Why is this such a difficult question to answer in writing? (actually the answer is Yes usually, but I think many people need more convincing than this)
This is actually one of the most difficult questions to answer because there is no one answer, and really no right or wrong. No quantifiable way to tell if a particular house treated one way or the other would do better. And all people's circumstances are different.
Items to Consider in this complex decision
Cost of hiring a Realtor: Yes the cost of a Realtor may seem high typically 5-7%, but the fact is, the Real Estate Profession has been around for hundreds of years. It is a safe assumption that people over the years have found value from the industry. Please read more on the costs of not hiring a good Real Estate agent. Besides this is a "sussess" fee, so there is no pay if the job does not get done.
Benefits of Hiring a Realtor:
Higher Price:
The goal is to achieve a much broader reach, and a more immediate reach in the market place. This inturn will result in a better selling price. How much? 3%, 6%, 10%? fact is we don't know. What is more we never will because you can only chose one or the other. Once time has passed and you try the other, the market has changed and the results may not be the same.
Or course a Full time Realtor has a better, reach as they spend their lives helping buyers and sellers. Learning marketing. Practicing Negotiation, Networking with other professionals.
Higher certainty = Peace of Mind. (Often translates into higher cost, stress, and even legal troubles)
Using an experienced, well trained agent will bring you the best chance of selling. With out fuss, to get the best money and to reduce the liklihood of legal issues or surprises. Can you place a value on this to your family? If the thought of you being in San Francisco in a new job but your family is home trying to sell your Madison home? If you were hoping to close on your Madison Home but the buyers didn't close on theirs. oops!
The Most important thing a top Realtor can do.
These things are important, in my 20 years of experience in helping home owners is that at certain times in the transaction, sellers, (and buyers) need a coach. There are so many of the jobs required in selling a home. Just about all of them can be done by an Unrepresented home seller.
Like in life, the one thing no one can do is to coach them selves. I have seen it time and time again. I have even fallen into the trap myself. You don't do what the coach recommends.
There are critical decisions in the transaction. they have to be made quickly and with the correct logic. Often a home owner is so emotional in the transaction that they make an error and end up loosing a buyer that ends up costing them thousands.
Can i give you an example, when i was a seller. As a top realtor I should have known better. I over priced my home, buy $20k, I didn't paint away the lovely pink hued living room. And the home sat. I missed the spring market and i ended up selling for about $40,000 less, AFTER painting the living room.
As a Realtor, i would have convinced myself to paint and go $20k lower. (see the timing issue) i can not go back and replay.
These critical times are:-
- Preparation/Staging the home to sell
- Pricing
- Negotiating an offer
- Negotiating contingencies
So what now?
It is all about making a decision now, that will impact your family, possibly for years to come. Eitherway there is a cost to pay. The thing about most of these decisions is made, there is no way to reverse the decision, often because time has passed.
I have written in the past about the costs of making a bad mistake.
Here is a post about how the market share of unrepresented sellers has dropped over the years as the market gets tougher.
My Parting note If you are going to hire a Realtor, hire a successful, top agent.
- Not part time, or just because family, friend, neighbor or co worker.
- Well trained, experienced, great references
- great marketing reach
- spends time getting to know your situation
- sells homes (40plus a year)
- Company is really secondary, but national training is good.
To make it easier for you to chose a Realtor in Madison Wi, I can affirm, Real Estate Guy team does pass all these screens. Call us to talk about selling your home.
RealEstateGuy has been a full time, full service Realtor since 1993. He is dedicated to helping people achieve their Real Estate Goals and dreams. In order to provide more specialized service, he created a team of hand picked specialists. Guy believes in constantly learning more, so regularly attends national seminars and trainings. Guy has been a top producer, leader in his office, a president of the Wisconsin chapter of CRS, and has spoken at the State Realtor Conventions.
Get a chuckle. Watch Real Estate Guy video. 30 seconds
Get a chuckle. Watch Real Estate Guy video. 30 seconds
