When I let people know I am now a realtor, I am surprised that a lot of people aren’t even sure what a realtor is, and what we do. Some people believe that I own all of the homes, and I sell them that way (that would be wonderful, if true). Some have never heard of a realtor, but have heard of a real estate agent. Do not even think about mentioning the word broker. Although there are some differences between a realtor, a broker, and an agent (at least in Chicago’s real estate market), below are some of the things that we all bring to the table.
Determine the Price of the Home
Determining the price is one of the most important aspects of buying or selling a home. Pricing the home correctly can make the process of selling your home quick and smooth. Price the home too high can lead to the home sitting on the market for a long time, which can lead to a lot of stress. Price the home too low and you risk leaving thousands of dollars on the table. Even worse, you can have a deal that is accepted by the buyer and seller, only to be shut down the lender because the home did not appraise at a high enough price! Realtors can ease this stress by researching the market and determining a price that will work well for everyone. I cannot stress enough how important this is to get the price right, especially in a real estate market like Chicago, where each neighborhood has different market trends.
Find Qualified Buyers
You found someone who is willing to buy your home at full price? Great news! You fill out all of the paperwork, and wait anxiously for the closing date. Only you never make it to the closing date. Why? The borrower now cannot find a bank willing to lend them the money to complete the purchase. Maybe their credit isn’t good enough, or maybe they don’t make enough money. Whatever the reason, you have wasted weeks pursuing a deal that is not going to happen, leaving the seller back at square one. Realtors prevent this from happening by actively screening all of the buyers they work with. Realtors normally won’t work with a buyer unless the buyer has been pre-approved by a financial institution, and only showing the buyers homes that are in their price range.
Market your home
Realtors put in a lot of work to make sure the home is seen by as many people as possible. They make the pictures of the home are perfect, highlighting the best features of the home. They advertise the home on the MLS, which essentially puts every buyer agent in the area to work to find a buyer for the home. They coordinate the yard signs, flyers, open houses, etc. The list goes on and on. All the seller has to do is sit back and watch the show. And put the pets away when potential buyers show up to look at the home.
Negotiate for you
For most people, their home is the biggest investment they will make in their lifetime. So it would make sense that people tend to get very emotional during the negotiating process of buying or selling a home. Buyers want to make sure they are getting the most for their hard earned money. Sellers want to make sure they get the most out of an investment they have been living in for years. Realtors offer an unbiased and objective point of view for each side, ensuring both sides come to fair and agreeable terms.
That is really brief summary how realtors help facilitate the buying and selling of homes. Any questions or concerns, feel free to contact me!