Do I need a real estate agent to sell my home?

No, you don’t But using an agent would be to your benefit. 

You could sell your home yourself. And you could cut your own hair, or do all your own car repairs. But it probably won't result in the best price for your home, or be the best use of your time.

If you chose to sell your home yourself, we have no doubt that you could learn all you needed to know. But even equipped with all that knowledge, earned through weeks of preparation, you would still be at a disadvantage in the marketing process.

First, a lot of the investment necessary to effectively market property cannot be justified for the sale of just one property. We have literally invested tens of thousands of dollars in training, equipment, advertisement, software, internet sites, signs, telecommunication, virtual tours, and a host of other tools to help us quickly sell homes for top dollar. These expenditures are necessary because today's homebuyers expect accurate information to be delivered quickly and in a way convenient to them. If its not, the buyers go elsewhere in this competitive marketplace. And these expenditures also allow me to be networked with literally thousands of other agents and other potential sources for selling your home.

Secondly, an individual homeowner can never achieve the exposure of their property that is possible through the use of a Realtor. Most Realtors, Hometura included, have access to multiple listing services. Realtors have the benefit of hundreds of yard signs throughout metro Atlanta. Its impossible to predict how the buyer for your home will first be introduced to your home. But often times, it will be the result from a call because of a sign in front of a different property, perhaps miles away from your home. Quite often, the home called about does not work for the buyer for various reasons. But then the buyer will begin to describe what they are looking for - and the description matches your property! By listing with a Realtor, your property has exposure through the multiple listing services, and through all signs anywhere! You literally have hundreds of agents marketing your home.

Thirdly, the market for properties that are not listed is generally restricted to certain buyers. A huge segment of the buying public is composed of out of state buyers re-locating to Atlanta. These buyers, who are unfamiliar with Atlanta, don't have the time or knowledge of the area to look for homes on their own. They almost always work with buyers' agents. These buyers are often the most serious and motivated. Trying to sell your home without the use of an agent virtually eliminates this very important segment of the market. Another large segment that is lost are those buyers that have reservations about a particular home that could easily be addressed by the seller if the seller was aware of the concern. But some buyers are hesitant to voice these concerns directly to sellers, but will to an agent. Once aware of the concern, it can often be easily and inexpensively addressed and the deal closed.

Fourth, selling a home by yourself may result in less net proceeds to you, notwithstanding all the time, effort, stress and hassle you endured. Even if properly priced, buyers will attempt to negotiate an even lower purchase price. A favorite tactic of buyers in such situations is to deduct the commission from the offer they would otherwise make, reasoning that if a commission is not going to be paid, that benefit should go to the buyer rather than the seller. The un-represented seller often finds themselves working for free for the buyer.

Achieving the best possible price in a reasonable time period is largely a result of the exposure, time, and effort expended to promote your home to the largest number of potential buyers. Its my full time profession to do exactly this. Don't trust the sale of your most important asset to a part-time effort with limited exposure. Give us a call at 770-451-5755, or e-mail us at info@hometura.com. You'll be glad you did!

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How much is the commission?

The commission on the sale of property is whatever is agreed upon between the Seller and the Broker.

Our commission on listings is typically 7% of the sales price of the home, sometimes more, sometimes less, depending on the price of the home and what I feel will be necessary to successfully market it. We pay all expenses associated with marketing the home, including the payment of any Buyer’s Agent fees when a Buyer’s Agent is involved. If we do not successfully market the home, there is no expense to Seller.

The commission is obviously an important factor in deciding whom to choose as the listing agent. It is not, however, your most important concern. As a Seller, you are most interested in obtaining the best possible price in a reasonable time, with as little disruption to your life as feasible. The "lowest" commission can easily be the most expensive if your home is not properly marketed and does not receive offers in the price range that it should.

Please do not allow an internet "commission quote" be the sole factor in deciding which agents to interview. We know that you can easily find quotes less than our "typical 7%." We also know that you won’t go wrong choosing us as your agency. Give us a call. You’ll be glad you did. Hometura (770) 451-5755.

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How do I prepare my home for sale?

One of the most important aspects of selling your home comes even before the sign goes in the yard: Preparing your home for sale.

