We all know someone who bought or sold their home without a Realtor®, and you know you can do it as well. But here are some reasons why your really shouldn’t. You are making one of the biggest financial decisions of your life and you need an expert Realtor® to make sure it is done correctly.
Expertise and Experience – Buying or selling a home requires countless numbers of forms, disclosures, reports and other real estate specific documents. Your realtor has the experience and training to prepare your deal, while avoiding mistakes that could cause serious delays, jeopardize your transaction or cost you your hard earned money.
Searching knowledge and power – We will be the first to admit that it is true that you can find almost anything on the internet, including homes! Online real estate aggregator sites are very good at pulling all sorts of information but weak at keeping that information updated which can lead to unnecessary frustration with your search. A realtor has access to the very latest and most accurate information. In addition, there are often properties that are available but not currently listed, soon to be listed or advertised. A Realtor® can help you find and inform you of those properties.
Then there is the simple fact that a good local Realtor® will know the search area better than you possibly could. Your Realtor® is prepared to know the ins and outs of every neighborhood that they serve, and can direct you to a home in your price range that you may have missed.
NEGOTIATIONS – When buying or selling a home, there are always going to be negotiations. In today’s “low inventory” housing market, these negotiations can get heated. There could be multiple offers (read bidding wars) and all cash offers. You will need and want a professional negotiator on your team to make sure that you get the best deal for you. It is not always about the money. It is important to have a realtor that writes a purchase agreement, making sure that there is adequate time for your needs, including contingencies, inspections and financing deadlines.
THEY KNOW EVERYONE – While it is true that a lot of real estate agents think they know everything, they really do seem to know just about everyone that can reliably assist you with the purchase or sale of your home. That list includes, Mortgage people, home inspectors, home stagers, interior designers, trades people, etc. They are in your Realtors® network. Why not use them.
Realtors® Code of Ethics – A real estate agent that is a Realtor®, is not only licensed by their respective state, but is also a member of the National Association of Realtors®. So what? Realtors hold themselves to a higher standard than non-Realtors and must adhere to the National Association of Realtors® Code of Ethics.
They are there for you – Realtors® are sales people, but they end up being a data analyst, therapist and parent at the same time. Your Realtor will spend countless hours driving around with or without you to check out listings on your behalf. The money that they spend marketing your home is their money, not their brokerage’s (assuming your selling). They are there for you whether you need more information on a house, or just need someone to offer counsel once you have a successful offer. Remember this is probably the biggest financial and emotional decision of your life and guiding you through it is something that your Realtor® and more specifically your Realtor® at the Lookout Real Estate Group takes very seriously.