Some people, myself included, have this funny thought process that no matter what the project is, they can

do it themselves. Well, in many cases this is completely true; there are a great many projects that you can, in fact, do yourself and get fabulous results from. However, not every project is a good candidate for a do-it-yourself.

Take, for example, the job of selling your home, while there are a plethora of agents out there chomping at the bit to assist you in home sales, there are some people who consider home sales just a big DIY project. If you have experience in real estate or are a retired agent, then this might actually be a reasonable DIY project; if your only experience in real estate is buying or selling a home with an agent, this is not a good project for you to take on yourself, however.

DIY doesn’t always work out as well as you hope, after all you don’t have the expertise that a professional generally does. A professional will know what the market will bear and can price your home accordingly; an underpriced home will rob you of money that you can invest in your new home, while an overpriced home will languish on the market with very few serious prospective buyers looking at it.

Another big reason that a professional is the best choice for the job is that because a realtor’s job is selling homes, they already have all the connections to get the job done in a timely fashion. Real estate sales take a lot of time and effort for a professional, more so if you’re learning as you go and need to make all sorts of connections from scratch.

Realtors also have expertise in the realm of legalities required in the home selling and buying business and there are a lot of legalities to consider! Because a lot of paperwork is done with prospective buyers before they’re actually shown any houses, this works as security as well.

From a buyers perspective it’s also better to have a realtor on your side to sell your home; prospective buyers would prefer the neutrality of a realtor and would almost always prefer to have a realtor do the showing with the owner out of the house. This allows the prospective buyers the freedom to ask candid questions about the property and price; they’re also more likely to take a good look at the property, looking in storage areas and closets, etc.

While many homeowners may think that a for-sale-by-owner transaction will save them the money that would be paid in commission to a realtor, in fact it is generally the case that a realtor will net you at least as much more for your home as their commission will cost you, if not quite a bit more. When you factor in the cost of your own free time that you would spend marketing your own home and the stress involved, you’re far better off handing off the work to someone who’s got experience in home sales.

When you consider the current financial climate and the struggle that so many homeowners are having with getting the equity out of their homes, it has never been more vital that you use a professional in home sales to market your home and guild you through the sales process. If you want to be involved with the whole process, take some time to research realtors in your area and let them know that you’d like to be hands on with the process; but let them do what they do best, getting the best deal for you!

Johnathan E. VenablePublisher/Editor

Don’t Do It Yourself Why You Should Hire a Professional to Sell Your Home

Permian Basin Homes & Land Magazine® is published weekly. All rights are reserved by copyright ©, 2009 Print Maniac/Permian Basin Homes & Land (PBHL), Odessa, TX 79760, (800)553-1361. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the express written consent of Print Maniac/PBHL. The publisher accepts no responsibility for errors in omissions or content.

All terms and conditions of listings advertised are subject to change and any advertising special may be discontinued without notice. “All real estate advertised herein is subject to the Federal Fair Housing Act, which makes it illegal to advertise any preference, limitations, or discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex,

handicap, familial status, or national origin, or intention to make any such preferences, limitation, or discrimination. We will not knowingly accept any advertising for real estate which is in violation of the law. All persons are hereby informed that all dwellings advertised are available on an equal opportunity basis.”

Saturday, October 3rd - Memorial Gardens - Odessa, Texas

9:00 am Registration 10:00 am Walk Begins_______________________________________________________________

Great Strides: Taking Steps to Cure Cystic Fibrosis is the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation’s largest

national fund-raising event. Tens of thousands of co-workers, friends and family come together each year as

one community for one cause…to help find a cure for CF. In 2008, nearly $37 million was raised to support

vital CF programs. Each year the Permian Basin Great Strides Walk is scheduled for the first Saturday in

October. This year that date is October 3rd.

Members of West Odessa First Baptist Church play an active role each year in fund-raising efforts

for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. This is because pastor Glenn Clark, and wife Donna, have a daughter-

Amanda-who was born with CF. At the time of Amanda’s birth in 1984, the average lifespan of a child with

CF was 6 years old. Due to ongoing research, possible through fundraising efforts like Great Strides, the

average lifespan of a person with CF is now 37 years. But there is still no cure! Because CF is considered

an “orphan disease” (not enough people are diagnosed with it), the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation does not

receive any government funding in its research for a cure. The CFF is a non-profit, donor supported

organization dedicated to finding the cure and improving the quality of life of those with CF.

Glenn & Donna encourage everyone to form a team, do some fund-raising, and come out to the walk.

There will be food, fun, and prizes. “Amanda is now 25 and we want to keep her around for many more

years! Help us raise the money that will go toward finding the cure!” To find out more visit the website at

www.cff.org or contact Glenn Clark at glenn11@sbcglobal.net.

Permian Basin Great Strides 2009 TAKING STEPS TO CURE CYSTIC FIBROSIS