Preparing your home for sale does not mean making extensive or costly improvements. In fact, improvements at this stage are probably a mistake. Most new owners will have their own ideas about the type improvements they want. Preparing your home for sale simply means presenting your home as a clean and well-maintained house so potential buyers will view the home as a place they would like to live. Remember, the purchase of a home is more than a purchase of a house - it's a purchase of a dream and a lifestyle.

Start by taking a close look at your property. Walk around the outside with a notepad and write down items that need to be addressed. Do the same inside and then sit down and determine how you can make the property most appealing to prospective buyers. If you have outgrown your present home, you may want to consider putting some of your belongings in storage to open up some space in the rooms and closets.

Priority wise, the three most beneficial actions to take before offering a home for sale, and which will yield the greatest return for the least amount of expenditure, are:
· Cleaning and organizing the house,
· Trimming bushes and mowing yard,
· Making sure front door is attractive and opens easily.

One of the services that we offer our clients is a pre-listing consultation. We are always in homes and working with buyers, and know what turns buyers on and off. We would be happy to go through your home with you to offer suggestions and ideas to best position your home to obtain the best price possible. Give us a call. You’ll be glad you did. Hometura (770) 451-5755.

How do I price my home for sale?

Pricing the home properly is one of the most important aspects of selling a home. If the home is priced too low, the seller will receive a quick sale, but will not receive all the equity they otherwise could have. But pricing a home too high can also result in you receiving less than you otherwise might! A home priced above the market will not sell, and will ultimately have to be reduced or withdrawn from the market. Sometimes clients would like to price the property higher than it should be, just to see. However, the most serious prospects are often those that view the home just after it has been listed. These prospective purchasers, and their agents, have been diligently searching for specific homes and are quick to view the property as soon as it is listed. If the price is not competitive with other homes in the area, these prospects continue to look elsewhere.

By the time the owner realizes that the house is not going to sell at the inflated asking price, many otherwise viable prospects have purchased elsewhere. And even those that have not often times have already eliminated the house as an option in their mind, and don't return even when the price is reduced. Of course, there are always new buyers coming into the market, but some buyers are afraid of properties that have been on the market very long, thinking there must be something wrong with the house or it would have sold before now.

Pricing the home competitively is always the best option. That does not mean the home should be priced as low or lower than what previous homes in the area have sold for. We have often priced, and successfully sold, homes at prices significantly above what homes in the area had previously sold for. A myriad of factors must be considered to arrive at the correct listing price, including the overall market conditions, the particular house, the price trend, and the owner's individual circumstances and desires.

One guidepost to establishing the listing price is a CMA or Comparable Market Analysis. This method uses location, recent sales for comparable homes, quantity and quality of properties, both currently on the market and that have previously sold to determine a reasonable price. Another guide of course is the price of homes that we are competing against. The goal is to list the home at the best price obtainable, but at a price that will still attract a qualified buyer in a reasonable amount of time.

Do I need an attorney to sell?

An attorney is not required to represent you in selling a home, but you may nonetheless want to hire an attorney to look over the paperwork that goes along with a real estate transaction. We would never discourage anyone from doing so. Real Estate Agents can explain the contract and the process, but they are not attorneys, and cannot give legal advice.

Depending on your individual circumstances, it may also be prudent to discuss your situation with your financial advisor. Recent changes in the tax law may be especially significant, depending on how long you have lived in your home.

We are not qualified to give legal or financial advice, and I do not attempt to do so. However, our experience in the real estate field has made us aware of many issues that are often overlooked, and we commonly suggest that clients consult with their attorney or financial advisor for advice on the best manner to structure the transaction.

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Why choose Hometura to sell my home?

What do most people selling their homes want in a Realtor? They want a Realtor that can obtain the best possible price for their home. They want a Realtor that can assure the sale will go smoothly and quickly. They want a Realtor that can accomplish this with the least amount of inconvenience to their life. And they want a Realtor that keeps them informed. Our Realtors pride themselves on being that type of Realtor, and in a nutshell, that is why you should choose Hometura!

We have the credentials. So do a lot of other agents. We have the experience. Again, so do a lot of other agents. But, we do have a different philosophy than many agents. Integrity. Service. Results. We place those words first in our everyday dealings with clients and customers.