes that too often plague the road to home ownership.

Work smart – work with Bill White REALTORS®!