Trying to Sell Your Home Without a Realtor?...

1.     Buying or selling a home is often an emotionally draining experience. Having an objective third party (a realtor), who is representing your best interests, is a huge asset to you. If a problem arises, as they often do, you have a professional to negotiate on your behalf. A realtor can help keep things calm, and reach a reasonable solution, defusing a potentially deal-breaking situation. The problem is deflected away from you, saving time, money, and your nerves.

2.     Real estate professionals know what’s going on in the market and in your neighborhood because they deal with it every day...and things change often.

3.     Real estate professionals know how to market your home to achieve the maximum exposure possible. They are experts at advertising property so your home sells as quickly as possible.

4.     Realtors are prepared to deal with the myriad of phone calls and questions from prospective buyers and their realtors while you’re at work, spending time with your family, and getting ready to move.

5.     Realtors have at their fingertips all of the latest technology: computer databases, the Internet, and the necessary real estate forms to complete a transaction. Believe me, you don't want to miss one single page of each required legal document. How will you know if you have all the right documents? In addition, realtors use the latest computer technologies like email, cell phones, pagers, digital cameras, and fax machines to send important info. All tools of the trade for today’s real estates pro’s.

6.     Realtors know how to competitively price your home based upon recent sales, as well as current activity in your immediate area. Your home may be worth even more than you think. It just depends on the market.

7.     Realtors are great contact sources. They know the best mortgage lenders, title, escrow, termite, and insurance companies to use, and often can save you money. Not to mention inspectors, plumbers, electricians, painters, roofers, carpet cleaners, movers, etc. Your realtor can coordinate any of these, and schedule appointments. To be sure, you need a lot of help when selling your home.

8.     Open house--Allowing strangers into your home in today’s world can be a scary and even a dangerous thing. And, certainly you have better things to do on a Saturday or Sunday than to wait around for all the “looky-loo” neighbors to see your home. Realtors can hold open house for you and screen potential buyers while you relax at the movies or go shopping.

9.     How will you screen potential buyers when they call or come to an open house? Going on first impressions or a “gut feeling” is no way to enter into a legally binding contract. Realtors utilize qualified mortgage lenders to pre-approve potential buyers before they even see your home.

10. Realtors network with other realtors. There are literally hundreds of real estate professionals in the area who are currently seeking homes for their qualified buyers. You may know a lot people, but how many of them need to buy a home right now? For those who need to buy a home, how many want to buy your home?

11.Are you informed as to the numerous disclosures that the law requires you to make to a buyer? Did you know that there are more than 26 separate disclosures a seller legally must make to a buyer? If you miss one, you could have problems down the road. A realtor makes sure the seller has disclosed what the law requires, so that you are protected legally. Sellers are potentially liable even years after closing escrow!

12. Are you aware of the potential liabilities you as a seller assume by not  having a professional involved, and are you prepared to assume all of the liability and potential financial loss if you overlook something?

13. Are you knowledgeable about the various ways you can reduce the amount of risk you have as a seller of property?? Realtors are trained to help you with this.

14. Realtors are licensed by the State of California and are required to periodically update their education and renew licenses. They regularly attend seminars and classes to stay current on any changes in real estate law and practices. Changes occur frequently.

15.Did you know that over 85% of for-sale-by-owners who get a buyer into escrow, end up having the escrow cancelled due to some unforeseen problem that arises during the escrow period? Had a realtor been involved, he/she would have been there to negotiate a resolution and held things together for you.

16.Selling homes is a realtor’s full time job. He/she is a professional and is able to utilize all of the resources available to them, and have a wealth of experience. Realtors want the same thing you do: to get your home sold so you can move on. They have the knowledge, expertise, and the resources to get the job done efficiently.

17.A real estate professional often can negotiate a higher price for your home, covering all or most of the commission, and in the long run save you money!

18.Approximately 95% of For Sale By Owners end up listing their home with a real estate broker. There’s a reason for this: Selling a home is harder than it looks.