Not all real estate
practitioners are REALTORS®. The term REALTOR® is a
registered trademark that identifies a real estate
professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION
of REALTORS® and subscribes to its strict Code of
Ethics. Here are five reasons why it pays to work with a
REALTOR®.
1. Navigate a
complicated process.
Buying or selling a home usually requires disclosure
forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents, insurance
policies, deeds, and multipage settlement statements. A
knowledgeable expert will help you prepare the best
deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.
2. Information and
opinions.
REALTORS® can provide local community information on
utilities, zoning, schools, and more. They’ll also be
able to provide objective information about each
property. A professional will be able to help you answer
these two important questions: 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?
3. Help finding the
best property out there.
Sometimes the property
you are seeking is available but not actively advertised
in the market, and it will take some investigation by
your REALTOR® to find all available properties.
4. Negotiating skills.
There are
many negotiating factors, including but not limited to
price, financing, terms, date of possession, and
inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or
equipment. In addition, 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. Property marketing
power. Real
estate doesn’t sell due to advertising alone. In fact, a
large share of real estate sales comes as the result of
a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients,
referrals, friends, and family. When a property is
marketed with the help of a REALTOR®, you do not have to
allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will
generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects
through your property.
6. Someone who speaks
the language.
If you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand
why it’s important to work with a professional who is
immersed in the industry and knows the real estate
language.
7. Experience.
Most people buy and sell only a few homes in a lifetime,
usually with quite a few years in between each purchase.
Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations
change. REALTORS®, on the other hand, handle hundreds of
real estate transactions over the course of their
career. Having an expert on your side is critical.
8. Objective voice.
A home often symbolizes family, rest, and security —
it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of this,
homebuying and selling can be an emotional undertaking.
And for most people, a home is the biggest purchase
they’ll every make. Having a concerned, but objective,
third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional
and financial issues most important to you.
