You’re ready to sell your home. Or perhaps you’re looking to buy property. Do you know what your next steps should be? Modern technology allows you to act as your own real estate agent. You can list and view properties, contact potential buyers, etc. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hire a real estate agent! The profession is thriving for a reason.
Here are a few reasons why it’s still a good idea to work with a real estate agent.
1. You’ll Make More Money
Multiple studies have shown that homes listed by real estate agents sell for significantly more money than homes listed as for sale by owner (FSBO). Yet, that’s not an excuse for buyers to forego real estate agents either. When a home is listed for an unusually low price, a professional agent can help you scout it out.
2. You’ll Receive a Fair Assessment
You love your home’s charms. The knotty, creaky staircase reminds you of your kids racing up the stairs. The slow-flushing toilet brings back memories of your old lakehouse. However, the qualities that you think give your home character are actually detractors to most buyers. Your slow toilet can be fixed with a simple call to the plumber. Ritz Plumbing in Santa Monica recommends keeping all of your plumbing systems up-to-date. Most real estate agents agree.
3. You’ll be Protected
Buying or selling a home is a major transaction. The contract is often very complicated. Your real estate agent will read all of the small details to make sure you don’t get in trouble. This is so beneficial that you can hire someone just to review the contract before signing. Buyers and sellers can take advantage of this.
4. You’ll Save Time
Real estate isn’t an easy career. It takes a lot of work. This is true whether you hire an agent or do everything yourself. If you hire an agent, however, you free yourself from most of the stress. You can focus on other things in your life. Depending on the market, it could take a long time to find the right buyer. The situation is often a little easier for buyers themselves but finding the right property still takes time.
5. You’ll Benefit From Their Experience
There a lot of small details involved in the perfect home, details that you may not think about. You know you should pay attention to the kitchen, the size of the living room, etc. But how much thought have you put in to the electrical system? The plumbing? Your real estate agent is your advocate and will make sure that you’re getting a good deal.
People tend to be cutthroat in business transactions. If the other party feels as though they can get away with something legally, they’re going to try to do it. In some cases, it’s not even malicious.
6. You’ll Get a Better Deal
Negotiating is a skill that needs to be developed. Your real estate agent is well-practiced and can try to get you a better deal than you would have managed on your own. If you don’t know what you’re doing, negotiating can actually be quite difficult. You’re thrown own your own resources.
Everything in real estate is negotiable. The listed price often has a little wiggle room built into it.
7. You’ll Meet More Prospects
If you’re trying to sell your home, you want as many people to see it as possible. Anyone can become a buyer. When you work with a professional agent, you can tap into their expanded network. It’s much easier selling your home to a wide audience. For the same reasons, if you’re buying a home, you also want to view as many fitting properties as possible. Your real estate agent will be able to provide you with options.
8. You’ll Receive Guidance
For most Americans, most of their wealth is wrapped up in their homes. It’s a very significant purchase. Having a professional at your side to guide can lessen the chance that you’ll make a mistake. Just having someone to discuss the market with is beneficial.
Once you decide it’s time to hire a real estate agent, you need to start thinking about who you want to hire. You might already know someone with their real estate license. If not, start asking around. Reviews matter. Someone who has a lot of glowing reviews is likely going to do better than someone who only has terrible reviews.
