One of many major considerations home owners (or future home owners) face is whether they should buy or sell a home with the help of a real estate agent. As we all know, the internet is filled with information that would make you feel like an expert in any subject, but in the world of real estate, nothing beats the help of a seasoned professional.
According to the 2017 National Association of Realtors statistics, 87% of buyers purchased their homes through a real estate agent. So if you’re asking if you should work with a real estate agent in your home search or home sale…the answer is almost always yes.
Still not convinced? Let’s see why the help of a real estate agent is paramount to the home buying/selling process:
Real Estate Agents Are Industry Experts
There is more to buying a home than rattling off your wishlist and getting a match. There is also more to selling a home than sticking a “for sale” sign in the front yard and hoping for the best. Real estate agents take their experience in the industry and match it to the preferences and parameters of their clients. A seasoned realtor will:
Share Knowledge on Market Conditions
Correctly pricing or making a fair offer on a home requires knowledge of the current climate of the market and the surrounding area. Comparable sales, school districts and demographics information, and current market trends are just a few areas of insights to ensure you will sell/buy at the right time, in the right place
Sell Your Home for the Highest Value
Before your home officially goes on the market, your agent can advise anywhere from necessary repairs to pass a home inspection to small updates that will boost your home’s value. Once it is ready to list, a good real estate agent will be able to stage your home to highlight its most desirable features, and list your home to maximize exposure to potential buyers.
Have Intel on Private Listings
Your dream home may not just be a Google search away. Many private listings slip through the hands of buyers who fail to work with a real estate agent. While online resources are abundant, an expert in the industry is likely in a network that is immediately in the know of new and private listings.
Guide You Through Negotiations
Negotiating on something so personal can quickly become emotional, but the most effective negotiation occurs in a pragmatic manner. Queue your real estate agent. Prices, closing costs, and a closing date are just a short list of the points of negotiation in the process of buying or selling a home. And while part of the art of a successful negotiation is demeanor, a large portion is knowledge of the industry.
All Realtors Have Ethical Obligations
The real estate industry encourages the highest level of ethics when conducting business, in order to promote and preserve the right to own, use, exchange, and even transfer property. It’s the reason why bodies like the National Association of Realtors and others exist.
The duty of a real estate agent or licensed real estate practitioner is to not only promote but to also protect the rights and interests of the buying and selling public. A real estate agent that abides by these agencies’ laws will be mandated to:
- Avoid discrimination when transacting
- Avoid deception (fraud), exaggeration, or misinterpretation
- Discourage unscrupulous and corrupt practices
You couldn’t ask for more when a real estate agent is ethically bound to put your needs first.
Real Estate Agents Are Connected to Good Resources
Successful real estate agents have built a network of connections within the markets they serve. These contacts often include: other real estate agents/ brokers, home inspectors, appraisers, potential buyers and sellers, and all other players in the industry of real estate.
These connections, however, are not only for their own benefit, but also trickle down to you as well. They can help connect you with:
Financing Options For Your New Home
Whether you are looking into applying for a mortgage or researching private lending options, real estate agents have spent enough time with you throughout the process to know your needs and financial parameters to guide you to a trusted source.
Contractors, Plumbers, Roofers, and More
Connecting with trusted contractors and suppliers during a home renovation during the buying or selling process reduced the stress of a homeowner greatly. When so much time and money is already invested in the process, it is important to know that the work can be done.
Movers
Whether moving in or moving out, knowing that the things that make your house a home will be transported quickly and safely is a necessary comfort.
Real Estate Attorneys
The road to closing deals can be bumpy. Being referred to a seasoned real estate attorney can protect you from a court date or a mountain of fines and penalties.
Your Real Estate Agent Tackles the Complexities of Closing
Just like in a symphony, a conductor is necessary to guide the musicians. In a similar way, a real estate agent conducts the buyer and seller. At any particular time, a real estate agent can be a salesperson, a negotiator, marketer, consultant, advisor, or manager, among other titles.
To be all these things, a real estate agent must have the mindset of a problem solver but be engaging nonetheless. If you were to sell or buy your own home, chances are, there will be issues when closing the deal. A competitive agent will do the following to make sure you’re a proud owner/seller of a home:
Negotiate Terms with Qualified Buyer/Seller
Agents are ready not only negotiate, but renegotiate the terms or price of a home after the results of a home inspection are revealed. They know the proper balance of give and take when it comes to closing costs, keeping their client’s best interest in mind.
Represent You in the Home Inspection
Your home inspector will play a significant role in both the buying and selling process. Your real estate agent will be present on your behalf to uncover any hidden faults, red flags, or major updates that will need to take place, which can be a deal breaker from a buying or selling perspective.
Attend Home Appraisals
Your real estate agent can set up a professional appraisal to estimate your home’s accurate market value. This step in the process exists to safeguard mortgage lenders from lending you more money than your house is worth. It is also key to effectively pricing your home come time to sell.
Tackle the Paperwork
Purchase agreements are no joke. Running at least 10 pages in meticulous paperwork, real estate agents are pros. This attention to detail is crucial, being that one tiny error could set you back thousands of dollars in court fees.
When looking for trusted real estate agents, the name Jeffrey Costa Select Realty is sure to come up. We understand that as a buyer or seller, you deserve a lot more than just a sign in the yard. Our mission is simple: provide top tier real estate services to top tier clients. Learn about our top of the line real estate agents, and get in touch with one of them today.