Sounds a little suspect coming from your realtor, but this is a valid question. Today with a website and app for everything, it can be easy to wonder, “Why do I even need a realtor?” Websites like Trulia and Zillow are great resources to browse homes and see what is out there, but they are no substitute for an expert guiding you through one of life’s most stressful decisions.
Here are a few reasons why we feel technology can’t replace people:
Expertise. We live and breathe real estate. It’s not an 8-5 job, we are at it every day of the week and every hour. With 25+ years in the industry, we have all the knowledge of the market, negotiation, complex situations, contracts, legal issues, construction of a home…you name it. You can google almost any sickness online, but chances are you will still talk with nurses and doctors to guide you on your care.
MLS. The Multiple Listing Service (MLS). This is the primary source for real estate agents looking for homes for their clients. Other agents want to deal with other agents to have a professional negotiation. Some won’t even show homes if they are not on the MLS.
Relationships. We are relationship builders, and this sets Desrochers Realty Group apart from others in the field. We build relationships in the industry- we have a “guy” for everything to recommend to you. And we trust these people because we’ve built relationships on mutual respect for a job well done. This is important to us. This also applies to our relationship with buyers and sellers. We value the relationship we’ve entered with you and recognize how important it is to your life. We find that most of our clients become our clients and friends for the long haul.
Time. There are certain jobs you outsource, other jobs you DIY to save money. Selling/buying a home is a fulltime job and requires not only a lot of time, but also in a timely fashion. You’ll need a lot of free time to sell on your own. There is a reason we are tethered to our phones and steering wheels! We have a team of people that work together to sell your home, and each of those people are an expert in their role.
Home Worth. Some people feel they stand to make more money selling on their own rather than paying a realtor- but oftentimes this is not the case. Realtors have the industry knowledge of home worth, can advise on areas to update to make it worth more, and understand all the comps. You can see how much people are putting their houses on the market for, but we know what they are actually selling for and why.
Legal Matters. Selling and buying a home is a legal matter. Lots of money, lots of parties involved, and lots of contracts. Would you go to court on your own without a lawyer?
Negotiations. Accepting the right offer, proposing the right offer, understanding if it’s a good offer, negotiating prices up and down…this is a skill learned.
Marketing. We want to sell your house in the best conditions possible. This is our job, how we earn our living, and how we can make you happy so you would recommend us to others. We know how to market your home, what works and what doesn’t, and what types of marketing are best to reach potential buyers of your home. We can do it more affordably than you can on your own because we have relationships with the vendors and negotiate on bulk.
Bottom line- selling and buying a home is an incredibly personal and life changing comittment. We’ve dedicated our careers to being experts in guiding people through real estate decisions. We are happy for the technology that comes along to make the process easier for everyone, but nothing can replace the human by your side.
