If You’re Thinking of Selling Your House This Fall, Hire a Pro

Today’s market is at a turning point and to be successful, it’s essential that you work with an expert real estate professional, a Realtor®. Not only will a trusted real estate advisor keep you updated and help you make the best decisions based on the current market trends in your local area, but they’re pros at managing the many aspects of selling your house.

Here are five reasons working with a real estate professional is key:

1. A Professional Follows the Latest Market Trends

With higher mortgage rates comes moderated buyer demand. Conditions are constantly changing. Staying on top of the latest market information is crucial when you sell.

Working with an expert Realtor helps ensure you can stay updated on what’s happening. They know your local area and follow national trends too. They’ll know how to interpret the data and apply it to your unique case. As the market shifts, they’ll be able to help you navigate it and help you make decisions.

2. A Professional Helps Maximize Your Pool of Buyers

A Realtor’s role bringing in buyers is important. Real estate professionals have a large variety of tools at their disposal, such as social media followers, professional connections, and agency resources. A Realtor will also make great use of OneKey MLS®, the largest regional Multiple Listing Service in New York, and ensure your house is viewed by the most buyers. Investopedia^[1] explains why it’s risky to sell on your own without the network an agency provides:

“You don’t have relationships with clients, other agents, or a real estate agency to bring the largest pool of potential buyers to your home. A smaller pool of potential buyers means less demand for your property, which can translate into waiting longer to sell your home and possibly not getting as much money as your house is worth.”

3. A Professional Understands the Fine Print

Today more disclosures and regulations are mandatory when selling a house. The number of legal documents you’ll need is growing. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR)^[2] explains it best, saying:

“Selling a home typically requires a variety of forms, reports, disclosures, and other legal and financial documents… Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved in a real estate transaction; you want to work with a professional who can speak with language.”

A Realtor knows exactly what needs to happen, what all the fine print means, and how to work through it efficiently. They’ll help you review the documents and avoid any costly missteps that could occur if you try to handle them on your own.

4. A Professional is a Trained Negotiator

If you sell without a professional, you’ll be solely responsible for all negotiations. That means you’ll have to coordinate with:

• The buyer, who wants the best deal possible
• The buyer’s agent, who uses their expertise to advocate for the buyer
• The inspection company, which works for the buyer and will almost always find concerns with the house
• The appraiser, who assesses the property’s value to protect the lender

In today’s changing market, buyers are regaining some negotiating power as bidding wars ease^[3]. Instead of going toe-to-toe with all the above parties alone, lean on a Realtor. They know what levers to pull, how to address everyone’s concerns, and when you may want to get a second opinion.

5. A Professional Knows How to Set the Right Price for Your House

If you sell your house on your own, you may be more likely to overshoot the asking price. That could mean your house will sit on the market because you priced it too high for where the market currently stands. Today, pricing a house requires more expertise to ensure you get it right. NAR^[4] explains:

A great real estate agent will look at your home with an unbiased eye, providing you with the information you need to enhance marketability and maximize price.”

Real estate professionals know how to price your house accurately and competitively. To do so, they compare your house to recently sold homes in your area and factor in the current condition of your home. These steps are key to making sure it’s priced to move quickly while still getting you the highest possible profit.

Bottom Line

Whether following local and national trends and guiding you through a shifting market, or pricing your house for the negotiations to come, a Realtor has essential insights you’ll want to rely on throughout the transaction. Don’t go at it alone.

If you plan to sell your house, find the expert Realtor® who will work for you by visiting www.onekeymls.com/Directory and follow us @onekeymls and #onekeymls across all social platforms for real estate advice and homeownership tips.

Related Post: Selling Your House? Your Asking Price Matters More Now Than Ever

Related Post: Should You Update Your House before selling? Ask a Realtor®

^[1] Investopedia

^[2] National Association of Realtors®

^[3] Keeping Current Matters

^[4] National Association of Realtors®