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Douglas Trudeau , Assoc. Broker
Prudential Foothills Real Estate
64 N. Harrison Road, Suite 160
Tucson , AZ 85748
Mobile: 520-954-2209
Contact Me

Tucson Real Estate - Home Selling 104

So, you know your motivation, what price the market will bare, and have staged your home so well you’re ready to buy it yourself. Now you’re ready to put your home on the market. There are some careful considerations at this point. What type of Seller are you?

Are you the type of person who does their own taxes? Who can put together a child’s toy without reading the instructions? Who enjoys strangers coming to and going through your home without notice? Who knows all the state laws concerning the sale of real estate property? Who knows how to protect themselves from con artists, crooks, and potential litigation? Who can you go to for staging your home? If you can answer Tucson Real Estate Home For Sale yes to most of these questions, congratulations. You are a candidate for becoming a For Sale By Owner (FSBO). Before going this route know the risks and statistics. Make an informed decision. Some statistics about For Sale By Owners:

2006 only 12% of all home sales were FSBO.
40% of FSBO sales were to someone the owner knew.
The median FSBO sale in 2006 was $187,200 nationwide, while REALTOR® assisted sales were $247,000. Keeping in mind the source of this information.

What are some of the risks to a FSBO:

Who is coming to the door?
Is the buyer qualified?
What do you have to disclose?
What happens if you do not disclose something that you were not aware was required?
Can the buyer sue you after the sale?
What promises did you make that the buyer expects?
What is in writing?
Are you getting a fair deal with this buyer?
What protections do you have through the title company?
Can you end up having to buy the house back?

Remember, not everybody needs a Realtor to sell their home; 12% do not. Of those there are many who swear they would never do it again, while other swear that’s the only way they will ever sell a home. It’s a matter of how much risk are you willing to take. I have heard some good and a lot of horror stories. It all depends on the competency of the owner who is selling and whether they know what they are doing or think they know. There is a big difference.

Realtor logo For the rest of us, a REALTOR® is the best solution for selling your home. There are different levels of Realtors. There are Discount REALTORS® and Full Time REALTORS®. Like any industry there are good an bad ones. Interviewing will help to weed out which is which. If a REALTOR® is telling you everything you want to hear…hhhmmm? If the REALTOR® is being honest and telling you what you were afraid of or don’t want to hear…honesty, integrity, confidence?

Discount Brokerage

Real Estate Discount For some sellers they are nearly upside down on their loan and headed for foreclosure. A Discount Brokerage may be their only alternative. Some Brokerages offer a-la-cart service. You get what you pay for. I have seen long distance companies with scarce representation in your area. What does a company in Florida know about building codes, zoning, neighborhoods, and communities in Arizona? I worked for a Discount Broker when I started in real estate. Not one client was satisfied with the service they received. I hated it. Many expected much more than what they agreed to. My reputation was headed down the drain before it could get started. I left that company for a full service company. What should you expect?

Whatever is written in the contract and nothing more.
What you pay for.

Types of discount services.

Flat fee with minimal representation.
Discounted commission with limited service.
Limited marketing.
Limited advertising.
Limited support.

If a Discount Brokerage meets your needs, go for it. Not everybody needs a full service REALTOR®. For those who do, that’s what I am here for.

Full Service Brokerage

Tucson Real Estate Full Service A Full Service Brokerage may cost more, but, you get more. As a REALTOR® I would never sell my home without another REALTOR®. Even though I know what I am doing, I prefer to separate myself from the role of REALTOR® when selling a home and trust a peer to do all the work. I have sold several properties that way. You should know that there are full service REALTORS® who are not full time REALTORS®. A friend of a friend who works as a medical technician who also sells homes may be a very nice person. Depending on the market, location, characteristics of your home, and how much free time this person has s/he may be a good choice. A family member who just got their license may be a good choice as well. What happens if they do not perform? What are Thanksgiving dinners, Christmas, and family gatherings going to be like in the future? If you feel confident, go for it. If not, be open and explain why. Communication saves problems.

What should you expect from a Full Service REALTOR®?

A marketing plan.
Internet presence.
Open houses (if desired).
Routine communication.
Market updates.
Fiduciary representation.
Guidance for informed decision making.
Guidance to help protect against potential litigation.
Compliance with all state and local laws.
Guidance when offers come in.
Negotiation of your terms and needs.
Guidance for responding to inspection results.
Preparation of all required paperwork. All you do is sign.
Guidance for closing, making sure everything is in order per your needs and the contract.
Full support with every aspect of marketing through closing.
Follow up, follow up, follow up.

Now that you know your options what is best for your specific needs? If you choose a REALTOR® start calling and interviewing. If you live in the Tucson Metro area I know a really good REALTOR® at (520) 918-5116 whom a lot of sellers have really enjoyed.

More reading:

Home Selling 101 – Motivation

Home Selling 102 – Pricing

Home Selling 103 – Impression and Staging

This entry was posted on Saturday, July 14th, 2007 at 3:29 pm and is filed under Tucson Real Estate. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.