Do you really have all the time, energy, information, resources and contacts to properly market and sell your home? would the process be a smooth one? Would it give you more time to focus on your personal life? Would you be able to get the best price for your home? Below, I have listed just a few areas in which I believe a real estate professional truly earns their commission.

Pricing:

A real estate professional is best suited to determine a pricing strategy for your property. You do not want to miss opportunities  by overpricing or under pricing your property. Knowledge about the surrounding areas, pricing trends, local information and experience will ensure you are getting the best price for your home.

Marketing

A real estate professional has many ways to effectively market your property. Proven marketing methods include, the internet, interior and exterior information provided at the home, local newspapers & magazines, the MLS and a staff that is familiar with your property.

Keep in mind that advertising is only part of marketing. The choice of media and frequency depends a lot on the home and the specific market. Over exposure of a property in any media may give a buyer the impression the property is distressed or that the seller is desperate. A qualified real estate professional will know when & how to advertise your property.

Marketing also includes the exposure of a home to other real estate professional and the general public. In many markets over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales. Your real estate professional acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate professional through the MLS, office meetings and caravans.

Preparation is critical to marketing a property effectively. A real estate professional is best suited to recommend repairs and cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of a home.

Timing is also a critical to marketing a property.  The first few days that a property hits the market is crucial. The more prepared a real estate professional is once a property is listed, the better the response from the general public and other real estate professionals.

Staff

In the era of the internet - most information can be found about properties for sell. However, personal contact with potential buyers is still the key. Having two full time assistants ensures that potential buyers will always have a live person on the other side of the phone that is 100% familiar with the property. So, no calls or missed and with one assistant being a licensed Realtor, no showings are missed.

Security

When a property is for sale, more than likely it will be a stranger that purchases the property. Real Estate professionals are trained in verifying who is showing or looking at your home and all potentials buyers are accompanied by a real estate professional This increases your safety and allows for any last minute preparation.

Negotiating

Your real estate professional can assist you with objectively evaluating every buyer's proposal without compromising your market position. The initial offer is only the start of the process, in most cases. Generally the offer takes a few counters to get everything finely tuned and turned into an effective contract. A real estate professional can help you achieve a legally binding agreement that will more than likely make it to an effective closing.

Getting to closing

A real estate professional truly only begins to earn their commission once a legal & binding contract has been achieved. The process of getting to a successful closing is a long one. Inspections, preparation of documents, coordination with lenders, appraisers, attorney's - require much attention to detail. Then in the unlikely event of hitting o few bumps in the road, such as unexpected repairs or delays, the process and paper work alone becomes intimidating and it is your real estate professional who is objective and is able to assist you in resolving these issues and continue towards a successful closing.