It may seem tempting to try to sell or buy your home without using a real estate professional. But by using a REALTOR®, you have the advantage of information and knowledge through what can often be a complicated and confusing procedure.

With so many resources available, a REALTOR® may be able to help you come out with the same amount of dollars or more than you could command by selling your home yourself.

A REALTOR® is a professional who knows all that needs to be done. They have the experience and resources to advertise, find the homes that suit your needs, and make all of the preparations that save you the time and effort of researching it yourself.

When you are selling your home, an agent who knows the local market can help you set a fair market price. You want to get the most for your home, but overpricing it can prolong the time it sits on the market, making it even more difficult to sell.

A REALTOR® can help you show your home to potential buyers to its best advantage. They will advise prospects of all aspects and conditions of your home and can protect you from later objections.

A REALTOR® can also help you with the home-buying process. Buying a home can be financially intimidating, but an agent can help you determine how much home you can afford and show you some financing methods. The goal of home ownership remains one of the most commonly shared ones, and an agent can show you how to make it achievable.

A REALTOR® is familiar with all the local and current real estate values, taxes, costs and services that could affect your purchase. Your REALTOR® can show you the home best suited to your needs, and can also suggest simple changes that could make a home a good choice. It helps to have someone both objective and knowledgeable when looking for a home to buy!

When buying or selling a home, there are a lot of details that can overwhelm you or be forgotten. Using a REALTOR® is the best way to be sure that you have someone on your side to get you the best deal and see that everyone is satisfied.

Source: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS®

• Install a programmable thermostat
to keep your house comfortably
warm in the winter and comfortably
cool in the summer.

• Use compact fluorescent light bulbs
with the ENERGY STAR® label.

• Air dry dishes instead of using your
dishwasher’s drying cycle.

• Turn off your computer and monitor
when not in use.

• Plug home electronics, such as TVs
and DVD players, into power strips;
turn the power strips off when the
equipment is not in use (TVs and
DVDs in standby mode still use
several watts of power).

• Lower the thermostat on your
hot water heater to 120°F.

• Take short showers instead of
baths.

• Wash only full loads of dishes and
clothes.

• Drive sensibly. Aggressive driving
(speeding, rapid acceleration and
braking) wastes gasoline.

• Look for the ENERGY STAR label
on home appliances and products.
ENERGY STAR products meet strict
efficiency guidelines set by the
U.S. Department of Energy and the
Environmental Protection Agency.

• Visit www.energysavers.gov for
more energy-saving ideas.

-Taken From the U.S. Department of Energy