I have covered the importance of working with a Lake Tahoe Realtor to list a home several times in previous blogs. During the current pandemic, it is even more important to work with a local Lake Tahoe Realtor instead for listing yourself. Not only is it important, but it comes with many benefits. If you were thinking of going the FSBO (For Sale By Owner) route, check out the below things to think about and feel free to give me a call for more information.
1.Safety is the number one concern at the moment
Safety and health are two main topics right now around the globe. Your personal safety as well as the safety of potential buyers is crucial. While Lake Tahoe real estate is considered essential, there are a lot of guidelines, rules and special forms in place that are for everyone’s benefit. Making sure you have a professional who can keep you updated as things change (which is often) so that your property is protected, is huge. From special forms to proper cleaning protocols to sanitation, our current state of affairs is making it hard for sellers to do this alone, safely.
2. A Multifaceted Online Marketing Strategy Is a Necessary to Attract Buyers
Experts have cited studies that showed the first step for almost 50% of buyers was to start their search online. As the process progressed, that percentage increased to 93%. This was BEFORE Covid-19, which now requires people to start virtually and jump through hoops to see a home in person. A seller who is not familiar with Lake Tahoe Real Estate simply will not have the resources that a Realtor would. We have access to the local MLS, several marketing programs geared specifically towards Real Estate buyers and cutting-edge technology and tools that help us get our listings in front of the most buyers at the right time.
3. You Don’t Have Any Insight on How Serious the Buyer Is or if they are Even Prequalified.
When you list yourself, you don’t get the inside intel from your listing agent and the buyer’s agent. A lot of the local Realtors work together to find a happy medium and also vet whether the buyers trying to come through are serious and have a loan. A Lake Tahoe Realtor knows the appropriate questions to ask in order to find out more information about the buyer. Additionally, with the ever-changing landscape of the mortgage world and the economy, a loan program that was available today could not be in a couple days. Which means your buyers may go from approved to not being able to purchase overnight. You need someone who is familiar with lenders and how they work as well as figuring out if a buyer is serious and worth letting into your home during a time that we are all being urged to shelter in place.
4. The Paperwork And Negotiations Can be Overwhelming
The documentation and paperwork involved in selling real estate in Lake Tahoe was already complicated before Covid-19, but it has increased dramatically in just a couple months. There are new regulations and disclosures that are mandatory, and as a result, FSBO has dropped substantially over the last several years and for good reason. Your local Realtor acts as a third party to keep their clients out of legal jeopardy and knows all the nuances of the paperwork that must be executed to keep both parties safe from a fall out later on. We also help you negotiate as new paperwork comes in. Remember, the buyer wants the best deal, the buyer’s agent has their client as their best interest, the inspection company usually works on the buyer’s behalf and the appraiser is there to determine the value. That is a lot of people and paperwork to negotiate. Leaving this to the pros, is recommended.
A lot of homeowners believe listing For Sale By Owner will save them money. During a pandemic, it is understandable why anyone would want to save as much as possible. However, studies have shown that you actually make more money when you list with a qualified local real estate expert. The truth is, even if you were to save yourself a little bit of money, it would cost you a lot of time and stress trying to work through things that should be handled by an industry expert.
For more information on selling Lake Tahoe real estate, feel free to contact me. I would be happy to help!
