11/13/2017 Breaking Up With Your RealtorWhen it comes time to sell your home, you have to put in a lot of thought, time and trust for the process. The process can be tedious and daunting, so you want to make sure you are comfortable as you get started. You have heard the phrase, “When you want something done right, do it yourself”. In the case of realty, this is often the best choice. Whether it was a bad experience, a disagreement over pricing, or a desire to save money there may be a time when you realize you need to end things with your realtor.
Be Prepared The first thing you need to understand before venturing into the realty world alone is that you need to be prepared. You need to research every aspect, arming your self with the knowledge that an agent normally would provide for you. You need to understand each facet of the home selling game. Why are you selling? How much work do you need to do to the house? What is your goal? Do you want to make a profit or are you just looking to relocate? These are all simple questions you need to have the answers to. Analyze your financial situation and use this to develop a pricing strategy. You need to remember that real estate agents work with the numbers for a living, so you need to familiarize yourself with pricing in terms of what you can handle. In general there are a few steps to follow when it comes to selling your home on your own. As long as you have done the research and follow the guide, you will successfully be able to manage the sale of your own home. The key is to remain professional and to preserve the connection, because at the very core, this is a business relationship. How To Handle the Situation Look at the Contract: Before you can call it quits with your real estate agent, you need to look over any contracts. If you did sign any paperwork with them, it likely spells out the length of time you are obliged to work with them. If there are conditions to your business relationship, you may need to consult with a legal professional about your options. Be sure to read the fine print carefully, because these contracts are legally binding and can be hard to break. Talk it Over: Remember that your realtor is a professional who most likely prides themselves on doing a good job. If they are not meeting your expectations, a good first step is to sit down and talk it over with them. If you clearly define your expectations, it gives them a chance to make changes or they will choose to step aside. As long as you remain professional and respectful in your approach, there will be no hard feelings. Even with a contract in place, by having a discussion, you allow the realtor to address their actions. Chances are if they know you are unhappy, they would rather let you go on alone anyway. Get it in Writing: Once you have discussed the situation with your agent, be sure to summarize the whole thing in writing. You want to get this done so as to prevent any misinterpretations or confusion. You do not need a notarized legal document; a simple email re-cap will provide the same sentiment and closure. It's the Thought that Counts: Since there are no hard feelings, consider referring the agent to some friends or neighbors who are looking to work with an agent. This along with a small gift of appreciation, like a gift card, goes a long way in healing the rift over the breakup. A small note to say thank you can have a big impact. It is important to let them know that you still appreciate their efforts and is nothing personal. Some business relationships are just not productive. Comments are closed.
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