In This Hot Real Estate Market, Do You Still Need a Realtor?

Many homes are selling in a matter of days. So why do you need a Realtor?

In this hot Seattle Eastside real estate market, Realtors help you earn the most money for your home before it goes on the market, when an offer is negotiated, and after the offer is accepted.

Here's how Realtors help you make the most money:

Before you go on the market:

Help you prepare your home for sale- recommending only those things that will help you make more money.
Recommend good contractors who get the job done.
Accurate pricing-the key to success. Having the latest pricing information, so you get the most for your home. In other words, setting a price the day before you go on the market. In today's market, pricing from a week ago may no longer net you the most money for your home.
Stellar marketing with staging, well written descriptions, and fabulous professional photography.
Be available to agents and buyers who have questions and want answers about your home.

Here's what we do when offers come in:

Negotiate the offer(s).
With the lack of inventory, many homes attract more than one buyer at the same time. It can be a delicate balancing act to manage the different agents/buyers. We must maintain a positive and honest working relationship with all buyers so that you, the seller, don't lose anyone during the negotiation phase. The ultimate goal is to secure the best offer for you. It may be the highest price, the best closing date, the best financing and inspection timeline or any combination of these terms.

After the offer is signed:

First and foremost is making sure all the deadlines in the contract are properly met.
The contract needs to be sent to escrow, the lender and the title company.
Earnest money needs to be collected and verified.
Proper receipt of the disclosure form is needed.
Negotiating the inspection. This is a huge part of the transaction process. Buyers expect everything to be perfect and sellers know they are not seling a new home and no home is perfect. It can often be a very emotional time for both parties. Striking the right balance between these expections is important to keeping an offer together.
Working with an appraiser. With prices going up because of the intense competition, appraisers have to scramble to justify increases in prices in a short period of time. A good Realtor will know about the homes that have sold and can help navigate through this process, etc.
Following the transaction through closing, until you get your check!

Here's just a sample of issues that can come up during the time of the sale to closing:

One party dies, loses their job or gets transferred.
The buyer charges to much on their credit card, increasing their debt and no longer qualifying.
The inspection does not reach a solution satisfactory to both parties and the offer falls apart.
A question comes up on your title report, such as encroachment on your property. This must be resolved before the closing.
The square footage of your home does not match county records, creating an uphappy buyer.
Repair work required by an inspection is not performed properly.

Every home, seller, and buyer is unique. Therefore, every transaction is unique. Some transactions are very smooth and everything goes like clockwork. Much of the time these transactions go smoothly because the Realtor has anticipated any issues and has handled them efficiently to minimize any stress during the transaction. Most sellers don't think about it, but a lot of the work a Realtor does takes place before the sign goes in the yard and after an offer is signed.

Sometimes things happen that are out of anyone's control and a Realtor who is experienced and knowledgeable will be able to guide you from the beginning to the end. It really doesn't matter whether it's a hot market or a slow market. Experience is an invaluable commodity when buying or selling a home.