Wayne Curtis, REALTOR®
In a seller’s market like we are experiencing today, it may seem easy to list a property for sale. Post a sign, and let the offers roll in. Well, it may not be that easy in reality. There are many services a good listing agent can provide for a seller, even when the market is hot.
Your Housing Market Expert.
Think you know what your property is worth? Just because a house down the street is listed for a certain price doesn’t mean that’s the correct market value for that house, or for yours. A good listing agent has the resources readily available to research recent property sales in any given neighborhood, can determine which listings compare favorably to your home, and judge current market conditions. Using that information, you can set a listing price that will attract offers, minimize time on the market, and receive a satisfactory appraisal.
Your Offer and Contract Analyst.
You want the best price for your property, but price isn’t the only consideration when selling your home. Your agent can help you evaluate the offer — or offers — you receive to get the best combination of price, concessions, and terms. They can also help separate qualified buyers from unqualified ones, so that you aren’t wasting your time and effort on a sale that will never go to closing.
Your Transaction Coordinator.
Listing agents can take a lot of work off your plate, both before and after you receive an offer. That includes preparing your listing paperwork, arranging for photographers, stagers, and housecleaners, ordering and installing your “for sale” sign, entering your property into the MLS, and scheduling showings and open houses. This continues after you are under contract, by meeting with inspectors, appraisers, and contractors (often on short notice), and confirming all settlement details with the lender and title company.
Your Problem Solver.
Troubles rarely give advance warning; often you don’t know what you will encounter in any transaction until it happens. There are many, many roadblocks that can occur before a deal reaches the settlement table. It could be issues with the property itself or it could involve contract contingency not being met. There also can be external forces over which neither party has any control that can come upon you very suddenly and throw the entire transaction into chaos. (COVID, anyone?) Interest rate changes, lender regulations and policies, involvement with local, state, or Federal government rules; all of these can play a role in creating unique scenarios for one particular transaction.
When you hire a listing agent, you are relying on the fact that they have experienced a wide range of issues and can successfully manage whatever problem arises. They can keep your home sale moving forward by working with the purchaser to resolve these issues so the sale may close.
Your Fiduciary.
REALTORS® have an ethical and legal obligation to make sure that parties are treated fairly. But they have additional, fiduciary-level obligations to their clients. Those include duties of reasonable care, loyalty, disclosure, confidentiality, diligence, and accounting. This means that your agent will work in your best interests, protect your bargaining position, share information that you need to know to make decisions, follow your instructions, and transparently account for all funds and documents you have entrusted to them.
Your Trusted Advisor.
You are unique as a seller. Your combination of priorities, needs, life circumstances, and goals are totally your own. An experienced agent understands and recognizes the needs of their client and helps them cut through the noise to the heart of what they really want. Even when selling your home feels overwhelming, they can offer solutions to keep the transaction from being torpedoed by the emotions of the moment.
