Let us face it, just about anyone that owns a home has thought seriously about doing all the work him or herself when it comes time to put it on the market. It is not like the old days when people hung onto their homes for thirty years or more. Now the average person owns at least several houses during their lifetimes. With all the Arizona home buying and selling taking place, FSBO probably sounds like a great idea. Skip all those commission pay outs.
After all, how hard can it be? The answer is, sometimes very hard indeed. There are a number of reasons why you should use a real estate agent and mortgage broker or loan officer to help you buy or sell your Arizona home. There are too many to list here, but this is the short list: Owners tend to overvalue their homes.
They take a look at their neighborhood, think of a price, and then raise it. Most potential buyers will not even tour your home if they think the price is too high and you do not have a professional to step in and help. Your time is not your own anymore. With an agent, you just keep your house tidy and they can show your home while you are out. If you are selling it yourself, be prepared for drop-ins and calls any time of the day or night.
People doing a FSBO tend to forget the importance of advertising and being listed with the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). When you use professionals these services are included in the package. If you are trying to sell a house yourself, how are you getting the word out beyond the sign in your yard. Do you fully understand all the legal ramifications that go into buying and selling a home? For example do you know what title insurance is and who pays for it? Do you know what a seller disclosure statement is? How about Occupancy? There are hundreds more terms to be aware of. Can you really look at your home objectively? You are so used to seeing its flaws that you may not even notice them anymore.
That is where a good real estate agent comes in. They look at your house from top to bottom, inside and out, and see it through unbiased eyes. They can tell you what must be fixed, what you can let go, and what a realistic price is warts and all. The other thing to note is that you may pay lower fees to sell your Arizona home and buy another.
The real estate industry is more competitive than ever with so much activity going on. In some instances, a good real estate agent may be willing to lower their commission. It certainly does not hurt to ask. As for mortgages for Arizona homes, the same holds true. A solid lender will work with you to find the best possible terms for your circumstances. So do yourself a favor and hire professionals and you will be glad you did.
Click here to get a free copy of Jeff Nelson's, "7 Tips Every Home Buyer Should Know," a 10-page report that describes what a home buyer should know before making that very important purchase.
