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. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power --
that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you
give a REALTOR® some basic information about your available savings,
income and current debt, he or she can refer you to lenders best
qualified to help you. Most lenders -- banks and mortgage companies --
offer limited choices.
2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home
search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but
not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some
investigation by your agent to find all available properties.
3. Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by
providing objective information about each property. Agents who
are REALTORS® have access to a variety of informational resources.
REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities,
zoning. schools, etc. There are two things you'll want to know. First,
will the property provide the environment I want for a home or
investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am
ready to sell?
4. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. There are myriad
negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing,
terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of
repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should
provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections
and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete
the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and
inspections are recommended or required.
5. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of
the property. Depending on the area and property, this could
include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure,
roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. Your
REALTOR® can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals
to do most of these investigations and provide you with written
reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title
of the property. Title indicates ownership of property and can be
mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. The
title to most properties will have some limitations; for example,
easements (access rights) for utilities. Your REALTOR®, title company
or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a
later date.
6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different
financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.
7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and
make sure everything flows together smoothly.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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).
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