8 Reasons Why You Should Still Use A Realtor in 2017
I get this question a lot from For Sale By Owners: “Why Use A Realtor?”
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I want to share with you guys, not only why you should use a Realtor as a seller, but as a buyer as well! Here’s my list of the top 8 reasons why you should use a realtor in today’s market.
1.) ACCESS TO THE MOST UP TO DATE INVENTORY
With all the advances in technology it is easier than ever to get INSTANT ACCESS to anything your heart desires – including what homes are for sale in your area. While we’ll all agree that the Internet is AWESOME. Working with a Realtor gets you the inside scoop on those “hidden gems” (homes that haven’t hit the market yet), as well as THE MOST UP TO DATE PROPERTY SEARCHES. That home you found on Zillow, realtor.com, etc is just a syndication (usually an out of date syndication at that) of the MLS that your Realtor can give you direct access to! We work with buyers all the time, that request to see a home they found online we have to tell them, “Unfortunately that home is no longer for sale” or “That home was never for sale” or “That house was Withdrawn” or “That is not even the price of that home”. There is lots of misinformation out there and consumers get their hopes up only to be disappointed when they house they love, isn’t even a home they can purchase at this moment.
PLUS, a good local Realtor like the ones on my team, knows the ins and outs of your search area way better than you ever could and can help you find those homes within your price range that you may have overlooked.
2.) EXPERTS IN OUR FIELD
Want to check the MLS for a 4B/2B with an EIK and a W/D? Real Estate has its own language, full of acronyms and semi-arcane jargon, and your Realtor is trained to speak that language fluently.
Plus, buying or selling a home usually requires dozens of forms, reports, disclosures, and other technical documents. Realtors have the expertise to help you prepare a winning deal—while avoiding delays that can cost you a Ton! I tell my clients this way “You wouldn’t try and diagnose yourself would you? No, you go to the professional – the doctor when you are sick.” “Likewise, you wouldn’t show up to court unrepresented. No, you hire a Lawyer who has the experience and knowledge of the judicial system to help you navigate the process.” It’s the same with Real Estate – your Realtor is the expert in the field. We understand the legal liabilities for consumers when it comes to navigating through the sale process.
3.) THEY ARE FIERCE NEGOTIATORS
Any time you buy or sell a home, you’re going to encounter negotiations—and as today’s housing market heats up, those negotiations are more likely than ever to get a little heated.
You can expect lots of competition, cutthroat tactics, all cash offers, and bidding wars. Don’t you want a savvy and professional negotiator on your side to seal the best deal for you?
And it’s not just about how much money you end up spending or netting. A Realtor will help draw up a purchase agreement that allows enough time for inspections, contingencies, and anything else that’s crucial to your particular needs. Sometime is more than just the price – the sale date, your financing, your realtor can help you negotiate all of these things and protect your best interest so that when you offer is presented, it is the BEST one on the table.
4. ) THEY’RE CONNECTED TO EVERYONE
Realtors might not know everything, but they make it their mission to know just about everyone who can possibly help in the process of buying or selling a home. Mortgage brokers, real estate attorneys, home inspectors, home stagers, interior designers—the list goes on—and they’re all in your Realtor’s network. Use them.
5. ) THEY ADHERE TO A STRICT CODE OF ETHICS
Not every real estate agent is a Realtor, who is a licensed real estate salesperson who belongs to the National Association of Realtors®, the largest trade group in the country.
Not every real estate agent is a Realtor
What difference does it make? Realtors are held to a higher ethical standard than licensed agents and must adhere to a Code of Ethics.
6.) THEY KNOW HOW TO PRICE IT RIGHT
The selling process generally begins with a determination of a reasonable asking price. Your real estate agent or Realtor can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in your local marketplace, as well as the price, financing terms, and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in marketing your home and selling it at the best price. Any experienced Agent can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of the property.
7) MARKETING
When it comes to selling your home, YOU NEED AN AGENT WITH EXPERT MARKETING SKIILS to get your home found online by today’s buyers. At The Robin Group we are proficient in highlighting your home’s best features with high definition photography and utilizing the BEST SEO to make sure your home is found. Not only do we focus on social media marketing and optimizing for Google search, when you list with The Robin Group you get Global Internet exposure! We have a dedicated Marketing Director on our team who specialized in making sure your home is marketed at the highest level.
8) HIRING A REALTOR = PROVIDING SECURITY
When a property is marketed with an agent’s help, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Agents will generally prescreen and accopany qualified prospects through your property through the use of a secured lockbox that only Licensed Realtors can pay to have access to.
If you have questions about our local real estate market, or are considering buying, selling, or investing in Real Estate, my team would love to help you. Give us a call at 985-778-2525.
