Don’t Go It Alone

I recently met a young woman looking to buy her first place, a condo near downtown. She revealed to me she’s been actively looking for a place for over a year. She’s devoted every minute of her free time to viewing homes with the listing agent or at open houses, driving thru neighborhoods on her way home from work and scouring the internet at work and at home. Unfortunately, she’s reached the point of exhaustion and she’s about to give up on her home search.

I understand her dilemma – house hunting can be exhilarating at first, but without direction, focus and professional guidance can quickly turn house hunting in to a chore. And doing all this work alone – without a realtor – makes it even harder.

Realtors have the one and only source for real-time MLS listings. There is no other web site that compares, regardless of their claims. A realtor’s MLS program will automatically email you new listings and price reductions in your price range the moment they hit the market. Realtors schedule and coordinate showings at your convenience – only available after work, no problem. A realtor represents you in any offer you submit, negotiates on your behalf and gets you under contract quickly. Finally, a realtor guides you through the closing process including appraisal and home inspections and gets your home closed.

All the time and energy this buyer put in to her home search could have been offset by the services of a realtor. My best advice for any seller or buyer today - or in any market – is to work with a realtor every time. Don’t go it alone.