There is so much information available online and some clients will ask me "Why they should hire a real estate agent? Here are 10 reasons why you might want to hire a professional real estate agent. 1. Education & Experience You don't n......
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There is so much information available online and some clients will ask me "Why they should hire a real estate agent? Here are 10 reasons why you might want to hire a professional real estate agent.
1. Education & Experience
You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. The trick is to sfind that right person. For the most part, fees are about the same. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you? We are all looking for more time in our lives for family, friends, hobbies etc…. and hiring the right professionals will give that time.
2. Agents are Safeguards
Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If you are a buyer of a new home, your agent will keep the builder's agents at bay, preventing them from nipping at your heels. If you are a seller, your agent will screen all those phone calls that lead to nowhere and try to encourage serious-minded buyers to immediately write an offer.
3. Neighborhood Knowledge
Agents have the knowledge and tools to located information about your neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales in your neighborhood and hand those facts to you. Agents can also point you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime, demographics etc... For instance, you may know that the house down the road was on the market for $125,000, but your agent will know that this same home had some upgrades done and sold for $110,000 after being on the market for 72 days and that it was pending twice and fell through before it finally sold.
4. Price Guidance
Agents do not select prices for sellers or buyers, contrary to what some people may believe. An agent will help guide clients to make the right choices for themselves, based on market supply, demand and conditions. Agents will ask buyers and/or sellers to weigh all the data supplied to them and then choose a price. The agent will formulate and commence the selling strategies for the seller and/or the negotiation strategy for the buyer.
5. Market Conditions Information
Realtors are knowledgeable about their local market conditions, which plays a role in the selling or buying process. Information such as: the average sq ft of similar homes, median and average sales prices, average days on the market and ratios of list-to-sold prices will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do.
6. Professional Networking
Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to the legal liabilities, many Realtors will not recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and competitive pricing. Having said that, Realtors can give you a list of references with whom they have worked with in the past and provide background information to help you make a wise selection.
7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality
Agents can negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are skilled. Good agents are not messengers; they are professionals who are trained to present their client's case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests.
8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork
Today's purchase contracts can run 10+ pages. That does not include the federal, state, or local mandated disclosures. Most real estate files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands.
9. Answer Any Questions After The Closing
Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back and haunt you. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax assessments or the transfer tax can fall months behind and/or mix up invoices, but one call to your Realtor can straighten out the confusion. Good agents stand by and are ready to assist you. Worthy and honest agents will not leave you to fend for yourself.
10. Develop Relationships for Future Business
The basis for a Realtor’s success and continued career in real estate are referrals. Few Realtor’s would survive if their livelihood dependent on consistently drumming up new business. Good agents will have happy and satisfied clients and those clients will be the ones that help you stay in business because of their referrals.
