1. I can sell your house for more money.
According to the 2003 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the typical For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) home sold for $145,000, compared to $175,000 for a salesperson-assisted home. This means that even if you pay me a 6-percent commission, you will realize $164,500.
2. I understand how to complete the many contracts, forms and disclosure statements required in a real estate transaction.
Here is a brief list of the forms needed to complete a transaction--lead paint disclosure statement, property condition disclosure statement, purchase contract, legal description of the property, FHA and/or VA Loan addendums and requirements, and contingency clause addendum(s). According to the 2003 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, difficulty with paperwork was the biggest problem people had in selling their own homes.
3. I do this full-time.
Often sellers don't recognize how many hours a real estate salesperson spends. I am available to show your home, answer questions, and solve problems for you during your work day.
4. I have the market knowledge to price the home competitively.
You may know what one or two homes nearby have sold for, but you don't have the access to the wide number of comparables I do or the market knowledge to adjust pricing. I can provide you with a competitive market analysis of your home free of charge. According to the 2003 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, setting the right price was the third most difficult problem FSBOs had in selling their own homes.
5. I can be objective, handle criticism of the house, and focus on how well the homes suits a buyer.
All owners have emotional attachments to their homes and will emphasize the features they consider most desirable during a showing. However, as a trained professional, I am more attuned to the buyers' needs and able to highlight the home's features that have the most appeal to each buyer.
6. You can assess buyers' ability to afford the property and help them locate the best places to obtain financing.
Often buyers, especially inexperienced ones, rely on the real estate salesperson to help them obtain a mortgage. I have experience in helping buyers locate a lender and select between fixed, adjustable, or balloon mortgages. I am also more experienced in prequalifying buyers so that they will not make an offer on a home they cannot afford. Again, the complexity of mortgage financing may convince you to hire an expert--me!
7. I know how to negotiate and overcome objections.
Balancing offers and counteroffers, as well as handling many of the contingencies that usually accompany real estate transactions, can be frustrating or frightening for sellers.
8. I can get the transaction closed.
Many sellers think that once the purchase agreement is signed, their work is over. But I know better. These are a few items that need to be completed before closing: home inspection, appraisal, termite inspection, title search and title insurance, building permits for improvements, and so forth.
According to the 2003 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, the typical For-Sale-By-Owner (FSBO) home sold for $145,000, compared to $175,000 for a salesperson-assisted home. This means that even if you pay me a 6-percent commission, you will realize $164,500.
2. I understand how to complete the many contracts, forms and disclosure statements required in a real estate transaction.
Here is a brief list of the forms needed to complete a transaction--lead paint disclosure statement, property condition disclosure statement, purchase contract, legal description of the property, FHA and/or VA Loan addendums and requirements, and contingency clause addendum(s). According to the 2003 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, difficulty with paperwork was the biggest problem people had in selling their own homes.
3. I do this full-time.
Often sellers don't recognize how many hours a real estate salesperson spends. I am available to show your home, answer questions, and solve problems for you during your work day.
4. I have the market knowledge to price the home competitively.
You may know what one or two homes nearby have sold for, but you don't have the access to the wide number of comparables I do or the market knowledge to adjust pricing. I can provide you with a competitive market analysis of your home free of charge. According to the 2003 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, setting the right price was the third most difficult problem FSBOs had in selling their own homes.
5. I can be objective, handle criticism of the house, and focus on how well the homes suits a buyer.
All owners have emotional attachments to their homes and will emphasize the features they consider most desirable during a showing. However, as a trained professional, I am more attuned to the buyers' needs and able to highlight the home's features that have the most appeal to each buyer.
6. You can assess buyers' ability to afford the property and help them locate the best places to obtain financing.
Often buyers, especially inexperienced ones, rely on the real estate salesperson to help them obtain a mortgage. I have experience in helping buyers locate a lender and select between fixed, adjustable, or balloon mortgages. I am also more experienced in prequalifying buyers so that they will not make an offer on a home they cannot afford. Again, the complexity of mortgage financing may convince you to hire an expert--me!
7. I know how to negotiate and overcome objections.
Balancing offers and counteroffers, as well as handling many of the contingencies that usually accompany real estate transactions, can be frustrating or frightening for sellers.
8. I can get the transaction closed.
Many sellers think that once the purchase agreement is signed, their work is over. But I know better. These are a few items that need to be completed before closing: home inspection, appraisal, termite inspection, title search and title insurance, building permits for improvements, and so forth.
