Technology has changed the way we do many things in the world today. Buying and selling Real Estate is no different. We use internet sites and apps to search for homes, view photographs and observe neighborhood with satellite imagery. We obtain information on the local schools, community amenities and other statistics. Many companies try to reel you in and offer to sell your home on-line without the use of a local Realtor. These companies state it will save you time and money. Maybe it will, but how can you be sure?
VaCAP encourages all consumers to utilize the skills and talents of a local Realtor along with a Professional Appraiser to make the process of selling your home go smoothly and quickly. Realtors are the one expert resource available to guide you through the home selling process and the appraiser is the one expert that will give you factual information about the market value of your home. The Realtor and the appraiser working together will provide the information needed so you can make informed decisions.
When interviewing a prospective Realtor to list your home for sale, it is important to understand how they operate. Are they the best resource to assist you in the process? Here are some good questions to ask the Realtor.
- Do you recommend a homeowner to obtain an appraisal to help set a list price?
- What are your qualifications to value a property?
- If you have a Realtor designation to value real estate, how many classroom hours did it take and did you have to pass an exam to obtain it?
- Do you pull comparable properties for your clients before they make an offer on a home?
- What parameters do you use to identify a comparable home or how do you determine a home is comparable?
- What is the difference between market value, market price and cost?
- Why does this difference matter to a buyer or seller?
- How many formal market analysis have you performed in the last year?
- How many of these were used by a client to make a 15 to 30 year commitment?
- How do you respond to an appraiser when you are asked by the appraiser to provide the market data you used to support the list price?