Why Use a Realtor When Selling
Florida Keys Real Estate
A real estate agent can help you understand
everything you need to know about the selling process.
Email today for
more information!
By Ron Schmeadick
The selling process generally begins with a determination of a reasonable
asking price. Your real estate agent or 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.
Marketing
The next step is a marketing plan. Often, your agent can recommend repairs or
cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of the property. Marketing
includes the exposure of 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 agent 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.
Advertising
is part of marketing. The choice of media and frequency of advertising depends a lot on
the property and specific market. For example, in some areas, newspaper advertising
generates phone calls to the real estate office but statistically has minimum
effectiveness in selling a specific property. Overexposure of a property in any media may
give a buyer the impression the property is distressed or the seller is desperate. Your
real estate agent 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.
Security
When a property is marketed with an agent's
help, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Agents will generally pre-screen
and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
Negotiating
The negotiation process deals with much the
same issues for both buyers and sellers, as noted above under the buying process. Your
agent 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 agent can help
you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through
the process.
Monitoring, renegotiating and closing
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
agent is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the
transaction to closing (or settlement).
Why use a
REALTOR®?
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.
You be the judge
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? Why Use a Florida Keys Realtor When Selling Florida Keys Real Estate?
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®!
Ron Schmeadick, CRB, is Co-Owner and
Associate Broker at Realty Executives, Eugene, Oregon.
This information is provided as a public service, for the
sole purpose of aiding you, the individual consumer with selling Florida Keys real estate
with a Florida Keys real estate agent. © 1995-2004 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF
REALTORS® and Homestore, Inc. All rights reserved.  Equal Housing
Opportunity. REALTOR.com® is the official site of the National Association of
REALTORS® and is operated by Homestore, Inc.
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