Fancy Sales

Selling isn't true lying but it's very close in some ways. In the real estate sales business, it's more what my dad used to call fancy dancing. You can no longer see a For Sale sign and stop, knock on the door and ask to see the place having the owner as your guide. If there is sign out front you must, and the owner must, adhere to the law. Never forgetting that selling and buying of real property isn't done with a hand shake or any fancy dancing other than what the law dictates.  Almost all present selling is done on-line with photos and printed information on the property of your interest. It's likely the best and most protected way to market since buyers can explore to their hearts' content. When you're selling, same thing. No one comes to view your sale property unless you approve of the time and date. You work closely with your realtor on what may be the largest amount you spend in your life, therefore, you must have complete trust in the person who will guide you through the ins and outs of selling and buying. The fancy dancing begins when the "stager" enters the scene and the photographers arrive. I have to admit that  this is one area that might need change. The stager takes charge in trying to make your place look its best. And while that is important, don't be foolish about it. I know one seller who actually had a mover come in and take away a ton of furniture etc and store it. Now why a buyer can't see past what's in someone else's home and mentally put their things into what they are looking at, I don't know, but it does happen. My advice is that you are the ultimate boss in this situation and you can say yes or no. Up to you. What you want and perhaps should have as the selling price is usually a myth or yet another fancy dance. Bets are you will reduce what you would love to get, which in time will wear away until a sale is imminent.  I have a quibble  with the photos aspect. You will find when you see the pictures of your abode, that you sometimes don't recognize what you see. Your sale becomes  enhanced. Most of the time, rooms look larger and brighter. Part of it is, that camera lenses, being what they are, are not human eyes. We have the miraculous ability to see reality but camera lenses can't. Photos are worked to make rooms look longer, larger and prettier. That isn't quite fair. It runs in the face of "what you see is what you get". Then comes the serious part. The signing of documents. What most people don't know, is that there is no dickering allowed with price. You aren't in some colourful market place where you can argue price. When you sign on the dotted line to make an offer, you don't  get to make flippantly another one on top of it. The seller controls the issue according to the contract of offer. It is their choice to whom and when they will sell according to the agreement. There is no fancy dancing here.  Something else that matters a lot, is that if you make an offer on a place and you see another one in the meantime, you can't just call up the realtor and say, oops. You are in a contract and what you sign is what you must do.  And in a time and conditions frame.Be aware that, when the contract is satisfied, you have to have a pile of money for a down payment in and out of your pocket immediately. It's held in trust. And is before you will see any actual money from the deal. It usually runs to about ten percent of the money you offered.  The whole matter of buying and selling is complicated and to do it yourself, is like a non-swimmer jumping off the high board. Good realtors like mine, will be there to guide you along and answer any and all questions. He or she does it for free until the sale is complete. I used to berate their fees but no more.  These are educated folk in their fields and no cute hairdo and photo smile or designer suit or Rolex watch are reasons to hire your realtor. You have a large, serious deal to work through. Buying and selling is a fancy dance and hopefully, you've have an agile professional partner.