Buying and selling real estate is one of life’s most expensive transactions you’ll ever make and it really comes down to one word: expertise.
“If you think it’s expensive to hire a professional, wait until you hire an amateur!”
So, why should you be using a real estate agent?
1. Experience
You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. An experienced real estate agent can help you get your house ready for sale, point out housing-code or zoning violations, and suggest improvements to help your house sell. Aside from the technical aspects of a sale and the mistakes people can make in the paperwork, real estate agents know suburbs and the houses located in them inside and out. If you’re looking for something specific, they are the ones who can help you find that.
2. Connections
Real estate agents have a network of buyers and a support system of real estate professionals, which makes buying and selling houses that much easier. They might know about the perfect home for you, even when that home hasn’t been advertised as yet. A real estate agent regularly talks to other agents – word-of-mouth is an extremely effective way of finding buyers.
3. The law
Real estate agents know the law when it comes to selling and buying properties. You may want a property that you can build an extra granny flat onto or you may want to turn your house into an office – they will advise what you can and can’t do according to the law so you can avoid disappointment later.
4. Negotiating
Who would have the upper hand in a tough offer negotiation: a licensed, professional, experienced buyer’s agent who has done this dozens upon dozens of times in their career, or a home-selling newbie who has an emotional attachment to the home? Never bring a fist to a gunfight. Real estate agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction. They are professionals who are trained to present their client's case in the best light.
5. Buffers
Real estate agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If you're a buyer, you only want to be shown what’s right for you. If you're a seller, your agent will filter all those phone calls that lead to nowhere and try to induce serious buyers to write an offer immediately. If you are looking to sell your home yourself, you will have to solicit calls from interested parties, answer questions and make appointments. Keep in mind that potential buyers are likely to move on if you tend to be busy or don't respond quickly enough. Alternatively, you may find yourself making an appointment and rushing home, only to find that no one shows up.
6. Priority
Remember how hectic your schedule can get trying to juggle your professional life and family time? Trying to sell or buy a house privately means that you now have to fit all of that in while carrying on with everything else. Buying and selling properties is the real estate agent’s number one priority – it’s their full-time job. You might waste your money on newspaper ads and other marketing tactics. A good real estate agent will know when, where, and how to advertise your property.
Thinking of buying or selling a property? Drop us a message and one of our experienced agents will give you a call.