Why Working with an Expert Always Makes Cents
GACAR Sponsored
By Ryan Walsh
When it comes to buying or selling a home, who better to trust than a REALTOR®?
Anyone who has bought or sold real estate knows how complicated the process can be. Transactions can be complex and nuanced. Aspects range from financing, contract details, multiple time frames, zoning and permitting, to inspections, insurance and most of all the emotions that come along with the process. With so many variables to think about, it makes sense to bring along a trusted advisor.
Lisa Gurske is the CEO of Gainesville-Alachua County Association of REALTORS® (GACAR), a membership organization with more than 1,200 REALTORS® acting as the voice of real estate in Alachua County. With over 35 years of real estate industry expertise, Gurske knows better than anybody the value of a REALTOR®.
“Real estate is a complicated transaction, and for most people, it’s the largest transaction and investment in their life,” Gurske said. “There’s a lot of information and misinformation to sift through on the internet, and it can lead to information overload.”
REALTORS® have the most recent and behind-the-scenes knowledge to stay on top of all necessary information. Versed in everything from new laws and ordinances to common best practices, these professionals have the expertise and the network – all at a client’s disposal.
GACAR Board President Adam Gurske believes that for these reasons, professionals like the members of GACAR are indispensable. “The value REALTORS® provide is worth every cent. There are many hurdles and unexpected twists and turns along the way. What the consumer is paying for is an advisor to help them through the process,” he said.
Without the help of a REALTOR®, buyers and sellers open themselves up to many dangerous pitfalls. Paperwork is complicated, and filling out something incorrectly can lead to delays or additional legal liabilities. Buyers or sellers who decline the services of a REALTOR® can often leave money on the table during a transaction, or worse yet, never close on the home.
The Value a REALTOR® Provides to Buyers and Sellers
- Pre-Listing Activities – Researching the market, area and property, running comparable recent sales, and compiling information for sellers
- Listing Appointment Presentation – Working with sellers directly to execute listing agreements and prepare them for the process ahead
- Showings – Coordinating showings with seller’s REALTOR® or the owner directly, gaining information about the home, providing resources to buyers and feedback to sellers
- Pre-Purchase Consultation – Working with buyers to prepare them for what to expect, connecting them with a network of professionals, and understanding their wants and needs
- Offers – Receiving and reviewing offers, explaining options, negotiating on behalf of buyers and sellers with other party’s REALTOR®
- Inspections – Facilitating property inspections, reviewing the home inspection report and negotiating repairs or credits
- Appraisals – Coordinating the appraisal with the seller and explaining the report
- Closing – Facilitate the signing of contracts and reviewing all documents with respective parties
What GACAR Does
- Advocacy – Works with elected officials to protect and promote consumers and consumer’s private property rights
- Community – Raised over $85,000 in 2023 with the GACAR Giving Circle and the Community Foundation of North Central Florida to support housing-related nonprofits
- Education – Offers continuing education and designation courses for members to maintain their licenses and constantly improve their skills to best educate the consumer
- Professional Standards – Offers a complaint process to members and the public for any potential ethics complaints, mediation or arbitration requests
For the REALTORS® of GACAR, it is their clients’ satisfaction that makes the job worth it.
“At the end of real estate transactions, I often hear, ‘I could not have done this without you,’” Gurske said. “This is always a testament to what I do, day in and day out.”
