Did you know that over 5 million existing homes were sold in 2019 alone? With a number like that, it’s no wonder that there are millions of active real estate licenses across the country.
Despite this abundance of realtors, however, many homeowners consider selling their homes without the help of a real estate agent.
While this is certainly an option, it’s an inadvisable one. Sure, you’re capable of selling your home on your own, but that doesn’t mean you should.
Using a professional comes with a variety of benefits that you simply don’t have access to when you put list your house as “for sale by owner”. But don’t take our word for it! To learn exactly why you should never sell your home without a real estate agent, just keep reading.Â
- Saving Time
More than anything else, you probably don’t have the time available that’s needed to sell a home in a short amount of time. With your own job, family and household obligations, and making time for yourself, there’s no doubt you often find yourself stretched for time.
Selling a home is an extremely time consuming process. First, putting your house on the market means buyers, often multiple at once, contacting you at all hours of the day. If they request a showing at a moment’s notice, will you be available to make the appointment?
It’s a real estate agent’s job to do exactly that. Using one allows you to stay focused on the obligations you already have, knowing that someone else is handling this large task for you.
- Real Estate Mastery
Becoming a real estate agent takes months of learning what questions to ask potential buyers, how to acquire useful feedback, how to handle potential roadblocks, and how to become an effective salesman. Even if you know a bit about real estate, you likely don’t know as much as a licensed professional – and that’s okay!
Real estate professionals also have access to insight and data unavailable to the public. Without this data, you run the risk of losing both time and money.
- Negotiation Expertise
Typically, there’s no such thing as a real estate agent salary, at least in the traditional sense. Instead, they earn a real estate agent commission on each house they sell. This commission is based on the selling price of the house, meaning that selling your house for the most money possible is in the best interest of both you and your agent.
This is why top real estate agents are also expert negotiators. They’re able to work a deal with the buyer’s agent and their client that appeals to all parties.
They also know important things like how to get the most out of a bidding war and what contractual terms and conditions to look for that could be unfavorable to you as the seller.
- Marketing Experience
Speaking of expertise, if you’ve done your research to find the best real estate agent available to you, they should be a marketing expert. They’ll have information such as the buyer demographic in your area, how to reach potential buyers, and how to market your property effectively.
Real estate agents make it a point to have a wealth of contacts, meaning that your agent will likely have a fellow agent or two that they can call who might have buyers interested in your home. They also have the ability to pull up predictive analytics on your property and reach out to both local and national, even international, clients.
- Inspection Navigation
Inviting home inspectors onto your property when trying to sell can be a nail-biting experience. Luckily, part of a real estate agent commission is helping you through this process.
Your agent will be able to tell you what to expect and how to handle flagged items. They’ll also be well-informed in regards to the types of repairs usually done by a seller.
Just as your agent is working with your interests in mind, the buyer’s agent is trying to get the best deal for them. This often leads to the buyer’s agent asking for more repairs than necessary post-inspection. Your agent can negotiate these terms for you and potentially save you a fortune in small and cosmetic repairs.
When it comes to the repairs you do have to make, your real estate agent will have a list of reliable contractors that you can use to get the job done fast.
- Closing Knowledge
This is the part of the process that most often leads homeowners to considering selling their home by themselves. In a typical home sale, 6% of the final selling price is given to the agents, half to the seller’s agent and half to the buyer’s.
That said, navigating closing protocol is one of the most difficult, tedious parts of selling a home. And without a real estate agent by your side, you might find it hard to learn the expectations and regulations in your area.
The money that you miss out on due to uninformed decisions and mistakes could easily cost you more than it would have to hire an agent in the first place. Remember, sell your home for a high price is beneficial to your agent as well as you. They have no reason to not have your best interests at heart.
Call a Real Estate Agent Before Putting Your House on the Market
As you can see, it’s never a good idea to attempt selling your home without a real estate agent. You might think dealing with a realtor is hassle, but if you want to sell your home for the most money in the least amount of time, it’s a necessary step.
And who knows? You might even find that you gel well with the real estate agent you choose, making the sale of your home an enjoyable experience.
For more Sell Your Home, real estate tips and tricks, take a look at our blog!
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