Sales Hyperbole
“Never ask a barber if you need a haircut.”
Is now “A GREAT TIME TO BUY A HOME?”
Is it in fact, “THE BUYING OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME?”
Search me.
But I’ll say this: Realtors who are screaming those things (or statements like it) the loudest: a) don’t have a clue; and b) don’t have your best interests at heart.
The same goes for stockbrokers, commodities brokers, or anyone else who stands to pocket a commission from persuading you to take their advice.
Advice and Market Info
So, what is a good Realtor’s proper role?
As I wrote in Realtor Job Description, a good Realtor helps you maximize what you get, either as a Buyer or Seller.
Obviously, that role entails expert knowledge of prevailing prices, current housing inventory, and trends in same.
Armed with that info, your Realtor can certainly coach you on which home is the best fit for you — or what you can realistically expect to sell your current home for.
However, timing the market is just not something Realtors — or anyone else — is consistently good at.
P.S.: Over the years, I’ve found that clients buy and sell when they’re ready — not when their Realtor persuades them to.
If it were otherwise . . . Realtors would make a lot more money!