Keith  Kyle - South Bay Brokers
2501 N. Sepulveda Blvd. 
Manhattan Beach, CA 90266 
310-251-2344
Keith.Kyle@SouthBayBrokers.com

Why South Bay Buyers and Sellers should use a REALTOR®?

All real estate licensees are not the same. Only real estate licensees who are members of the 
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® are properly called REALTORS®. They proudly 
display the REALTOR "®" logo on the business card or other marketing and sales literature. 
REALTORS® are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. REALTORS® subscribe 
to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process 
of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would 
use the same REALTOR® again.

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest financial investments most people experience in
 their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $100,000. If you had a $100,000 income tax 
problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? If you had a $100,000 legal 
question, would you deal with it without the help of an attorney? Considering the small upside cost 
and the large downside risk, it would be foolish to consider a deal in real estate without the 
professional assistance of a REALTOR®.

But if you're still not convinced of the value of a REALTOR®, here are a dozen more reasons to use one:
       
1. Your REALTOR® can help you determine your buying power -- that is, your financial reserves plus 
         your borrowing capacity. If you give a REALTOR® some basic information about your available
         savings, income and current debt, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. 
         Most lenders -- banks and mortgage companies -- offer limited choices. 

2. Your REALTOR® has many resources to assist you in your home search.  Sometimes the property 
         you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some 
         investigation by your agent to find all available properties.
         
3. Your REALTOR® can assist you in the selection process by providing  objective information about 
         each property. Agents who are REALTORS®have access to a variety of informational resources. 
         REALTORS® can provide local community information on utilities, zoning. schools, etc.  There 
         are two things you'll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a 
         home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?
         
4. Your REALTOR® can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating factors, including but not 
         limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of 
         repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time 
         for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are 
         bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and 
         inspections are recommended or required.
         
5. Your REALTOR® provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area 
         and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof 
         condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. Your REALTOR® can assist you in finding 
         qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written.
         reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates
         ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. 
         The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for 
         utilities. Your REALTOR®, title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause
         problems at a later date. 
         
6. Your REALTOR® can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified 
         lenders. 
         
7. Your REALTOR® can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together 
         smoothly. 
         
8. When selling your home, your REALTOR® can give you up-to-date information on what is happening 
          in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These 
          are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.          
         
9. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your 
          REALTOR® can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability 
          of your property. Your REALTOR® markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. 
          In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a 
          real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your REALTOR® acts as the marketing 
          coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple 
          Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The 
          REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these cooperative relationships when 
          they benefit their clients.
         
10. Your REALTOR® will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception 
         that advertising sells real estate.  The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show 
         that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, 
         friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your REALTOR®,
         you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your REALTOR® will generally prescreen and 
         accompany qualified prospects through your property. 
         
11. Your REALTOR® can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your 
         marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections 
         and financing  -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your REALTOR® can help you write a legally binding, 
         win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.
         
12. Your REALTOR® can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing 
       (or settlement), questions may arise.  For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing 
       or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming  for most sellers. Your 
       REALTOR® is the best person to objectively  help you resolve these issues and move the transaction
       to closing (or settlement). 

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