All signs are pointing to another very strong Edmonton real estate market as we head into spring. With plenty of home-sellers reporting quick sales over list price and even bidding wars, you might be asking why do I need a REALTOR® in a sellers market?
If you are thinking about jumping into the seller’s market in Edmonton and listing on your own, or listing with a low commission REALTOR®, you’ll want to read this first so you know exactly what you’re getting into.
Listing For Sale By Owner
In a sellers market where the demand for homes for sale exceeds the supply, it’s easy to think that your home could essentially sell itself. In reality however selling a home is a lot of work regardless of what type of market it is.
Successful REALTORS® work full-time for a reason
Unless you work part-time or are retired, you’ll want to consider how much time and effort you can reasonably spend managing home selling tasks. It’s challenging enough to maintain a pristine home for showings let alone scheduling those showings and making sure you are on-site to walk potential buyers through your home at a moment’s notice.
Don’t underestimate the time and effort you need to sell you own home
On top of showings, there are countless phone calls and hours spent handling your own marketing and/or staging efforts. Last, but certainly not least, is ensuring you’ve dotted the i’s and crossed the t’s on all of the paperwork involved in selling your house. It’s a full time job for a reason, and unless you’re prepared for some serious overtime, don’t underestimate the amount of time you’ll need to sell a home yourself.
Find out how much your home is worth. Search comparable listings in your neighbourhood.
Listing With A REALTOR®
A professional REALTOR® knows all the ins and outs of selling a home – they’ve truly seen it all. Even in the strongest seller’s market there are always curveballs that come along. There is value in having a trusted professional by your side to navigate the process smoothly.
Work with an expert negotiator
Negotiation is truly an artform and it is a skill perfected over many years of practice and experience. Even in a strong market, having a skilled negotiator at the table will ensure you don’t settle for anything less than the best offer.
What about low commission REALTORS®? Are they worth it?
We’ve discussed this in detail in a previous blog, but in short it comes down to making an informed decision based on your specific situation and needs. Realistically, a low commission REALTOR® will need to sell a lot more homes to earn as much as a traditional commission agent.
This may force them to take on more listings than they can adequately manage. Or they might be more inclined to encourage you to accept the first offer that comes along, rather than negotiate the best deal.
A good REALTOR® will check all the boxes on your checklist
When you are searching for an Edmonton REALTOR® to list your home, prepare a checklist of the types of services you need and outline the level of commitment you are expecting. Having a checklist will help you find the right REALTOR® to sell your home.
So in answer to the question: Do I need a REALTOR® in a sellers market? Our answer is yes. Especially if you want to take full advantage of this hot market and get the best price for your home.
Wally’s Full-Service Home Listing Checklist
With over 15 years of Edmonton real estate experience behind him, Wally has earned the trust of hundreds of home sellers. He was recently nominated one of the Top Agents in Western Canada by Top Agent Magazine.
Here are a few of the services you can expect if you list your home for sale with Wally:
- Expert list price strategy
- Professional real estate photography
- Professional home staging
- A key lock box and sale signage
- Property listing in Edmonton MLS®
- Showings with buyers and buyers’ agents
- Expert advice on negotiations, counter-offers, and offer acceptance
- Expert navigation of the home inspection, negotiation, and sale closure process
Connect with Wally by phone/text at 780.238.7384 and list your home with confidence.