John Wesley BrooksWhy a Real Estate Professional Is Key When Selling Your House: Hear Us Out Loud North Alabama !
Are you thinking that the need of a Realtor in our Huntsville Alabama Metro Area is not necessary because our local market is as hot as the sun on a Summer Day? Friends, with today’s real estate market moving as fast as it is, working with a real estate professional is more essential than ever. Full time Realtors have the skills, experience, and expertise it takes to navigate the highly detailed and involved process of selling a home. That may be why the percentage of people who list their houses on their own, known as a FSBO or For Sale By Owner, has reached its lowest point since 1985 (see graph below):
For sale by owner record low. John Wesley Brooks
Here are five reasons why selling with a real estate professional makes more sense, even in today’s hot market:
1. Realtors Know What Buyers Want To See
Friends, before you decide which projects and repairs to take on, connect with a real estate professional. They have first-hand experience with today’s buyers, what they expect, and what you need to do to make sure your house shows well.
If you don’t lean on their expertise, you may spend your time and money on something that isn’t essential. That’s because, in today’s low-inventory market, buyers are willing to take on more of the renovation work themselves. A survey from Freddie Mac finds that:
“. . . nearlytwo-in-five potential homebuyers would consider purchasing a home requiring renovations.”
A Real Estate Professional can help you decide what you need to tackle. It’s not canned advice you could find online – it’s recommendations specific to your house and in our North Alabama, clearly your local area whether you are in Huntsville, Madison, Athens, New Market, Guntersville, Hampton Cove, or any other area of our surrounding Counties
2. Why Do You Need A Professional Realtor? They Help Maximize Your Buyer Pool
Today, the average home is getting 4.8 offers per sale according to recent data from the National Association of Realtors (NAR), and that competition is pushing prices up. While that’s promising for you as a seller, it’s important to understand your agent’s role in bringing buyers in and his experience negotiating mixed with full knowledge of your area and real estate market changes taking place in the North Alabama but also in our Nation.
Real estate professionals have an assortment of tools at their disposal, such as social media followers, agency resources, and the MLS to ensure your house is viewed by the most buyers. According to realtor.com:
“Only licensed real estate agents can list homes on the MLS, which is a one-stop online shop of sorts for getting a house seen by thousands of agents and home buyers. . . . This is certainly one of many good reasons why the majority of home sellers decide to employ the services of a listing agent rather than going it alone.”
Without access to these tools, your buyer pool is limited. And you want more buyers to view your house since buyer competition can drive your final sales price higher.
3. Realtors Understand the Fine Print
Today, more disclosures and regulations are mandatory when selling a house. That means the number of legal documents you’ll need to juggle is growing. That’s why Investopedia says:
“One of the biggest risks of FSBO is not having the experience or expertise to navigate all of the legal and regulatory requirements that come with selling a home.”
Your trusted real estate professional knows exactly what needs to happen, what all the paperwork means, and how to work through it efficiently. Realtors should be able to help you review the documents and avoid any costly missteps that could occur if you try to handle them on your own.
4. They’re Trained Negotiators
If you sell without a professional, full time Realtor, you’ll also be solely responsible for all the negotiations. That means you’ll have to coordinate with:
- The buyer, who wants the best deal possible
- The buyer’s agent, who will use their expertise to advocate for the buyer
- The inspection company, which works for the buyer and will almost always find concerns with the house
- The appraiser, who assesses the property’s value to protect the lender
Instead of going toe-to-toe with all these parties alone, lean on an expert. They’ll know what levers to pull, how to address everyone’s concerns, and when you may want to get a second opinion.
5. They Know How To Set the Right Price for Your House, even in Today’s Real Estate Market!
Friends, we have seen this happen in front of our eyes in our Sweet Home Alabama; If you sell your house on your own, you may over or undershoot your asking price. That could mean you’ll leave money on the table because you priced it too low or your house will sit on the market because you priced it too high. Pricing a house requires expertise. Investopedia explains it like this:
“. . . There is no easy or universal way to determine market value for real estate.”
Real estate professionals know the ins and outs of how to price your house accurately and competitively. To do so, they compare your house to recently sold homes in your area and factor in the current condition of your house. These factors are key to making sure it’s priced to move quickly while still getting you the highest possible final sale price.
Remember this chart we shared before?
It’s Important To Price Your Real Estate Property Right!
What Is The Bottom Line On This Hot Topic?
There’s a lot that goes into selling your house. Instead of tackling it alone, let’s connect so you have an expert on your side throughout the entire process. John Wesley Brooks and The Brooks Family Of Realtors in Huntsville, Alabama are Full Time Professionals with more experience together than your average new Agent.
Serving The North Alabama Families and the Tennessee Valley Since 1972!
