The Importance of Proper Pricing
Smart pricing
is the quickest way to attract buyers. By using an experienced
Licensed REALTOR®, you will have access to up-to-date information on
current real estate market conditions and how properties similar to
yours are selling. It is important to price your property
competitively if you want to attract buyers quickly. Factors that
buyers consider most are location, condition of property, price,
financing and terms.
Your agent
may recommend repairs or cosmetic work to enhance the salability of
the property.
Effective Marketing
Obviously,
buyers will need to know that your property is for sale. Your real
estate professional should develop a plan that includes exposure of
your property to other real estate agents and to the public. In many
areas of America, more than half of real estate sales are the result
of cooperation between agents: that is, an agent other than the
listing agent (your agent) brings in the buyer. Your agent's role is
to orchestrate the sale, disbursing information about your property to
other real estate agents through a service such as MLS® Multiple
Listing Service. The Licensed REALTOR® is required by his Code of
Ethics to market your property through such cooperative efforts.
The choice of
media and frequency of advertising will depend upon your property and
the specific market for it. Currently a good mix of media can work
best to reach today's busy, distracted consumer. Internet, mailings,
publication advertising are all good choices. Others may be effective
in your area. Your agent will know when and how to advertise your
specific property.
National
Association of REALTORS® (NAR) studies show that 82% of real estate
sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients,
referrals, friends and family and personal contacts.
A note about
security: when your property is marketed through a licensed REALTOR®,
you don't not have to give strangers access to your home. Agents
should prescreen and accompany prospective buyers when touring your
property.
Negotiating for Top Dollar $$$
Your agent
can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal. Should you
accept an initial offer made by a prospective buyer, remember this is
the beginning of a process. The process can include a lot of possible
pitfalls. Inspections, appraisals and financing are some of the areas
involved. Your agent can help you write a legally binding agreement
based on a "win-win" analysis of the sale. The objective is
to make it through the process and arrive at the closing table so you
can realize top dollar in the sale of your real estate investment.
Between the
initial agreement and closing, questions will likely arise. Sometimes
unexpected repairs are required in order to receive financing
approval. Sometimes there is an issue in the history of the title to
the property that must be clarified before the buyer's attorney or
lender will approve the purchase. These issues can be overwhelming to
most sellers. You should rely on the experience of your real estate
professional to guide you in resolving any such problems. Doing so
will likely move the closing to a quicker completion.
Why a REALTOR®?
Be aware that
not everyone selling real estate is a Licensed REALTOR®. Only real
estate licensees who are members of the National Association of
REALTORS® (NAR) are properly called REALTORS® and subscribe to a
strict Code of Ethics requiring them to treat all parties honestly.
They are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of real
estate buying and selling processes.
Generally,
real estate professionals are paid through a sales commission which
the seller pays at closing. Carefully select your agent and stick with
that person. The agent will respect your loyalty and respond with a
sincere commitment to you.
For most
Americans, a home is the most significant investment they will make.
Most transactions exceed $100,000. Just as you would not likely
approach a $100,000 tax problem without a CPA or a $100,000 legal
question without an attorney, you should rely on the expertise that a
Licensed REALTOR® can offer in the sale or purchase of a home.
My Team of Professionals
The fact is, there isn't much more
to the average agent than the agent themselves. Most agents
operate a one-person show - and they're probably breaking their backs
trying to do a good job for their clients. Most agents couldn't
really work any harder than they're already working.
I know, because I used to do it this way.
But I don't anymore because I found that my client's suffered from my
good intentions. The fact is, you may be sympathetic
to the fact that your agent is working as hard as humanly possible,
but if the quality and profitability of your home sale suffers as a
result of them trying to do everything themselves . . . well,
. . .you have a right to feel cheated
Five years ago, this is the boat I was in . . . and I felt I was
sinking fast. So I took it upon myself to develop a much better
system for selling people's homes. The simple explanation is that I
built a team of professionals to help me be in 10 places at once, and
therefore greatly enhance the quality of service I'm able to deliver
to my clients. This is basically how other professionals
like your banker or lawyer operate. And on top of this, I've
used cutting edge technology to dramatically improve the speed,
efficiency and innovative capabilities of every part of the service I
deliver.
I don't expect you to care about the fine-details of the
inner-workings of my office.
What you should care about is simply this. Because of the
highly unique way I've structured my real estate office . . .
My client's homes sell for more money in less time
And because my Team sells a lot of homes (top 2% in area sales) I have
extensive home selling experience that puts more money in my
client's pockets.
