Home buyers and sellers - please visit www.real-estate-palmdale.com or call 1-877-SCONLEY for more information on buying or selling a home ANYWHERE in the Antelope Valley and surrounding areas!

Service areas: Acton - Agua Dulce - Ana Verde Hills - Antelope Acres - Antelope Valley - Canyon Country - Juniper Hills - Lake Elizabeth - Lake Hughes - Lake Los Angeles - Lancaster - Leona Valley - Littlerock - Llano - Palmdale - Pearblossom - Quartz Hill - Rancho Vista - Santa Clarita - Shadow Acres - White Fence Farms - Barrel Springs - Rosamond
www.real-estate-palmdale.com for more information


Do I need a real estate agent?
Most home sellers take on the task of selling their home with the professional assistance of a Real Estate Broker, feeling that it is a wise choice to enlist the help of a professional when selling what is probably their biggest investment.  They would rather not learn the pitfalls of selling a home by trial and error.  Additionally, today's real estate transactions can be complex and involve precise legal and financial paperwork which must be completed correctly.

Other home sellers like the fact that their agent has access to the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) - this means great exposure for your property and many other agents and their buyers will see your home listed for sale and will, hopefully, ask to see your property.  In addition, the real estate agent that you hire will advertise and market your property at no up-front cost to you and will screen all potential buyers PLUS handle the major details of the transaction's negotiation once you do have a serious buyer wanting to buy your home.

There are advantages to selling your house alone - not having to pay agent commission is probably the one that gets the most consideration. You market and advertise your property yourself and receive all the proceeds from its sale.  The transaction is totally under your control but, if you make mistakes, they are your own.  There is no one else to make mistakes on your behalf. You get to conduct all home showings, answering enquiries, Open Houses, etc.

Whether or not you decide to hire a real estate agent will be dependent upon your own circumstances - the level of capability you believe you have, for example, and the amount of time you have available to hold Open Houses, screen potential buyers, deal with paperwork and verify your buyers' financial position.  If you do not want to attempt to sell your house on your own, you should hire a capable agent to take care of all the details.

Some homeowners may find that the difficulties involved in attempting to sell their own house can be greater than any benefits derived.  Here's a basic list of what your agent will do on your behalf:

1.  The real estate agent will place your house in the MLS - your house is now "advertised" to all potential buyers working with member agents.  The MLS is a fantastic tool that helps to put your home-for-sale for the attention of every agent in town - that definitely helps to get your house placed in the "SOLD" category!

2.  The agent should provide you with an up-to-date CMA (Comparable Market Analysis) which shows recent home sales and current listings to help arrive at the realistic price your home should be listed at.  It is important that you pay good attention to the CMA as well as your agent's advice - this information will determine the right price to hook a buyer AND pass that all important bank appraisal inspection.  Even if you overprice your home and manage to find a buyer, remember that the bank will NOT approve funding on any property that does not pass the parameters of appraisal - your property must be comparable to that of others in the surrounding neighborhood for the bank to make a loan.  If you are priced outside those set parameters and the appraiser is not able to find at least three comparables, there will be a problem with funding your buyer's loan (unless your buyer has a wad of cash to make up the difference between the price of what the appraiser says the house is worth and what you, the homeseller, wish to receive in net proceeds).   Pricing is central to the hopes of a fast sale at the highest price possible.

3.  The agent will show your house whether or not you're home.  The agent should work to show your house to its best advantage and can answer all buyer questions objectively and guide the buyer toward a purchase decision. Buyers often are uncomfortable asking homeowners questions directly, and homeowners can be defensive if the buyer notices defects in their property.

4. Agents will bring pre-qualified buyers to your property who know how much they can afford and what they want in a house.  This screening process prevents you having to handle unwelcome visitors or "lookyloos".  Your agent is trained to politely ask buyers the right questions about their finances, which may be an easier task for a knowledgeable agent to undertake than for a homeowner.

5. The agent will help you to negotiate an acceptable sale.  Without the help of an experienced third-party negotiator, home sales can fail to close and the buyer walks away.   You'll also get help in understanding the complexities of interest rates, fees, points and home financing in general - if you are unable to offer your buyer financing options or explanations, this is another way in which sales are lost.  There are also other ways to factor whether or not a buyer has the ability to buy your home and a good agent will see to these details.

6. A good agent will protect your interests from contract through to closing, and will give you all prospective buyer feedback and comments on your house.


How and where do agents find buyers?
Agents are constantly in contact with the largest number of potential buyers. Typically, 60% come through referrals from past customers, corporate contacts, friends and the Multiple Listing Service; about 20% come from "For Sale" yard signs and company reputation; and 20% come from promotions and advertising.


What price should I ask for my house?
You've probably already heard what similar houses in your neighborhood have sold for - arm yourself with the facts! You need to weigh all the determining factors of the real estate market.

To arrive at a fair price, you need an expert evaluation of all market conditions: in other words, you need a "market analysis." This is because market price no longer can be considered as an isolated element. Your house can be worth several different prices depending on the terms you offer, available financing and the condition of your house. For example, a house with assumable low interest rate financing could be worth more to a buyer than an identical house which offers only new higher market rate financing. What concerns buyers most is not price, but monthly payments.


Disadvantages of selling a house on your own
1. You must rely on your own instincts.
2. You are responsible for all marketing and advertising costs, which can get expensive.
3. You will not have access to the MLS unless you pay to have your listing included.
4.  It's possible that you may under- or over-price your home - if you do not have the correct tools and information to arrive at a comparable market price for the homes in your neighborhood, it may be difficult to sell the home quickly and without haggling.
5. All of the paperwork and legal forms must be completed correctly for your home sale to be valid - they are your responsibility and must be handled by you.  You must become knowledgeable of legal and financial issues to be most effective.
6. Many buyers are of the opinion that, if you are selling on your own and not paying a commission, it is they (the buyers) who should get the savings and NOT you.
7.You will be at a disadvantage during negotiations if you do not sever all emotional ties to your house - don't leave money on the table!


Advice for selling your house alone
1. Your home preparation is paramount - you will be competing with agent listings and those listings have been coached by their respective agents on all aspects of preparing their homes. It will probably be the most productive time you can spend!
2. Be aware of all legal requirements for disclosures in your area. Not disclosing necessary information or not using the correct form could leave you open to legal action or a lawsuit from a buyer. Be aware of equal housing laws.
3. Make your house stand out - become an expert in marketing and get maximum exposure.
4. Get familiar with offers and contract forms. Know what is involved at closing and settlement. When it is time to negotiate, learn how to deal with offers and familiarize yourself with contracts. Get familiar with financing options so that you are at least as knowledgeable as your buyers.

If you have decided to work with a Buyer's Agent, give our office a call at 1-877-726-6539 or visit www.housebrix.com for more information on the buyer rebate we offer to all of our buyer customers.



Sandee Conley, Broker of HB Land and Homes, Palmdale, California
Serving Palmdale - Rancho Vista - Quartz Hill - East Lancaster - West Lancaster - Ana Verde - Rosamond - Acton - Leona Valley - Littlerock - Canyon Country - Aqua Dulce - Sand Canyon - Antelope Acres - Antelope Valley - Bouquet Canyon - Green Valley - Lake Elizabeth - Lake Hughes - Santa Clarita and the surrounding communities of AV & Los Angeles County.

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