(By: Comfort Home Inspections owner Keith Hoaglund)
It doesn’t matter what the current market conditions are—buyer’s market, seller’s market, etc. Whatever the case, you are missing out on some huge benefits if you attempt to buy or sell real estate without the help of a local licensed real estate professional.
Here is a small sample of what a real estate agent can do for you:
1. Properly preparing your house for sale.
A great agent will meet with you prior to marketing your home, perform a walkthrough and discuss which improvements or repairs will increase your return.
Some repairs that you may initially feel are necessary may not translate to increased value. For instance, if your furnace is 15 years old but working fine, replacing it prior to selling may not be wise. You may instead wish to direct those dollars towards the kitchen.
Skilled agents are in tune with local and current decorating trends along with common traits of the hottest properties and will help you make wise decisions prior to getting to market. A pre-listing home inspection is also a great idea to get ahead of any possible issues that can come up.
2. Pricing your home properly.
A professional agent will always conduct a comparative market analysis using the most current and applicable data, thereby determining an accurate price for your property.
Remember, the price of your home is not determined by Zillow, what your uncle Fred said his neighbor’s house brought, nor by how much you have spent on it. Only a professional licensed real estate agent can properly determine an accurate price based on all the real-world local factors that will get your home sold right away.
3. Marketing!
Real estate agents are professional home marketers and they know where to find the right buyers for your property. They have buyers calling every day. Do you?
4. Managing the offers.
In the current market conditions, multiple offers are common. How do you know which offer is better? Is the highest one the best? What if it has multiple contingencies? What if it has FHA financing?
Your realtor knows how to sort these out and help you realize which offer to pursue and which ones to pass on. Your realtor has your best interest in mind.
5. Paperwork.
Once you have an agreed upon offer, there is a pile of paperwork to complete. This is all extremely important and must be handled correctly to reduce your future liability. Your realtor does this every day and knows how to protect you.
6. It’s not so easy.
It may look easy, but that’s because your agent is skilled and experienced in the process. Flying a plane looks easy too, but you won’t catch me trying to do it to save a couple bucks. I would rather land safely while sitting comfortably, enjoying snacks.
Now that you have your house sold, it’s time to buy your new dream home. The agent who helped you sell yours will be the best resource you could ask for when picking your next place! Don’t forget to hire a skilled home inspector as part of the process.
