Using a Pro to Sell Your Home

Ready to sell your house in Columbia? You’ll have a lot of important decisions to make in the months to come, but if you want to sell your house at a fair price and a fast pace, the first one should be the easiest. Instead of trying to sell your house yourself, make the decision to hire a real estate professional. According to Time, the vast majority of sellers–nearly 90 percent–work with a real estate agent to list, stage, market and sell their homes. There’s not just one reason for this trend–there are hundreds of reasons to go with a pro.

Before you attempt to go it alone, let’s take a look at some of the most important reasons to trust a real estate professional.

1. REALTORS® know your local real estate market.
   Even if you have previous experience selling a house you own, you don’t have all the information you need unless you’ve worked as a real estate agent in your own community. Yes, real estate agents know how to stage and market homes, but they’re also up-to-date on all the laws and regulations, buying and bidding trends, and competing listings that may affect your sale. Don’t underestimate the value of a real estate professional’s unique insights into the market, especially when it comes to your listing price and marketing strategy.
2. REALTORS® are legally obligated to protect your interests.
   Of course, years of market experience isn’t helpful if it isn’t applied. Fortunately, the real estate industry has high standards for legal and financial accountability, and a REALTOR® makes a contractual commitment to keep you informed and protected every step of the way. They must follow a Code of Ethics to keep their professional membership, so your best interests are their best interests too. Hire a licensed REALTOR® who will fight to protect you and your finances, from the initial listing to the negotiation table.
3. REALTORS® weed out buyers and bids that aren’t serious or trustworthy.
   Your time is valuable, and so is your privacy. If you don’t have a professional “buffer” acting on your behalf, you’ll have to deal with every inquiry, bid, and question from potential buyers. Save time, and hire someone who already has experience selling homes in Columbia. Just as these agents know what works (and what doesn’t) to attract buyers, they know which buyers and bids to take seriously. They also have ongoing relationships with the agents and lenders who represent local buyers, so they know who will be helpful and trustworthy during negotiations, and they’re prepared for more pushy and manipulative tactics too.
4. REALTORS® have staging “tricks” up their sleeves.
   Every property, no matter how well it’s priced, needs to look good in order to attract serious buyers. REALTORS can look at your home through a professional lens, spotting anything that detracts from a clean, up-to-date, spacious, and neutral atmosphere. They can help you rearrange your furniture to make rooms look bigger, and recommend modest upgrades or repairs that will do wonders when it’s time to make first impressions. They will probably suggest changes you’d never consider, because their goal is simple and has nothing to do with personal taste.

Are you convinced yet? If you’re selling your house and you want professional help, our Columbia REALTORS® are ready to meet you. Instead of trying to handle everything from online marketing to last-minute negotiations yourself, contact us at Columbia Real Estate. Our professionals have years of experience selling Columbia homes like yours.