Welcome to the Upper Cumberland Association of Realtors Website.  It's my honor and pleasure to serve as the 2022 President of our local association.  Since our beginning in 1974 with just a small number of local members, now in 2022 we serve a 9 county region in the Upper Cumberland with a membership of over 500 active primary members and 65+ affilliate members as well.

Tip of the Month

Why For-Sale-by-Owner Sales Sometimes Fail 

Homeowners obviously know their homes better than anyone, but that doesn’t mean they’re the best salespersons for their properties. 

Some sellers are tempted to try a For Sale by Owner (FSBO) transaction because their local community is in the midst of a sellers’ market and they think they can sell easily without help. Others try the FSBO route because they want to maximize their profits and avoid paying a commission to a Realtor. 

However, statistics show that selling your home with the assistance of a professional real estate agent will garner you a higher profit, enough to cover the commission as well as put more money in your pocket.  

Why to Sell With a Realtor 

Choosing to sell with a professional rather than on your own makes sense for a variety of reasons: 

• A Realtor has access to market data about recent sales and other homes on the market that can be used to price your home appropriately. Studies show that homes priced right when they’re first listed sell more quickly and for a higher price than those that linger on the market. 
• A Realtor can show your home when you aren’t available, can respond to inquiries from potential buyers and their agents, and can get valuable feedback from visitors – all things that save you time. 
• A Realtor can look at your home objectively and suggest ways to improve its appearance – by staging and minor repairs – so it appeals to more buyers. 
• Buyers typically prefer to look at a home without the seller present so they can feel more comfortable exploring the rooms and visualizing themselves in the property. At an FSBO sale, the seller must be present. 
• A Realtor can screen visitors to your home, which provides a measure of safety that FSBO sellers don’t have. In addition, by checking to see if the buyers are legitimate and can afford to purchase your home, a Realtor can help you avoid wasting time showing your home to unrealistic buyers. 
• Realtors have professional marketing expertise, contacts with other Realtors who work with buyers, and the support of a brokerage that can market your home more widely than you can as an individual. 
• A Realtor can help you negotiate a contract that not only garners you an appropriate price for your home, but that meets your needs for a settlement date and perhaps includes a period when you rent back your home from your buyer. In addition, a Realtor can make sure your contract is in compliance with all local regulations. 

FSBO Dangers 

Most buyers today work with a buyers’ agent to represent their interests. If you choose to sell your home on your own, you’ll be negotiating with a professional and relying on your own skill to finalize a contract. Not only could you end up selling your home for less money, you could leave yourself open to potential legal problems unless you have the contract vetted by an experienced real estate attorney. 

FSBO transactions can be successful, of course, but 90 percent of homeowners prefer to work with a professional rather than risk an unsatisfactory home selling experience. 

Reach for the stars and make 2022 the best year ever.  If I can ever be of any assistance to you, please let me know.

Happy Selling,

Darren Wilson, Broker GRI, ABR, AHWD

President UCAR 2022

931-528-4093

darren@therealtyfirmagent.com

License # 292793