For Distinctive Sellers
Why Use a REALTOR®?
You have made a very difficult decision, to sell your home and move. You want to make the most money from this sale as it may represent one of the largest transactions you will make. You decide to sell it yourself. After all no one knows your home better than yourself.
You have put your signs out on the road. Perhaps you have placed an ad in the local paper. How will you reach out of town buyers that are relocating? Do you have the necessary legal forms to write up the transaction? Have you determined a competitive sale price of your home?
You have prepared your brochures and now all of the 100 brochures are gone......... It won't be long now......................
The first call comes in. 
You have taken the day off to prep the house and wait for the buyer, you wait, and wait, however, they did not show.
Or perhaps a knock comes at the door on Saturday morning and the prospective buyer has to see the house now but you're not ready.
Finally you let them in. Who are these people? Are they
qualified? Is their home on the market now? Is it priced
competively? Can they be trusted as they walk around your home with
your there alone?
They have made an offer.
Will you harm your negotiating power as you are caught off guard by their questions?
Who will advise you about the issues and conditions on the property? How will handle the negotiations regarding repairs?
You are packed and ready to close, however problems may arise with the pending appraisal or the financing. Perhaps the buyer did not meeting the conditions and the contingencies stated in the offer.
Who was monitoring this during the time you were busy packing and making repairs? What will happen if you put an offer on another home and this offer fell through?
Perhaps it NOW is time to consult a REALTOR® to get the home sold professionally? 
All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same REALTOR® again.
Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®.But if you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are more reasons to use one:
1. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.
2. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR® acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.
3. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR®, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
4.. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.
5. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your REALTOR® is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).
6. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.
