Why Three Rivers Association Recommends Always Using A Realtor

The day you have been thinking about casually for a few years now has finally arrived. Today, you are ready for a change and now, the passing thought of eventually putting your house on the market now has a more immediate timeline. You are anxious to sell your home it as quickly as possible, settle into a brand new house and start fresh.

When you reach this decision, a natural next step for many home buyers is to pop on their favorite real estate website, such as Realtor.com (and of course, the Three Rivers Association!), browse house listings in your desired area and budget, and save potential homes that they can further pursue.  Many may not realize that searching for a home, even at this early stage, on your own can be harmful to your overall experience, both with buying and selling a house.

These three key reasons from your friendly experts at Three Rivers Association outline why you should always use a Realtor® when you sell your current house and begin searching for a new one.

They have plenty of experience and expertise

Even as you casually browse a home listing online, that listing is often filled with confusing acronyms and abbreviations that only Realtors®can understand. They can help you translate that language to make sure you are getting all the information you need and the best possible deal!

They can search for criteria that you can’t

While it may seem like the internet gives you plenty of home listings for you to explore, Realtors®have access to even more!! Often, some properties are available for sale but are not actively advertised. That’s when a Realtor®can help you find those hidden gems to make sure you are seeing all of your options.

“Negotiate” is their middle name

Today’s housing market is a competitive place—even if you finally get to the exciting stage of putting an offer on a home you love, someone else may have beaten you to it. Trust a Realtor® to know how to navigate such competition. A Realtor® can also help you draw up a purchase agreement that allows enough time for home inspections and other contingencies.

Quick, Easy and Inexpensive Renovations Before Selling a Home

Selling a home can be one of the most stressful times in a homeowner’s life. Your schedule becomes packed with appraisals, home inspections, radon testing and packing away unsightly clutter. While juggling these time-consuming tasks, the thought of adding home renovations to your lengthy to-do list seems out of the question. Fear not, there are renovations that won’t require long timelines, stinky dumpsters, or large price tags. Here are a few simple renovations that can be completed to ensure that your home not only sells, but that your home sells quickly.

Quick & Easy Renovations:

·   Remove family photos or outdated wall art. Spackle nail holes and give rooms a fresh, neutral coat of paint. Bold colors can sometimes be a turnoff for potential homebuyers.

·   Purchase new interior and exterior entryway light fixtures. This is the first area potential homebuyers will see upon entering the home.

·   A beautiful new door or fresh coat of paint will create a stunning entryway for guests.

·   Full bathroom renovations don’t often make a large impact. Save your money, and simply put in new light fixtures, new mirrors, and new vanities.

If you have an outdated home but no time for renovations, consider offering a renovation budget to potential homebuyers. The budget will be a small chunk of the list price and allows buyers to give their new home a personal touch.

In addition to renovations, there are many small changes that can be made to a home that will increase buyer appeal. Make sure that the home is as clean as possible. This may require putting some belongings in a storage unit until the home sells. Landscaping and curb appeal can attract buyers who are simply passing by the home. Consider keeping your lawn cut, watered, and edged. If you don’t have time for gardening, purchasing and hanging flower baskets can do the trick.

When searching for more information on ensuring a successful sale, turn to the professionals at Three Rivers Association of REALTORS®. Three Rivers Association of REALTORS® is a local non-profit real estate service that assists and educates REALTORS® with programs and services. On our website, homebuyers and sellers can find Three Rivers Association of REALTORS® related service affiliates like home appraisers, attorneys, inspectors, and more. For additional information, give us a call at 815-733-4520 or visit our website at www.trarealtors.net.