Choosing a Realtor

Why Should You Work With a Realtor?

Working with a professional Realtor to sell your home is a good idea for several reasons:

• They will present you with a custom marketing plan for your property
• They will provide you with a current Competitive Market Analysis and will assist you in determining the most effective list price for your property
• They are familiar with the process of selling a home and can explain all the details and paperwork to you
• They will place your property on the Multiple Listing Service and promote your property to all Coldwell Banker sales associates as well as other professional brokers
• They will make information on your property available to local and out-of-town buyer prospects
• They can set up appointments for potential buyers to see your homes
• They can develop a plan to enhance your property's ability to attract buyers
• They will prepare a negotiation strategy
• They will help you complete all the necessary paperwork when it comes time to accepting an offer
• They will monitor and inform you of the progress of the purchase agreement
• They will be there at closing to answer your questions and make sure everything runs smoothly

Choosing a Realtor

Selling your home can be a time-consuming experience. Working with a professional Realtor will make the process much more efficient.

Since most people spend a fair amount of time with their Realtor, it's important to choose a Realtor you feel comfortable with, and one who is responsive to your needs. The following questions will help you decide if a particular Realtor is right for you:

• Do they return your phone calls?
• Do they ask you questions to determine your specific needs?
• Do they provide you with a Competitive Market Analysis?
• Do they explain things clearly?
• Do they suggest specific marketing strategies?
• Do they seem knowledgeable about the market?
• Do you feel comfortable spending time with them?

Value is in the Eye of the Beholder

Determining the list price is the most important component when putting a home on the market. Setting the price too high can discourage prospective buyers and could prolong time on the market, making your home seem less desirable. Pricing the home too low will result in losing money on your investment. Many factors contribute to a home's value, including location and market value. A Realtor can help you arrive at a fair market price.

There are several ways to help accurately determine a home's value.

• Comparative Market Analysis. A Realtor can provide a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA). This report helps establish the relative value of your home by comparing homes in your area that are currently on the market and recently sold properties with similar characteristics. Comparables include neighborhood, number of bedrooms and baths, lot size and certain amenities (e.g. pool, garage space).
• Appraisal. For a fee usually between $200 and $400, a professional appraiser looks at several factors to determine a home's value. Appraisers research the current market value of similar homes in your area, fluctuations in the real estate market and previous sales and tax records of the home, as well as compare census data regarding local home sales.
• Buyers hold the cards. Ultimately, buyers create the value of a home. The value can vary, depending on supply and demand in the market. Both a CMA and an appraiser help sellers to find out market ranges for a home's listing price, but no two homes are exactly alike and therefore no two will sell for the exact same price.

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