Should You Use a Realtor?

Many people wonder whether they should hire an agent to sell their home or whether they should first try as a For Sale by Owner (FSBO). In today’s market, we believe this is an easy decision: you need an experienced professional!

Finding a buyer willing to pay fair market value for your home at a time when there are growing inventories of foreclosures and short sales will take a true real estate professional. A real estate professionall will be able to give you expert advice on what price to list your home at, improvements to get the most money and potential buyers though, as well as offer honest advice. Along with those reasons, an expert will be there to market your home, hold open houses, spread the word and get it sold!
Another thing to consider is that finding reasonable financing can also be tricky in today’s lending environment as mortgage approvals get more stringent. A real estate professional will be able to tell you if you are getting a fair term and interest rate.

In today’s market, hiring a real estate professional as a talented negotiator could save you thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars. Each step of the way – from the original offer, to the possible re-negotiation of that off after a home inspection, to the possible cancellation of the deal based on a negative appraisal – you need someone who can keep the deal together until it closes.

Unless you are willing to commit yourself to a full-time job of listing your own home, it pays to go through an agent who will be there every step of the way!