A central figure in the success of the Winnipeg and Manitoba real estate market over the last six years has been the REALTOR®. REALTORS® are experts who have the experience to deal with the breakneck pace of the present market. They impart invaluable advice to clients when making important decisions on buying or selling real estate.
The following is a timely reminder of the value of using a REALTOR®.
Do you really need a REALTOR® when you sell your home,
or can you do it yourself?
Selling a home is one of the biggest financial transactions most of us will ever make. REALTORS® have the qualifications and experience to help make that transaction as smooth and painless as possible.
Handling a real estate transaction on your own can be like trying to repair your own car — you may have all the right parts and tools, but unless you have the skill of a professional, you may end up making a very costly mistake.
Most people who buy and sell their homes do enlist the services of a REALTOR®. Those who go the “do-it-yourself” route often wind up changing their minds and contact a REALTOR® when they discover the process is more complex, time-consuming and intimidating than they thought.
Saving money?
The main reason people attempt to sell their own homes is to save on the real estate commission. But will you really save money if you sell your home yourself?
Maybe. Maybe not.
Most buyers expect a discount because you aren’t paying a real estate commission. As a result, they may offer you less than fair market value for your home.
Determining the fair market value is one area requiring a REALTOR®’s extensive knowledge and training. If you set your price too high, you may frighten off potential buyers; set it too low and you could lose thousands of dollars needlessly. One of your REALTOR®’s most important tasks will be to help you decide upon a realistic market value for your home, one that will enable you to sell it quickly and for the best possible price.
Getting exposure
Through MLS® (Multiple Listing Service®), your REALTOR® will ensure your home gets maximum exposure to other REALTORS® and their potential buyers.
This is just one of the many ways a REALTOR® will market your home.
He or she may also advertise in newspapers, on television and/or on the Internet. Your marketing plan may also include an open house for REALTORS® and for the public.
A REALTOR® will work with you to develop a marketing plan that meets your needs.
Time commitment
Do you really have the time it takes to sell your home?
A REALTOR® will write and pay for the ads to market your home, remain available day and night for calls from prospects, host open houses on the weekends, show your property on short notice, screen potential buyers, fill out all the paperwork, handle the negotiations and do dozens of other things required to sell a home.
When you consider the amount of time invested, are you really saving any money by going it alone?
Negotiating skills
Many homeowners lack the skill to negotiate the best price for their home. Selling your home can be a highly emotional experience, making it almost impossible to remain neutral when potential buyers make negative comments about the property. A REALTOR® is a skilled negotiator who can remain impartial during the negotiations and keep your stress levels to a minimum.
Use a REALTOR® to sell your home
When you consider all the services they provide — marketing, negotiating, dealing with contracts and legal issues — it pays to have a REALTOR® on your side. Working with a REALTOR® — a licensed real estate professional who is a member of his or her local real estate board and/or the Manitoba Real Estate Association — entitles you to a vast array of services and benefits you would not get if you "do it yourself'.
(Source: the Manitoba Real Estate Association.)