Do you have the time, experience, sources of information, and contacts to do the job yourself? Would it go as smooth as it could? Would it give you more personal time? Would you obtain a higher sale price? Here are just a few areas in which a professional real estate agent earns his or her commission.

Pricing Considerations

A professional’s insight in determining a pricing strategy for your property can keep you from missing an opportunity by undervaluing or wasting time by overpricing. Experience evaluating competing properties and market trends is a first ingredient for a successful sale.

Marketing Expertise

* Preparation. Your agent is skilled in recommending repairs or cosmetic work that have proven to minimize time on market and maximize prospect interest.
* Exposure to the public. Your agent will know best how to use flyers, open house days, and especially mailing to and meeting with ex-clients and other qualified buyers. The National Association of Realtors studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result not of advertising but of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends and family as well as personal contacts.
* Exposure to other industry professionals. Your agent will utilize a Multiple Listing Service and/or other cooperative marketing networks. Once your property is listed, it is statistically likely the buyer will be a client of another agent associated with MLS.
* Advertising: media and frequency. It takes experience to know what works in advertising. Ads generate phone calls to the real estate office but statistically have minimum effectiveness 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.

Security

Working with a real estate agent ensures showings will be supervised. You can instruct unchaperoned buyers to call your agent for an appointment so they can be prescreened, you will be safe, and you can do your final polish before the showing.

Negotiating

* Middleperson. Most buyers prefer to negotiate with someone they perceive as unbiased, not emotional, and professionally trained. They are more likely to express objections to agents with the hope of resolution, when they otherwise might move on to another property rather than talking to you directly.
* Objectivity. Evaluate proposals privately without compromising your marketing position.

Monitoring, Renegotiating and Closing

* Overwhelming volume of steps. The process of appraisals, inspections, and financing involves a lot of possible pitfalls. There are many required legal forms.
* Experience reading and following escrow instructions. Instructions must be clear and complete. Your agent is the best person to objectively help you communicate these issues and move the transaction to closing.
* Inspectors and other professionals. Your agent can meet specialists and negotiate regarding repairs needed to complete your contract. Industry contacts provide resources for workpersons in many areas with knowledge as to their historical skills and reliability.

In closing, selling your home yourself may sound like a great idea but keep in mind that by working with a Realtor you will not only be thankful that she/he will make your life so much easier but statistics prove that often enough a Realtor will net you a price that is as much if not more than what you thought you would receive if you sold it yourself!!