Agents Play An Important Role In Home Transactions

When Shannon Cohen and her husband decided to put their five-bedroom, two-bathroom house on the market this month, they returned to Bob Dougherty, the same Realtor they had used the last time they purchased a home.

The Cohens never considered trying to sell the house themselves.

"We wanted someone proactive who would get the job done," said Cohen, 33, of Camarillo.

Realtors are informed professionals who bring value to any real estate transaction. Did you know that there are more than three dozen different disclosure forms that may be required for the completion of a residential real estate contract in California? There is no substitute for the peace of mind Realtors brings to real estate transactions.

As members of their local, state and national trade associations, Realtors can tap into the latest technologies serving the housing industry today. This includes Web sites and multiple listing services, as well as market reports detailing crucial data, such as pricing trends, time on the market, and historical sales activity in your neighborhood.

Their broad market knowledge often makes them experts when it amenities and services, such as schools, zoning laws, and tax codes.

A Realtor also can assist with the critical negotiations included in every real estate transaction, and help both buyers and sellers finalize the many details that comprise a final purchase agreement.

If you are a buyer, your Realtor can work on your behalf with a seller to negotiate a sale price; set a date for escrow closing; and determine what repairs, if any, you'd like the owner to complete as part of the terms of Tor can save you time and money by tapping into market data and reports to help you determine a realistic selling price, screening potential buyers, and managing appointments for showings.

Your Realtor role also may include negotiating a sale price and so-called "buyer incentives" that help with a buyer's closing costs or other expenses. Your Realtor can help you determine what, if any, repairs you may be responsible for if requested by the buyer, and negotiate deadlines for their completion.

Your Realtor can assist sellers with the coordination of the home-inspection process, and help to ensure that the seller's responsibilities for addressing a buyer's requirements are met. They also may help with the identification of qualified contractors to help perform needed repairs.

Closing the deal takes much more than a handshake. A Realtor can provide objective support during the closing process, ensuring both buyer and seller have received the proper documentation for successfully completing a sale transaction and coordinating a final property walkthrough.

Those services were critical to the Cohens when selling their homes.

"We wanted to alleviate any of the headaches or energy we would have dealt with if we had tried to do it ourselves," Shannon said.

Your Realtor's role as a valuable resource may not end when you sign the closing documents, either. In fact, many questions arise for buyers and sellers long after a real estate transaction has been completed, and your Realtor may be qualified and eager to assist you wherever possible this includes help with future real estate transactions.

Courtesy: California Association of Realtors