Over the course of my career in real estate I have come across many people that balk at the thought of working with a professional in the industry. There are several reasons for this, some of them valid... And some of them entirely scary.
"I want to save money on the commission".
At face value this may seem to have some truth, but once you delve deeper into the idea you will find that a REALTOR® is there to protect their client in every way. A simple error or not fully understanding the paperwork could end up costing you majorly. Not to mention omissions I hear about all the time that are potentially catastrophic in terms of resale value down the road. There are PILES of paperwork that need to be meticulously filled out, carried out and investigations of things most people were entirely unaware of!!
"I know my property the best and can highlight it's assets."
While this may be true, a REALTOR® has a level, unbiased perspective on any property. Just because the home was custom built for you, doesn't mean it will appeal to everyone. Emotional value does not necessarily equate to monetary value. A great deal of homes that are For Sale by Owner are not priced according to market value.
A REALTOR® knows things that you don't. Whether you are moving from another country or another county, a professional will direct you to testing or investigations that you may have otherwise known nothing about. Things that could have a long term effect on your investment and well being.
Negotiating is tricky, especially when talking about a purchase of hundreds of thousands of dollars. Peoples homes are very personal and I often see sellers get offended by offers that were too low, and then end up put off by the process and unwilling to negotiate with the buyer further (down the road they end up negotiating favorably with a different buyer and settling on a sale price that would have worked before - opportunity slipped away on account of improper technique). Having access to historical stats and comparables is key, as well as being able to read people and be able to solidly back up any deviations above or below list price.
Last but not least - a local professional that relies on referrals and is held accountable by a Provincial and National Code of Ethics is far more reliable than a vendor that may skip the country after the sale is complete. You can rest assured that the appropriate level of disclosure was adhered to in the transaction if you enlist the services of a licenced professional.
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