1.
Navigate
a complicated process. Buying or selling a
home usually requires disclosure forms, inspection reports, mortgage documents,
insurance policies, deeds, and multi-page settlement statements. A knowledgeable
expert will help you prepare the best deal, and avoid delays or costly mistakes.
2.
Information
and opinions. Real Estate Agents can
provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, and more.
They’ll also be able to provide objective information about each property. A
professional will be able to help you answer these two important questions:
Will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment?
Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?
3.
Help
finding the best property out there. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not
actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your
agent to find all available properties.
4.
Negotiating
skills. There are many
negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date
of possession, and inclusion or exclusion of repairs, furnishings, or
equipment. In addition, the purchase agreement should provide a period of time
for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property
before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to
which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.
5.
Property
marketing power. Real estate doesn’t sell
due to advertising alone. In fact, a large share of real estate sales comes as the
result of a practitioner’s contacts through previous clients, referrals,
friends, and family. When a property is marketed with the help of a
professional, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your agent
will generally pre-screen and accompany qualified prospects through your
property.
6.
Someone
who speaks the language. If
you don’t know a CMA from a PUD, you can understand why it’s important to work
with a professional who is immersed in the industry and knows the real estate
language.
7.
Experience.
Most people buy and sell
only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years in between each
purchase. Even if you have done it before, laws and regulations change. Real
estate agents, on the other hand, handle hundreds of real estate transactions
over the course of their career. Having an expert on your side is critical.
8.
Objective
voice. A home often symbolizes
family, rest, and security — it’s not just four walls and a roof. Because of
this, home buying and selling can be an emotional undertaking. And for most
people, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll every make. Having a concerned,
but objective, third party helps you stay focused on both the emotional and
financial issues most important to you.
