6 reasons sellers need an agent

1. A real estate transaction can go from simple to very complicated in a hurry.  Selling a home requires disclosure forms, inspection reports which can vary from transaction to transaction and area to area, mortgage documents, title insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page government-mandated settlement statements. Sure, you can go a pack of forms from OfficeMax, but how certain are you that it has all the forms required in YOUR county, area, or state?  Unless your area requires NO additional disclosures, which is rare, you will NOT get all the needed forms in a packet from an office supply store. A knowledgeable guide through this complex transaction can help you avoid delays or costly mistakes.

2. Selling a home is time consuming. Even in a strong market, homes in our area stay on the market for an average of 60-90 days. THEN it usually takes another 30-60 days or so for the transaction to close after an offer is accepted.  During this time HUNDREDS of phone calls can be made back and forth from the parties in the transaction, the mortgage company, the title company, the settlement company, the inspectors, the appraiser, etc.  That is a lot of your personal time that you will have to spend dealing with the transaction.  Do you have enough time in your day?


3.  Exposure!  Sellers need the most exposure to get the highest dollar amount.  When you list your home with an agent your home is put into the area´s multiple listing service which puts your home in front of thousands of other agents. 

4. REALTORS® are able to provide sellers the security of being able to monitor who goes into your home for showings, and even provide you with showing feedback so you will know if there are any changes that should be made to make your home more appealing to buyers.  


5. REALTORS® provide objectivity. For sellers a home often symbolizes family, holiday gatherings, and sentimental memories, not just four walls and roof.  Selling a home is often a very emotional undertaking.  Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you keep focused on both the business and emotional issues most important to you. 

6. Keep in mind; REALTORS® have done it before. Most people sell only a few homes in their entire lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each purchase. And even if you've done it before, laws and regulations change. That's why having an expert on your side is critical.  Would you go into court without a lawyer and let the opposing party represent you?