Why Use the Services of a REALTOR®?

According to a 2012 National Association of REALTORS® Profile of Home Buyers and Sellers, 87% of sellers and buyers used a REALTOR® when selling their home. There are several obstacles to overcome in selling your home by yourself. For instance making the appropriate disclosures, pricing it correctly, preparing it to show and sell. First and foremost is attracting motivated and qualified buyers. But that is only one of more than 20 steps in completing an accepted offer.

REALTORS® are knowledgeable and are community experts in attracting qualified buyers.

A REALTOR® goes through extensive yearly training on real estate law, contracts, financing, and ethics. They guide you through the listing and closing process in order to get your property sold quickly and for the best possible price. A Mel Foster Co. professional will screen all prospects to ensure that they are pre-qualified before allowing them into your property. A REALTOR® provides community information such as schools, taxes and local crime rates

REALTORS® follow a Code of Ethics in marketing your property to other real estate agents and to the public.

A REALTOR® acts as your own personal marketing expert by using many different networks such as the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which allows you to gather more extensive information about the homes in your community, agent open houses, property flyers distributed to all area brokers, agent networking, and internet, etc. Depending on your market, there is a high percentage of buyers that are brought in by an agent other than your own. This can only benefit you, the client, when using a REALTOR®

REALTORS® know when, where, and how to advertise your home.

A Mel Foster Co. agent has access to a wide variety of advertising venues, including local newspapers, the Mel Foster Co. home monthly magazine, direct mailings, mobile web site melfosterco.mobi, and, most important of all, the Mel Foster Co. web site melfosterco.com. As the leading independent real estate company in Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, your property is also marketed on over 260 agent web sites.

REALTORS® are objective in helping you evaluate all offers to purchase without lessening your marketing position.

Using a REALTOR® can help you avoid a lot of traps in a long process of appraisals, inspections and financing. They advise you through the offer process on price, terms and conditions, and they offer assistance in writing a legally binding contract that you know will make it through the buying and selling process. A lot of questions will arise concerning all of the paperwork involved and can be too much for many sellers. A Mel Foster Co. REALTOR® is the best person to work side by side with in moving the transaction to a successful close and will be objective in helping you resolve any unforeseen issue.