Are you out for house-hunting, and the experience so far was no less than a nightmare? If yes, you must have also received ‘uninvited’ advice from your friends and family to seek a real estate agent. So, what is a real estate agent? Also, does the question - “Do I need a real estate agent to buy a house” springs to your mind while searching for a property?
Well, calm down your nerves as we have the answers to your every question. Not just buyers, we are here for sellers as well. So let’s have a quick look at the top 5 reasons why you shouldn’t be flying solo while buying or selling a house.
Escape Legal Hassles
Needless to say, property laws and regulations are comprehensive & tricky. Signing contracts made of never-ending legal jargon is a challenging step for both the buyers and sellers. But guess what. Real estate agents are licensed by local boards, making them eligible to handle legal consultations without hiring expensive attorneys.
For this, you need a good agent by your side who can easily help you decipher the content of legal documents. As they have pursued thousands of documents, it is easy for them to investigate errors and missing information.
Saves Time & Money
Brokers have a good knowledge and expertise of the latest buzz in the real estate market. While buying a home, they know where to pin your dream home on the map as they maintain an exclusive database of properties that have not been advertised yet, which in turn saves you months of time.
Whether you are interested in a patio home or a beautiful cottage with an eye-pleasing view, a broker can save your time on the hunt by showing you exactly what you need. Also, if you are selling a property, an agent is aware of people looking for the home you have and can help sell your home at the best price, so you don’t waste time negotiating for the desired rate.
Profitable Negotiation
Needless to say, today’s real estate market is a dog-eat-dog world. Whether you are buying a house or selling one, you need to hire a real estate agent who will help you target the best deal for your property in the market. Thanks to the first-rate negotiation skills of brokers, they can negotiate with the third party on your behalf to grab you the best deal possible. The right agent acts as a buffer between the home seller and home buyer side, leading to a reduced amount of stress for both sides.
Attention to Detail
While buying a property, we bet you can’t make yourself think beyond the beautiful kitchen, appealing front & back yard, and those wallpapers. But having a broker as your sidekick helps you look beyond styling to focus on the real problems such as water damage, foundation cracks, etc.
Further, if you are selling a property, an agent will pay close attention to any omissions or errors in paperwork, saving you thousands of dollars.
Agent’s Extensive Network
Agents with industry-specific experience have a database full of reliable contractors, home inspectors, and more. Buyers need to work with appraisers, lawyers, inspectors, and mortgage professionals. On the other hand, sellers would have to work with staging companies, contractors, landscapers, home repair professionals, etc.
So, instead of reaching out to these people individually, the best deal would be to hire real estate professionals and take advantage of their vast network.
The Bottom Line
If you are a seller, the broker will suggest you improve the curb appeal, update light fixtures and ceiling fans to maximize the sale price. At the same time, if you are a buyer, the broker will narrow down the best deals at an affordable price. So, next time you are out, make sure to interview a few agents so you can hire a real estate professional that represents just you and caters to your property needs.
And if you are looking to buy and sell property in Ardmore, contact Jennifer Sofield - a local Ardmore seller agent as well as a local Ardmore buyer agent.
