real estate team

If you are a working Realtor or thinking about it, you’ve probably thought about what it would be like to work on your own. Owning your own business is, after all, the American Dream. But have you thought about the benefits of working with a team?

When you’re on your own all of the responsibilities fall on you

Answering phones, typing out documents, showing properties, marketing them, etc. All of this on top of what you need to do to sell properties and make a living. It’s difficult and some people do it. You absolutely do get to keep all of your own income. Sure you can hire someone to do the administrative tasks, but then you have the sole responsibility of not just supporting yourself, but paying all of the taxes and benefits involved in employing someone. You also are completely responsible for paying the lease for your office space, utilities and other costs involved in being in business. So do the drawbacks outweigh the benefits? Probably not.

If you join a you get a lot of benefits

The team shares the responsibilities. There is an administrative assistant to answer phones and type out documents, make arrangements for closings and other items. The taxes and responsibility of paying benefits and salary is shared by the team. The team benefits continue when it comes to finding leads, marketing properties, helping out if you’re new and being able to “sub in” if something comes up and you can’t keep an appointment.

Drawbacks

Yes, there are drawbacks. Commissions on sold properties are split between the Realtor and the team. After all there are costs involved in running a business and all need to pitch in to stay in business. That even applies if you came up with your own leads. Drawbacks, yes, but the benefits of that sharing are a huge help for any Realtor, especially a new one.
So which will you do?

You decided to sell your home and you know you need a Realtor to help you. Good decision. The next question is do you go bigger firm or smaller? Well, what you need to consider isn’t size so much as team. You need a real estate team to help you sell. Each team member has a part in making sure your sale, from listing to closing, goes off without a hitch.

Let’s start with getting ready to list and listing

The team member to help you here is the Realtor. Your Realtor will help you with two important things at this stage; preparing your home for sale and pricing it correctly.

A good Realtor will come and walk through your home, taking critically important notes. She will honestly tell you what needs to be updated and cleaned, decluttered and so on.

They can also help you find a contractor for needed repairs or updates, and a cleaning company to help you get your home thoroughly deep cleaned. They will help stage your home to have it look its best.

Then he or she will price your home for the best marketability.

The next team member markets your home

Speaking of marketability, the next team member is the one who markets your property. This team member will make sure that your home shows up on all of the right websites and on MLS. They will make sure that great photos of your home, room by room, inside and out, are with the listing and that there is a fantastic description making your home hard to resist. These photos will show your home at its best.

Their marketing will draw in prospective buyers to schedule a time to see your home.

Buyer’s agent may also be part of the team

The team may have a buyer’s agent. That buyer’s agent? They could also be a part of the team. They will be there to be sure that your listing is seen by their buyers who are looking for properties like yours. They will help market it while they are assisting their clients. Rounding up great listings for their clients is their job.

Dealing with offers

Now that there are buyers, your Realtor will make sure the process of dealing with offers is seamless. Whether it is one offer or several, she will make sure that the paperwork for those offers is correct and give them to you for consideration.

Making a counteroffer? A great Realtor will make sure it is complete and correct and send it to the buyer or their agent. Once the offer or counter offer has been accepted the team’s fantastic administrative specialist will make sure that the contract is ready for signature, initials and then onto the next step.

Contract signed and onto closing

Your Realtor is key here as well. Settling on a home is complicated. Whether there is a lawyer involved or just a title company or both, your Realtor will help you with all of the details.

Different inspections are scheduled, any required repairs are completed and necessary paperwork provided to the title company. There is also a lot of documents that can be very confusing. Your Realtor isn’t. He or she knows the ins and outs of sales that involve HUD, FHA and other buyer assistance programs, as well as typical financing with a bank or mortgage company.

Not to mention that you have to deal with moving. Your Realtor should know reputable moving companies to get you moved to your new home.

Have a solid team

Don’t try to sell your home without a solid team behind you. Each has their own specialty in helping you sell for the best price as quickly as possible.

If you are looking for a great real estate team in the Clearwater FL area, make sure to give The Deb Ward Team a call!

727-410-0336