Winter Haven Homes for Sale By Owner & Polk County Homes By Owner

MLS Search for Winter Haven Real Estate & Polk County Real Estate

Winter Haven For Sale By Owner:

BUYERS

Why You Need a Real Estate Professional - Buyers Section

The integration of real estate into the internet has revolutionized the way in which home buyers think. It has become easier for buyers to find a home on the internet in the past few years. Today, buyers often ask the question, “Why do I need an agent?”

Home buying is not something someone typically does often. It’s not an every day event or even a yearly event. It can be emotional and stressful, especially when you don’t know real estate and understand the laws, rules and regulations involved in transactions. You’ll need someone with knowledge to spell out the details of the transaction. Remember, this is one of the biggest purchasing decisions you will likely make. It is not something to take lightly.

REALTORS® Know Real Estate

REALTORS® deal with real estate issues and concerns on a daily basis. They have been educated extensively on the laws and regulations that influence the market. By law agents are required to get continued education to renew their license ensuring they are always up-to-date on the latest real estate news and laws. Further, as Professionals, they have access to tools and an endless array of contacts in the industry to help YOU find the perfect home.

The good news for buyers’ is that lenders will never lend more money than a home is worth. So, you can rest easy knowing that you will never overpay. But there are other problems that can haunt you if you’re not careful. For example, REALTORS® are trained to ensure all necessary disclosures are given completely and in a timely manner. There are many disclosures differing within each state. Some disclosures may include: natural hazards, mello-roos and bonds, smoke detector, lead-based paint, mold, wildfire zones, inundation zones, and Megan’s Law. Do you know all the required disclosures for your state? It can be difficult to keep up with the ever growing list of disclosures! Laws change regularly and if you’re not involved in the real estate market on a regular basis you may fall short of providing yourself ideal representation.

Other potential problems that buyers’ may encounter in the buying process involve homeowner association rules and regulations. For example, you’re a dog lover and have three but you just purchased a condo that doesn’t allow pets. What can you do? Nothing! You can sell the condo but that’s about it. You’re legally bound by your agreement with the association and you’re unlikely to change their rules as a new member.

Be smart: Know that as much as you think you know… there is always more to know. Trust that you’ll likely forget something in the process. Hiring a real estate agent will save you the trouble in your attempt to research every problem you may run into during the home buying process. You’ll not only save yourself time researching but help your family avoid potential risks.

Further, real estate professionals are trained and experienced in helping people find homes to suit their needs and their budget. While you may want to move to a certain area, you may not have the budget to do so. Or it could be the other way around. Perhaps you don’t realize you can afford to buy in a particular area. Hiring a REALTOR® to help you determine your ability to buy in certain areas will save you valuable time. Once you’ve been pre-approved for a loan your agent can begin the task of finding the perfect home for you. They will tailor your search criteria based upon different factors including, but not limited to:

1. Price range you’ve been pre-approved for
2. Number of bedrooms desired
3. Number of bathrooms desired
4. Areas and communities of interest to you
5. Special features such as pool, yard, garage, main floor bedroom, etc.

Your REALTOR® will then sift through all the results of homes matching your criteria to find the best homes to show. If there are many homes matching your criteria and in your price range, it can be grueling to look through them all yourself.

Once you’ve decided to hire an agent to assist you in the buying process, you’ll need to find an agent that will be able to understand YOUR needs. Not every agent will be the right agent for you.

SELLERS

Advantages of Using a REALTOR® to Sell Your Home

As the real estate industry evolves it seemingly becomes easier to market your house without the use of a professional. Knowing whether to use a REALTOR® or sell privately (FSBO) can be difficult to determine. It is important to understand what a good agent will bring to the table. Some of the main advantages of using a professional include: emotional objectivity, knowledge and marketing reach.

Before you decide to take on the job of selling your house privately ask yourself a few key questions:

1. Am I ready to emotionally detach myself from my house?

Sellers generally become attached to their home. Most consider their home a sanctuary where they create an environment of relaxation and exhibit their own style. It is difficult to let go of something that has become a part of you over the years.

A home becomes your canvas; a painting of your life. Albums are filled with photos from 10 years of holiday family events: Christmas mornings, Easter egg hunts and 4th of July barbeques with hamburgers, hotdogs and fireworks. Walking across the floor you instinctively know what boards will creak, how to get the toilet to stop running and how to open the screen door in a second flat when no one else seems to have a clue. While some things may have once seemed like an annoyance they are now a part of what makes a home your own.

Additionally, it can be difficult to maintain objectivity as buyers critique your home. Something you find endearing, that make it so special to you, may be the opposite for a buyer. It is important to listen to buyer criticisms and to be open to suggestions for improvement. A REALTOR® will serve as an emotional bridge helping you maintain an air of calm during the selling experience.

2. Do I have the proper knowledge to price my house appropriately?

The first step is reaching a listing price. Some sellers have an unrealistic idea of the price their house may sell. Whether your idea is low or high, your agent will play a crucial role in helping come to a sensible price range. After completing a comparative market analysis (CMA) and examining other data, they will offer their respectful suggestion as to the price range you’ll be able to obtain. Once the listing price has been settled the marketing of your house begins.

3. Am I able to market my home effectively?

The initial marketing of your house is the most important aspect of the marketing process. You’re not just selling a house, you’re selling the intimacy and peace a home should make one feel. Once your agent has viewed your house, he or she writes engaging ads focused on the key elements of your house that make it saleable. These ads may be placed in newspapers, magazines and the local MLS and are crucial to successfully selling your house. While you may be particularly fond of the 1970’s feel of your rust-colored carpet, a modern REALTOR® understands that today’s home buyer will be less fond of this characteristic. Instead they may focus on the uniquely large size of secondary bedrooms, the proximity of your home to parks and schools or significantly lower taxes. Even if you’re able to detach yourself from your house and market it appropriately, will you be able to tackle problems presented during escrow?

4. Can I anticipate and respond to problems quickly?

REALTORS® are trained to anticipate and avoid problems or respond to difficult situations quickly. They’ve likely handled countless transactions and run into near deal breakers throughout their careers. The ability to quickly handle problems during escrow can be the difference between a closed deal and one that falls through. Real property vs. personal property can present issues during the closing process. For example, if you are selling your home FSBO and do not stipulate your expensive, antique chandelier will be moving with you, you could run into trouble. An accomplished agent would ensure any questionable items be listed in the Bill of Sale.

5. Do you have time to show your home to buyers and will you make yourself scarce?

Most often FSBO homes do not offer access to their home via a lockbox. This cripples the ability for agents to show your home to potential buyers while you are at work. Further, home buyers generally feel intimidated by the presence of the seller during their visit. They rush through the house and tell you how wonderful it is even if they hate it. They feel uncomfortable looking through every nook and cranny even though this is one of the most important avenues a buyer must travel to make the decision to purchase your house. Hence, your presence hinders the sale of your house.

These are but a few of the issues sellers can run into during the selling process. Depending on your personal situation, knowledge and availability, it may be in your best interest to enlist the help and expertise of a professional real estate agent. Give us a call today for a FREE, no obligation consultation to discuss the marketing and sales of your property.

The Stones of Coldwell Banker - Michael Stone & Deanna Stone, Realtors 

Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate LLC

290 Cypress Gardens Blvd. Winter Haven FL 33880

Michael Stone, Realtor : (863) 412-9733 - Deanna Stone, Realtor : (863) 412-2080