SPOTLIGHTS

In today's highly competitive market, selling your home is no do-it-yourself project. Placing your home with a reputable real estate agent brings faster results, primarily because it brings more viewers to your home. More viewers means more prospects.

Offer your Realtor a 90-120 day exclusive on your home. This gives the Realtor the exclusive right to sell your home during a specified time period and also gives him or her an incentive to sell during the allotted time.

Why, you might ask, use a Realtor when I could sell the home myself and save the commission? There are as many reasons not to do this as there are houses on the market. The buyer, for example, who sees a for-sale-by-owner sign in the front yard expects a bargain. He expects the amount saved on commission to play to his benefit.

And, there are other pitfalls. Are you familiar enough with the market to properly price your home? Do you want curiosity seekers tramping through your hone after work each day? Can you handle the intricacies of negotiating and financing? Do you want to?

Your real estate agent performs several functions that will save you time, and probably increase profits, as well.

For example, your agent screens prospects, eliminating those who do not qualify financially from those who are just looking. He is familiar with zoning, financing and the market in your area.

With an agent, your house will receive the optimum exposure it deserves and will, most likely, sell at a higher price - high enough to cover the cost of the real estate commission.

Choose a Realtor who has the right combination of drive, integrity and knowledge to get the job done. Ask your bank representative to make recommendations.

Make sure you select an agent who bears the Realtor® logo , a patented trademark signifying a true professional. This guarantees the Realtor is a member of the National Association of Real Estate Boards and subscribes to the organization's code of ethics.