| Copyright © 2007 Katharina Pramor This website IS NOT the official website of Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage or its affiliated companies, and neither Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage nor its affiliated companies in any way warrant the accuracy of any information contained herein. Any products and/or services offered for sale on this website shall not be considered an offer to sell such goods and/or services in any state other than Georgia. Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage is owned and operated by NRT, LLC. Equal Housing Opportunity Information deemed accurate but not warranted. Information subject to changes and withdrawals without notice |
| Why use a Realtor®? |
Why Use a REALTOR®?
All real estate agents 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 a dozen more
reasons to use one:
1.Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power -- that is, 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 best qualified to help you. Most lenders -- banks and mortgage
companies -- offer limited choices.
2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search.
Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in
the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available
properties.
3. 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'll 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?
4. 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 or exclusion 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 are bound to complete
the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections
are recommended or required.
5. 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 responsible
professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written
reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property.
Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past
owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations;
for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Your REALTOR®, title company
or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.
6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in
identifying qualified lenders.
7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure
everything flows together smoothly.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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
pre-screen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
11. 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.
12. 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).
13. How do I find a REALTOR® to represent me?
Click Here
All real estate agents 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 a dozen more
reasons to use one:
1.Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power -- that is, 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 best qualified to help you. Most lenders -- banks and mortgage
companies -- offer limited choices.
2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search.
Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in
the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available
properties.
3. 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'll 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?
4. 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 or exclusion 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 are bound to complete
the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections
are recommended or required.
5. 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 responsible
professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written
reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property.
Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past
owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations;
for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Your REALTOR®, title company
or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.
6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in
identifying qualified lenders.
7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure
everything flows together smoothly.
8. 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.
9. 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.
10. 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
pre-screen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.
11. 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.
12. 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).
13. How do I find a REALTOR® to represent me?
Click Here
