Susan Manca – 480-593-5338

Specializing in East Valley Real Estate

Buying? Selling? Why use an agent?

I sometimes hear people saying, “I’m just going to sell my house myself. I know what I’m doing.” or “I’ll never be ready to sell, I’m just going to sell to one of those ‘competitive cash buyers’.” While this may be the case, most agents have the experience of many transactions, some very difficult, and those difficult sales are where the added knowledge comes into play. Did you know, after Real Estate commissions, the majority of sellers still netted more money when using an agent than a competitive cash buying company? Those companies need to make their money, too, and usually force those cuts onto the seller.

Along with the experience, you should know you have the backing of an agent to protect you if something is to go wrong; your liaison between you and the title company, your home inspector, or, the other agent. Think of it as an added insurance benefit! While we always hope for the best, in a worst case scenario if you aren’t (or weren’t) represented by an agent, who is going to be there to protect you?

Your agent is there to guide you and help answer ANY questions that may come up at any time. Whether you’re buying or selling, an agent you can trust is an invaluable resource.

Buyers

So you’re a buyer! Congratulations, you are on your first step to purchasing your home! Whether you’re a first time buyer, or on your 5th home, here are some basics to consider:

  1. How: This is the most paramount step of home buying. How will you purchase the home? Cash? A loan? Getting pre-qualified is a MUST before you start your home search. I can help you find a lender that suits your needs best. Just ask!
  2. Who: Who will be living in the home? Do you have or plan on having children? Do you need a Mother-in-Law suite for Grandma? Are you retiring?
  3. What: What do you need in your home? Land for horses or livestock? A master-suite with a jet tub? 5 or more bedrooms?
  4. Where: Do you commute? How long or far are you willing to drive to get to work each morning? Do you need to be close to family? A hospital? A church? Consider the most important options first.
  5. When: How soon do you need to move? Will you need to sell your home first? Is your lease up in 3 months? Having a time frame will give you a better idea on when to really start looking.
  6. Why: Why are you moving? Are you tired of paying someone else’s mortgage every month and want to finally buy? Did you get a promotion? Are you relocating to Arizona(welcome!)?

These are the questions I ask all of my buyers, and it will really help motivate you to get you to where you want to be.

I’m never too busy to help you with ANY questions you have.

Sellers

So you’re thinking of selling! Most sellers have the same questions: What does it cost? How soon will I need to move? What type of buyers will qualify? There’s a lot of different moving parts that can affect the sale of your home:

  1. How: How will my home be marketed? What are the costs? Commissions in the state of Arizona are negotiable, and there are many factors that will determine the costs of selling your home.
  2. Who: Who is selling your home (hopefully me!)?
  3. What: What types of qualified buyers should I expect? Many sellers don’t know the difference between an FHA, USDA, VA, and cash buyer. What makes a home marketable to a VA buyer as opposed to a cash buyer? Let’s discuss!
  4. Where: Are you leaving Arizona? Do you need to be closer to family? Selling in Tempe and moving back to Chandler?
  5. When: How soon do you need to move? Are you using your proceeds to purchase your next home?
  6. Why: Why are you moving? Did you get a promotion and your commute is too long? Downsizing now that all the kids are out of the house? Trying to get out of debt? Many sellers are tapping into their equity by selling their current homes in order to pay cash for their next, and in the current market, many people are able to do that.

 

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