With the increasing popularity of the Internet in the real estate industry, some consumers wonder why they should hire a listing agent when it seems relatively simple to sell their home on their own. According to a survey by the National Association of REALTORS®, the median selling price for homes sold without an agent was $132,800 compared to $160,000 for agent-assisted home sales. There are many reasons why hiring a listing agent is in your best interest. Below are the top three.
REALTORS® have the know-how: Selling a home takes a lot of time, experience, and know how — three qualities many consumers do not have when it comes to real estate. But you don't have to know everything about the homeselling process if you hire someone who does. Your Texas REALTOR® can help you in so many ways — from setting your asking price to preparing your home for market to facilitating the process all the way to a successful finish.
REALTORS® know how to set an appropriate asking price: Setting your sales price too high or too low can have serious financial repercussions. Texas REALTORS® are experts at analyzing sales-price data and conducting market research in your area. Many REALTORS® will prepare a comparative market analysis at no charge. A CMA provides you with information on comparable homes in your neighborhood that sold, are still on the market, or failed to sell, helping you better understand the state of the current housing market and set the price that will entice buyers and put money in your pocket.
REALTORS® will manage the volumes of paperwork: If you are selling your home, it means you have undergone the homebuying process. If so, then you are likely to remember the stacks of legal contracts and documents involved. The same holds true for selling property. Most purchase agreements run a minimum often pages, not including the federal and state-mandated disclosures and other related documents. A single mistake could cost you a lot of money, or worse, land you in court. Your Texas REALTOR® can handle the necessary paperwork for you — protecting you from financial or legal problems and giving you peace of mind.
