Lorraine Ryall
You’ve decided to sell your home, and now comes the task of finding the right Realtor to represent you.
It sounds like it should be easy enough, but there are many different types of agents, teams, groups and real estate companies. Therefore, it’s important to do your homework to find the one that is right for you. So, what are the different types of Realtors?
Will a large team or group serve me better?
While it may sound comforting at first to know there is a team taking care of you, and some teams work very well, it can become very disconcerting when you keep having to deal with a different person on the team as your file progresses through their system.
The biggest issue clients have is that they feel like they are passed around from one person to the next, and have become just a number rather than an individual client getting individual attention. You end up dealing with a different agent at each stage of the selling process—someone you don’t know, you haven’t met, and who doesn’t know anything about you or your situation.
As an agent, working with these teams during transactions can be just as frustrating, as I may never speak to the listing agent, and am usually dealing with an assistant rather than a licensed Realtor.
I am looking for a deal.
Everyone would like to pay a reduced commission. Just like every other business, however, you get what you pay for. So, don’t let that reduced commission fool you. Some agents will offer a lower rate in order to win your business, especially if they know you are interviewing other agents.
Before you get too excited about paying less to sell your home, you need to evaluate how much you are really going to save and what negative impact it could have on the sale of your home. Doing top-notch marketing costs money, which the agent pays for up front. Maybe, instead of getting a professional photographer, they will take pictures on their cell phone (we have all seen those photos). They may just put a sign in your yard, put your home on the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and nothing more.
Another way some agents get around this is by offering a lower rate, but instead of reducing their commission, they reduce the buyer’s agent side. On the listing agreement, there is the total commission the seller will pay and then the amount the buyer’s agent will receive. If your agent is offering you a reduced commission, you want to make sure it’s their commission that will be reduced and not the buyer’s agent.
You want to do everything you can to encourage Realtors to bring their buyers to look at your home. Increasing the buyer’s agent commission or adding a bonus can help sell your home faster, but reducing their commission is only going to help your agent win your business but hurt you.
Even in a seller’s market, the more buyers who view your home, the more chances you have of getting an offer in the shortest time for the highest price, or even multiple offers that can drive the price up even higher. Saving a few thousand dollars on commission could cost you a lot more in the long run.
Wholesalers don’t charge any commissions.
It is true, OfferPad and Opendoor don’t charge a commission, but they do charge a service fee. They will offer to buy your home at a price that is well below the current market value. After all, they have to flip it right away, so they can’t afford to pay what it’s actually worth.
Then, after inspections, they add repair costs. All the extra service fees and padded repair requests often total between 8 percent and 10 percent, plus they buy your home at a discount. While this type of company may appeal to some sellers, make sure you know all the fees up front and what the true market value of your home is before you sign the contract. Find out what your home is worth at InstantHomeValueAZ.com.
Why should I use a full-service Realtor?
It doesn’t cost you any more, but the benefits can be priceless. A full-service Realtor will do everything, from taking the listing, arranging showings, negotiating the offer and coordinating the closing, to handling the entire transaction from beginning to end and so much more. There are a lot of added services you will receive from a full-service Realtor that you won’t get from other agents.
I am proud to be this type of agent. As a full-service Realtor, I am available to my clients pretty much 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I personally work with my clients throughout the entire process, from getting the home ready to list, staging and negotiating the offer, to getting bids for repairs and being there at the closing.
Selling a home comes with a lot of uncertainty and can be very stressful. It is my goal to take care of everything involved in selling your home so you don’t have to. Imagine a stress-free home sale where a trusted professional handles each detail.
It’s all about service and being there to help guide and represent my clients, from the first time we meet, to the day we close and beyond. You can read testimonials from my clients, as well as see my sales and my profile at Zillow.com, under the Agent tab.
If you would like to learn more about how I can help you sell your home, please call or email me today.
Lorraine Ryall has been a Multi-Million Dollar producer for the past nine years. If you are thinking of buying or selling, and you would like more information or a market analysis, please contact me at Lorraine@Homes2SellAZ.com, or call (602) 571-6799. Visit my website at Homes2SellAZ.com.