Would you try to build a house all by yourself?

Probably not. Well buying or selling a house can be just as difficult without the help of a Realty Depot REALTOR®.

 Realty Depot REALTORS® are more than just brokers. They're real estate professionals who are members of the National Association of REALTORS®, the Louisiana Real Estate Commission and their local board or association of REALTORS® — and they must abide by a strict code of ethics. It's their job to see that you get what you need every step of the way.

In Louisiana, if you do not understand “Waiver of Redhibition” or "Lesion beyond moiety”, you definitely need an agent to avoid the legal pitfalls that could ruin your home owning experience.

If you're a buyer, that means finding the right house, negotiating a price you can afford, advising you on financing and helping you work out the details that will make your purchase go smoothly.

If you're a seller, it means attracting potential buyers, selling your house within your time frame and helping you get the right price.

For more information on what a REALTOR® can do for you and about the buying and selling processes, read the information below and call your local board or association of REALTORS®.

Not all real estate brokers and agents are REALTORS®. Look for the REALTOR® "R" when you hire a real estate professional.

Selling your home

It’s a complex transaction that takes time, effort and expertise. It takes a real estate professional - your local REALTOR®.

Here's how a REALTOR® can help you sell your home:

• A REALTOR® knows the current real estate market and can help you set a realistic competitive price.

• A REALTOR® is familiar with the local home loan market, knows if seller assistance is advisable and can help you decide the type of financing that’s best to expedite your sale.

• A REALTOR® knows how to figure the approximate net proceeds from your sale, based on types of loans, your outstanding loan balance and closing costs.

• A REALTOR® knows how to add sales appeal to your home at low or moderate cost.

• A REALTOR® knows where to find prospective buyers. Most homebuyers prefer to work with a real estate agent and serious prospects are "qualified" as to their affordable price range before they are shown through your home.

• A REALTOR® can tap an even larger market, if necessary, through referrals and marketing techniques.

• A REALTOR® frees you from the problems associated with showing your home. The REALTOR handles all phone inquiries, makes appointments, does the actual showing and follows up. Your time is your own and your home is not exposed to anyone who has not been pre-qualified.

• A REALTOR® is a skilled salesperson who knows how to merchandise your home effectively.

• A REALTOR® maintains objectivity in responding to possible criticisms by the buyer and in presenting offers and counter-offers until an agreement is reached.

• A REALTOR® knows how to help the buyer meet local financing requirements and go about obtaining a mortgage loan.

• A REALTOR® can familiarize you with the closing procedures by explaining them all in advance.

A REALTOR® usually attends the closing with you.

REALTORS® do more than you may think

As your agent, a REALTOR® works for you and with you throughout the home selling process. It is the business of a REALTOR® to help you sell your home with minimum delay, and to help you realize every dollar it’s worth.

Expect the commitment, integrity and professionalism that this implies. Also expect this agent to work hard on your behalf. Your REALTOR®:

• knows the local housing market and can help you set a fair market price. Often a REALTOR® can advise when seller financing might be in your best interest.

• is knowledgeable of current financing methods that allow prospects to become homeowners. Assuch, this real estate professional serves the buyer in order to better serve you.

• by listing your home in a Multiple Listing Service, can work with many other REALTORS to assure you a far wider range of prospective buyers.

• frees you from the time, effort and not-so-obvious details involving the sale of your home. With so many resources available, a REALTOR® may be able to help you come out with the same amount of dollars or more than your could command by selling it yourself.

• does a lot of homework back at the office in order to sell your home. The home is listed, ads are placed, telephone inquiries are handled and appointments for showings are arranged with your convenience in mind.

• will initiate, carry out and follow through on every phase of the important and complex home selling transaction.

When showing your home

A REALTOR® is a skilled sales person who knows how to merchandise your home. This professional maintains objectivity in responding to buyer objections and in presenting offers and counter-offers until and agreement is reached.

Your Realty Depot REALTOR®:

• will advise prospects of all aspects and conditions of your home, even faults that you don’t intend to correct. This protects you from later objections, and if a buyer likes everything else, one objection need not be a serious drawback. Your forthrightness will be appreciated.

• can offer you many suggestions, hints and tips on preparing your home so it looks its best when being shown to a buyer.

• is primarily interested in bringing together buyer and seller to negotiate an agreement satisfactory to both parties. Before the first showing and beyond the final sale, you’ll get the know-how and service you look for in a real estate professional who knows how to sell your home.

Make your home as light, airy and spacious as possible. Draw back drapes. Turn on a few extra lights. Keep pets out of the way. Soft background music can contribute to a relaxed mood, but a loud radio or TV, like pets, will tend to be distracting. Fresh bread or cookies baking in the oven help create a "homey" atmosphere.

Let your Realty Depot REALTOR® work for you. This real estate professional can answer questions on price, terms, possession, etc., and maintain objectivity in resolving to buyer objections.