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WHY USE A GEORGIA REALTOR?
Q: Can a real estate agent really help me in buying
and selling property?
Q: What is Agency?
Q: What is the process of buying real estate?
Q: What is the process of selling real estate?
Q: How do real estate agents get paid?
Q: Why a REALTOR?
A: All real estate licensees are not the same.
Only real estate licensees who are members
of the National Association of REALTORS®
and the Georgia Association of REALTORS®
are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly display the REALTOR®
"R" logo
on their business cards or other marketing and sales literature. REALTORS®
are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly and we
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 the 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
$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
transaction in real estate without the professional assistance of a REALTOR®!
Here are some reasons that more and more buyers and sellers have
chosen to use a REALTOR®!
Your REALTOR can help you determine your buying power--your financial
reserves plus your
borrowing capacity. If you give a REALTOR some basic
information about your available savings,
income and current debt, he or she can
refer you to lenders that are best qualified to help you.
Most lenders, banks
and
mortgage companies many choices for today's buyers.
Your REALTOR has many resources to assist you in your home search.
Sometimes the property
you are seeking is available but not actively advertised
on the market and it will take some
investigation by your agent to find all
available properties.
Your REALTOR can assist you in the selection process by providing
objective information
about each property. Agents who are REALTORS have access
to a variety of informational
resources. REALTORS can provide local community
information on utilities, zoning, schools, etc.
There are two things you will
want to know. First, will the property provide the environment
I want for a home
or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when
I am ready to
sell?
Your REALTOR can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating
factors, including but
not limited to price, financing, terms, date of
possession and often the inclusion of repairs and
furnishings or equipment. The
purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to
complete
appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you a bound to
complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and
inspections
are recommended or required.
Your REALTOR provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property.
Depending on the
area and property, this could include inspections for termites,
dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure,
roof condition, septic tank and well tests,
just to name a few. Your REALTOR can assist you in
finding qualified
professionals to complete these investigations that you will receive a written
report.
You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the
property. Title indicates ownership
of the property and can be mired in
confusing status of past owners or right of access.
The title to most properties
will have some limitations;
for example (access rights) for utilities.
Your REALTOR, title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that
might
cause a problems later.
Your REALTOR can guide you through the closing process and make sure
everything
flows together smoothly.
Your REALTOR can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in
the
marketplace on financing, terms and conditions on competing properties.
These are key factors
that sellers will need in getting their property sold as
the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.
Your REALTOR will market your property to other real estate agents and to
the public. Often, your REALTOR can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will
significantly enhance the salability
of your property. In many markets across
the country, over 50% of real estate sales are
cooperative sales; that is, a
real estate agent other than your brings in the buyer.
Your REALTOR acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information
about your property
to other real estate agent through a Multiple Listing
Service or other cooperative marketing
networks, open houses, advertising, etc.
Your REALTOR utilizes these cooperative relationships when they benefit
their clients.
Your REALTOR knows when, where and how to advertise your property. The
National
Association of REALTORS studies show that 82% of real estate sales are
the result of agents
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.
Your REALTOR can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal
without compromising
your marketing position. The initial agreement is only the
beginning of a process of appraisal,
inspections and financing.
Your REALTOR
can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be
more likely
to make it through to the closing process.
Your REALTOR can help you close the sale of your home. Between the
initial sales
agreement and closing, your REALTOR will help you with questions
on unexpected repairs,
paperwork, inspections and help you to resolve these
issues and move the transaction to closing.
To find out more about the REALTOR® "Code of Ethics" please ask
for a copy from your
Cannon Realty & Commercial Agent!
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