All real estate
licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are
members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly
called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on
the business card or other marketing and sales literature.
REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction
honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are
expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process
of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports
that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.
Real estate transactions
involve one of the biggest financial investments most people
experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed
$100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you
attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a
$100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help
of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large
downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real
estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®.
But if you're still not
convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are a dozen more
reasons to use one:
1. When selling your
home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what
is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms
and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in
getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with
minimum hassle.
2. Your REALTOR® markets
your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often,
your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will
significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your
REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and
the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real
estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent
other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR® acts as the
marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your
property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing
Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for
agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to
utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their
clients.
3. Your REALTOR® will
know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a
misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL
ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate
sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients,
referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a
property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR®, you do not
have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will
generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through
your property.
4. Your REALTOR® can
help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without
compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is
only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and
financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help
you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more
likely to make it through the process.
5. Your REALTOR® can
help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales
agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For
example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or
a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone
is overwhelming for most sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best
person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the
transaction to closing (or settlement).
Contact Kyle and SueDawn Sheetz, Your
Southern Utah Real Estate Authority to sell your home!
