Below is some interesting information for folks who might be thinking of trying the home selling process by themselves.
THINKING OF SELLING YOUR OWN HOME? THINK AGAIN
You might get lucky and save a buck or two. A lot of folks have tried to sell their own homes and succeeded. A lot more have just tried.
Most people realize that selling their own home can be a costly, time-consuming, even risky, affair. And unless you’re just naturally lucky, you need the help of a professional Realtor. A person who can save you a lot of time and headaches. For a lot of good reasons.
If you’re thinking about selling your own home, maybe you should consider some of them.
WHAT’S YOUR PRICE?
Market demand, seasonality of sales, location, and many other variables often alter your home’s value. The first thing the professional Realtor can do for you is recommend a fair and reasonable asking price.
Do it yourself and you will probably ask too much or too little. Don’t be fooled by believing you know what your home is worth. A skilled real estate person knows all about these things. And, most important, knows people.
YOU’RE FAIR GAME FOR ALL TYPES OF CALLERS
If you love talking to strange people at strange hours, by all means sell your home yourself. That “For Sale by Owner” sign in your front yard means you’re fair game for everyone, even those passersby who “just wanted to see what the place looked like”.
That sign may not get all the prospects you want, either. You may have to advertise. And that means getting phone calls at all hours.
A Realtor can solve these problems. First of all, by screening prospects. Finding out their needs, desires, and financial situations. Separating those who are seriously looking for a new home from those who are just looking. And best of all, your house only when it’s convenient for you.
THAT BEAUTIFUL ART- SALESMANSHIP
Okay, so now you’re selling your own home. You know the needs and desires of your prospective buyers. And you know what to say, how to present your home to convince the. Right? Wrong.
Realtors are trained in the art of salesmanship. (And believe us, it is an art.) Their study of sales techniques have shown them how to get the uncommitted buyer to make a decision, and how to close the sale. In fact, they’ve gone to school to learn how to do precisely that. After all, selling is what it’s all about.
FORMAL NEGOTIATIONS
What happens when a prospective buyer makes you an offer- one that’s well below your asking price? You’re going to argue. And that’s the worst thing you can do.
As a principal, you’ll discover it’s pretty hard to bargain with a buyer—to negotiate about such things as price, term and possessions. Misunderstandings may crop up, and those disagreements can spoil a sale.
When a real estate professional helps sell your home, he or she takes on the difficult task of negotiation, acting as a sort of go-between and advisor. One who’s objective. One who can tell you when the buyer is right and when you should stick to your guns.
And one who is usually a heck of a nice person, too. One who knows how to smooth over, or completely avoid, those sale-killing misunderstandings.
HOW TO SHOP FOR MONEY
Many prospective buyers don’t know much about financing—how or where to get a mortgage. Sell you home yourself, and there’s not much you can do to help them.
A Realtor knows just about all there is to know about financing. Knows how to work closely with all kinds of financial institutions, knows their methods and requirements. Very simply, the professional real estate person can help your buyer find the money needed to buy your house.
ATTENTION TO DETAILS
Selling a house involves many details. Paperwork, title searches, finance arrangements. There are a hundred little things to be done. Unless you have a mind
like a computer, you’ll need professional help to get everything done and keep it straight. A Realtor and your attorney will guide you through the tangle of details as painlessly and safely as possible.
SHOW YOUR HOME TO ITS BEST ADVANTAGE
Crowded closets may make a home look lived-in but they don’t do much for a prospective buyer. Neither does a dripping faucet, unkempt lawn or loose doorknob. There are dozens of little things you can do to make your home more saleable. The real estate expert can show them to you. (Some of them would have never occurred to you.)
Showmanship is all it’s cracked up to be.
Your real estate broker or agent has the experience and training necessary to bring negotiations to a successful conclusion. And, if you’ve followed the guidelines provided, you’ll know you’ve already done your part by making sure your home creates a good first impression.
