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Moving
Up
To List With A Realtor® Or Not
In a "Hot" real estate market some people are tempted to try and sell their homes themselves. You may be thinking that way too. You just might be able to do that
But:
- Real estate transactions have grown increasingly more complex. What
do you do for a living? Would you say that your job is quite a bit more
complex than it might look to an outsider? Could I step in tomorrow
and do your job for you? Probably not. It undoubtedly takes a lot of
training and experience to be really good at it. It's the same way in
Real Estate
- Consider the possible cost to you of selling the home yourself. Are
you prepared and confident that you can wade through all the Legalities,
the Disclosures, the Inspections, etc., just to name a
few of the possible roadblocks realtors encounter every day
- With the extra complexities involved in selling a home today, you
can easily open yourself up to lawsuits, the cost of which may far exceed
a Realtor's commission. A substantial portion of your assets could be
impacted by mishandling just one step.
- A Realtor has liability insurance, whereas you are probably completely
unprotected.
- Do you realize that private offers tend to come in 7% - 10% below
your price? A "For Sale By Owner" sign or ad
in a headline to a prospective buyer screams "BARGAIN."
The buyers are trying to save the same money you are, plus some...
- Are you willing to spend every weekend holding your own house open,
hoping that a "REAL" buyer will show up? An infinitesimal
number of "Open Houses" ever get sold to someone who wanders
through it on a weekend.
- Do you know what marketing strategies work in your particular marketplace
besides holding an open house? Are you able to write your own marketing
flyers and brochures? Do you know precisely why your home should be
priced above or below the others in your neighborhood?
- Do you know how to qualify prospective buyers. Many a "For Sale
By Owner" has ended up listing with a realtor after 1 or 2 "deals"
failed because the buyer wasn't qualified to buy.
- Do you know competent and fast professionals who will solve contract contingencies right away so the transaction can close? Things like home inspections, termite repair, furnace repair, new carpet installation all can cause problems if you don't have somebody to take care of them. A realtor has a group of professionals with proven track records to call on when necessary.
Realtors earn their commissions as you can see by the above points. I think you should carefully weigh the benefit of trying to sell your home yourself against the possible short and long term costs to you. If you don't know a good realtor to list your home with, I know many of the top Realtors in the area. I would be happy to refer you to one.
Cherry Creek Mortgage
4301 Hacienda Dr. Ste. 120
Pleasanton, CA. 94588
Phone 800-325-2062
Fax 925-520-0231
