If you’re looking to buy or sell a home you don't have to do it alone. Some people think buying or selling a home on their own will save them money. However, hiring a real estate agent can actually save you more money than not hiring one. When you work with a real estate agent you get someone that’s knowledgeable about the housing market, knows about contracts, and so much more. Let’s look at some of the reasons you should hire a real estate agent to help you buy or sell your home.
Realtors have access to MLS listings, which is one of the most effective communication tools in the home buying and selling marketplace. MLS will alert agents to open houses, new listings, and other tools that help them find you a home, or buyer, faster. It can take time to get a house posted on a site like Zillow, but your realtor will know about it sooner with the MLS listing. This also means when you sell your home through a real estate agent, your house will get put on the MLS listings so other agents see it sooner.
An agent will know the lay of the land and the real estate market. If you’re selling your home it’s hard to know if you have it priced too low or too high. You can look at online sites and see what similar homes around you are listed for, but you don’t know everything about those homes and why they’re priced the way they are. Having a realtor will help you list your house for a price that will interest buyers, and still be a good price point for you. If you’re buying a home, your real estate agent will tell you if a home is priced too low or too high. They’ll also have a good understanding of the neighborhoods you’re interested in, and if you’re looking for a specific amenity or looking for a house within a certain distance of work or school, they’ll know where to look.
They will also handle all of the technical aspects and complex contracts for the purchase or sale. Each state has different laws that govern home sales. Your realtor will have the training and expertise to make sure the contracts are correct and legal. When selling your home it’s important that you disclose any fact that could affect the home’s value or desirability. If you do not disclose these things, you could be held liable for fraud, breach of contract, or negligence. They will also help in the escrow process. This process is for transferring the title of a house and is used to deposit funds while home inspections, appraisals, approvals, and negotiations are done.
That’s another thing your real estate agent will do for you. They will negotiate not only the price, but also any repairs or other requests that the buyer, or seller, might have. Negotiating can be a long process, and can happen after a purchase price has been agreed upon. During the home inspection phase, the inspector could find things in the house that will need repaired, or are not up to code. This can start negotiations with the buyer and seller on who will fix what, or if some cost will come off the price of the house to make up for the cost of the repair. Your realtor will always consult with you about what the other party is asking for. Ultimately, it’s up to you what you do and don’t agree to, but your real estate agent will help you with what is and isn’t a good deal.
In the long run, hiring a real estate agent is beneficial to you. You get their expertise, you have someone to guide you through the buying or selling process, and they are working for you. They want you to find a house that will be perfect for your needs, and they want you to sell your home so you can continue on your journey. You also have access to their network of agents. While you only work with one real estate agent, they talk to each other and someone might tell them about a house they didn’t think of. So while buying or selling a house without an agent might sound like it will save you money from having to pay the fees for their commission, the value they bring to the table far outweighs the commission. If you’re looking for someone to help you with buying or selling your home, our team of expert real estate agents at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices are here for you.