Using a REALTOR is the Best Way to Go!

Thousands of Manitoba home owners decide to sell their homes each year. The decision is never arrived at lightly; the considerations about finances, what to look for in a new home and where to look for a new home can be difficult to work through. One question, however, is easier. "How will I sell my home" won't present any prolonged deliberation because the answer is readily apparent - use the services of a REALTOR. There is no doubt that the participation of a REALTOR is a tremendous advantage in today's real estate market. The vast majority of residential homes are sold with the help of a REALTOR, and using a real estate professional has distinct advantages over "going it alone". First and foremost, REALTORS are highly skilled individuals whose most valuable asset is their ability to meet your demands and look out for your best interests. In short, REALTORS know how to sell your property at the best possible price. To do this, they use a number of specialized skills and techniques. A comprehensive knowledge of the housing market is perhaps the most powerful weapon in a REALTOR's arsenal. A REALTOR will assess your property and use a sophisticated comparative analysis to determine a fair and workable selling price. This is only the first step. Once an initial estimate has been given, a REALTOR will offer a number of valuable tips on how to increase the value of your property and speed the sale of your home. Often, minor repairs and fix-ups are all that are needed to make your home a top draw, but small renovations might also give you the competitive advantage. Your REALTOR knows exactly what qualities buyers in your area are looking for and will advise you accordingly. Your REALTOR will help develop an overall "marketing plan" for your property. This is the broad strategy that will be employed to expose your home not only to a maximum number of buyers, but to reach the specific kind of buyer that will be motivated to purchase your home. Advertising in newspapers and real estate periodicals, open houses for the public and other REALTORS, and listing with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®) are among the options. Most REALTORS will incur the costs associated with marketing your home as part of their service to you. Once potential buyers have been located, a REALTOR can make life a whole lot easier by prescreening applicants before the time and effort is spent showing your home. This also entails separating the "lookers" from the "buyers" and finding out if an interested party is qualified to purchase at your asking price. Once a suitable and motivated buyer is found, the often tedious and complicated negotiation process begins. Here, REALTORS can be an immense help. They have been through this procedure many times and know the finer points of offers and counter offers. Indeed, many home owners who do not use a REALTOR get stung at this stage. It is certain a buyer will be armed with professional advice when money is being seriously discussed - a seller without a professional on his or her side will be at a distinct disadvantage. Even more significant is the fact that having a REALTOR on your side keeps you at "arm's length", greatly reducing the anxiety involved in selling and allows clear, objective decisions to be made. Once the price is set and you and the buyer have come to an agreement, numerous legal and financial arrangements must be attended to. These can quickly overwhelm the average home owner, but REALTORS are adept at getting you through with a minimum of fuss. The bottom line is that a REALTOR will be with you every step of the way. From making your home as attractive as possible and exposing it to the right buyers, to negotiating on your behalf and closing the sale. A real estate professional is the one person you shouldn't be without when selling your home.