Selling your home is a complex procedure, involving
large sums of money, stringent legal requirements and the real potential
for very costly mistakes. It requires a tremendous depth of knowledge
and experience, as well as a substantial amount of time to follow
up on every detail promptly and properly.
Your REALTOR®has these qualifications and experience,
and is committed to spending the time it takes to help you sell
your home successfully, so you can focus on the things you do best
and enjoy the most.
If you are thinking about selling your home alone,
ask yourself these questions:
Will you really "save"
the real estate commission?
No. Most buyers will see a bargain. They assume you will sell for
a discount because "you don't have to pay the real estate commission."
Do you have the time?
Without a REALTOR®(s) support, you're the one who will have to write
and pay for the ads to market your property, remain available day
or night for calls from prospects, run open houses on weekends and
show your property on short notice, screen potential buyers, fill
out all the paper work and do the dozens of other things required
to sell a home.
How will you reach potential
buyers?
Without a REALTOR®, you will not have access to an extensive network
of potential buyers. This network includes the MLS® or Multiple Listing Service®.
Do you really know the
true market value of your home?
Setting the right selling price is critical. It requires extensive
knowledge and training, as well as access to sophisticated market
analysis developed over years of experience. If you set the price
too high, prospective buyers will be frightened off; too low, and
you could leave thousands of dollars on the negotiating table.
Are you ready to "pre-screen"
every prospect?
Pre-screening prospects is absolutely necessary to weed out the
"lookers" from serious buyers. Do you have the skills
and experience to ask the right questions over the phone before
you let a prospect visit? How are you going to find out whether
they're really qualified to purchase in your home's price range?
How are you at selling
and negotiating?
Understanding a buyer's needs, providing just enough - but not too
much - information about your house, and completing the sale successfully
through firm, impartial negotiation are all required.
Do you have a thick skin?
The emotional investment you have in your home may prevent you from
dealing objectively with comments from prospective buyers. Hearing
every comment a prospective buyer makes about your home could make
you defensive and interfere with the sale. And you will encounter
buyers you don't like personally but must still consider as prospects.
Are you up to date on real
estate law?
Selling your home is a complex contractual and legal procedure.
You will have to prepare your own legal documents or translate the
language in an offer presented from a buyer.
Most of those who sell their home in Canada do
so with the assistance of REALTOR®(s). Of the few who do try it themselves,
most change their minds and end up going with a REALTOR®because
the process is too complex, too time consuming, and too dangerous
without the help of a professional.
Information located on this site
is from sources believed to be reliable but should not be relied upon
without verification. The Association and the Publisher assume no
responsibility for its accuracy.
