Navigating the process of listing your home can be daunting, and many sellers turn to real estate agents for their extensive expertise and guidance. However, it’s essential to recognize that the services of a real estate agent come with a significant financial burden that extends well beyond the typical high commission fees. If your property isn’t in top condition or if you need to sell quickly, it’s crucial to evaluate the overall profitability of the traditional listing method. Join us as we delve into the five primary costs you can expect when hiring a Lehigh Valley real estate agent.
Holding Costs
When hiring a Lehigh Valley real estate agent, you must prepare for an undefined timeframe in which you will be accountable for holding costs—ongoing monthly expenses that continue until your property sells. Each passing month can diminish your profits, and you’ll also need to manage the upkeep and repairs of the property should any new issues arise. Unfortunately, sales can fall through if buyers need to secure financing or if they back out after inspections, potentially forcing you to relist your home. In contrast, professional home buyers like those at iBuyLehigh operate with cash, providing you with a guaranteed closing date, often within just a few days. This can relieve you of the burden of prolonged holding costs and uncertainties associated with traditional sales.
Preparation and Repairs
If your home isn’t move-in ready, hiring a Lehigh Valley real estate agent means you’ll likely incur significant out-of-pocket expenses to enhance your property’s curb appeal and attract buyers. Most buyers prefer homes they can move into immediately, so if your property doesn’t meet these standards, it may languish on the market. In some cases, you might receive lowball offers from buyers hoping to profit from doing repairs themselves. This can be especially frustrating for sellers who have an emotional attachment to their homes, as negotiating with these buyers can feel dismissive and insulting. Additionally, if you opt not to make necessary repairs, you may be faced with numerous contingencies or requests for credits, often accompanied by exorbitant repair estimates. By selling directly to professional home buyers like those at iBuyLehigh, you can avoid the hassle of prepping and repairing, as we purchase homes in Lehigh Valley in as-is condition for cash.
Marketing Expenses
When hiring a Lehigh Valley real estate agent, you should factor in marketing costs, which have increasingly come to include professional photographers and drone videographers as industry standards. For those attempting to sell their properties as FSBO (for sale by owner), it’s crucial to understand that online buyers often overlook listings with poor photography. Instead of worrying about marketing costs, you can simplify the process by selling directly to professional home buyers like those at iBuyLehigh, allowing you to skip the complexities and expenses associated with traditional marketing.
Staging Costs
Professional stagers possess the expertise to create inviting spaces that help buyers envision themselves living in your home. In addition to their marketing strategies, staging costs are yet another expense you can anticipate when hiring a Lehigh Valley real estate agent. Staging can potentially increase profits by up to 5%. You may also incur costs for storing excess clutter and personal décor that could detract from the property’s appeal. Additionally, renting storage for larger furniture pieces might be necessary to avoid making your rooms feel cramped. However, by choosing to sell directly to professional home buyers like those at iBuyLehigh, you can bypass the tedious work of staging and keeping your home in pristine condition for showings.
Commissions and Closing Fees
The commissions, broker fees, and closing costs associated with hiring a Lehigh Valley real estate agent can vary considerably, often adding up to 10% of your home’s sale price. It’s not uncommon for sellers to also cover the buyers’ closing costs. Conversely, when you sell directly to professional home buyers like those at iBuyLehigh, you won’t incur any commissions or closing fees. Furthermore, we ensure complete transparency in our offers, with no hidden fees in our contracts. This means the amount we offer is the exact sum you’ll receive at closing.
Why incur the costs and stress associated with hiring a Lehigh Valley real estate agent? The professional home buyers at iBuyLehigh are dedicated local investors committed to assisting our community. We offer a quick, straightforward, and fair alternative that saves you both time and money. You will receive a detailed breakdown of how we calculated our offer, allowing you to compare it against potential MLS sale prices. You can feel confident that you will be satisfied with the deal long after closing, as our primary objective at iBuyLehigh is to empower you to make an informed decision that maximizes your profits. Call iBuyLehigh at (484) 549-0019.