WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL? How Much House Can You Afford? What Is the Right Price for the Home You Want to Sell?
A Real Estate Professional can help you determine your buying power (if you are buying) or a reasonable asking price (if you are selling). If you don´t know how much money you can reasonably expect to borrow, you won´t know how much you can offer. Real Estate Professionals understand the financial markets and lenders and can help you to realistically determine how much house you can afford. Conversely, based on their detailed knowledge of various neighborhoods and the housing market, they can help you establish a reasonable asking price for the home you wish to sell. There are thousands of cases where an uninformed seller turned down an offer for a $1000 price differential and then paid a $1500 house payment for many months before lowering the price.
Find a New Home or a Buyer for the One You Have
Once you have determined what you can afford to pay or reasonably ask for your house, a Real Estate Professional can help locate your new home or a buyer for the one you have. They are involved in multiple information streams to speed the process. On the buy-side a Real Estate Professional can save you countless wasted trips and gas money by previewing and qualifying potential houses, and then arranging for you to view them. On the sell-side they can help you find qualified buyers and arrange for showings. They can suggest the most effective methods and means to advertise and market your house or find properties that have not yet made their way to the market.
Access to Information
The Real Estate Professional can provide you with a wealth of information on such topics as neighborhoods, financing, and property taxes. Is the home in a flood plain? Has it recently suffered major damage? Your Real Estate Professional can help you answer these and countless other questions.
Help You Close the Deal
A Real Estate Professional can not only help you negotiate the best price possible, they will also help you through the mountain of paper work required at closing to make sure you end up owning (or selling) your property in a legally sufficient manner and free of any encumbrances. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. The title may be clouded or the lender may wish certain tests or repairs to be made. This could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, etc. A Real Estate Professional can help you resolve these issues objectively and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).
The Bottom Line
Yes, Real Estate Professionals cost money. But don´t you charge for your product or service and experience? We think a good Real Estate Professional can help you get to your bottom line faster and with a lot less hassle. Real Estate Professionals are a proven good value to help you maximize and protect your home investment.