With the prevalence of real estate apps and websites, you may be wondering whether it’s still necessary to use a realtor when selling your home or buying a new one. While there are tools out there that can help inform you and make it easier to do these things without help from a real estate agent, there are numerous reasons why it’s still in your best interest to use one. An experienced real estate team will have a lot more familiarity with market trends and specific locations, and your realtor will likely have increased access to home listings and will be able to negotiate with other agents with more proficiency. Let’s take a closer look at just some of the reasons why you should still use a real estate agent when buying or selling a home.
- They have more experience and access
No matter the industry, someone who handles specific tasks as part of their daily job duties is simply going to have more experience than someone who does them as a hobby or is tackling them for the first time. Having more experience will typically translate into a higher success rate. A well-regarded realtor is going to be much more familiar with the real estate market as a whole, which can help you in many ways during the buying or selling process. They can help you price your home, negotiate a fair price, and access property listings you might otherwise miss. A realtor can make appointments to see homes or will schedule viewings and open houses so that you won’t have to take these jobs on yourself. When real estate is your full-time job, you’re most likely going to be a lot more skilled and take care of everything in the correct way. - They can act as a go-between
You might be under the impression that when buyers and sellers deal with each other directly, the negotiations are more transparent. That may be true in some cases, but having a go-between can be a huge benefit for both parties. You won’t have to worry about insulting a buyer or a seller because your real estate agent can help smooth things over. In addition, many buyers are hesitant to deal directly with a seller without an agent; sellers often price their properties too high and are unwilling to negotiate or they may make stipulations that slow the process down. When you have a real estate agent, he or she will act in your best interests but in a diplomatic way that can keep emotions from running high during a stressful time. They’ll also advise you on best practices and whether to make or accept an offer on a property. - They can help with marketing, paperwork, and more
You may not know the best ways to market your home listing. Some methods are better than others, and when you try to sell your home yourself, you may overlook the updates that really matter to buyers. When it comes time to draw up the paperwork, you’ll probably be overwhelmed and uncertain about what needs to happen. Essentially, your realtor is a priceless resource. In fact, 78% of recent buyers found their real estate agent to be very useful for learning new information. Whether you need input on landscaping or want to know whether you should still advertise your listing in print publications, your realtor will be able to use his or her expertise to guide you along the way. When you choose to go it alone, you won’t have this option. It definitely pays off to have a knowledgeable realtor on your side.
