In today’s housing market many people tend to undervalue the important role real estate agents play in the buying and selling of homes, often viewing real estate agents merely as the middleman.
However, real estate agents play an active and important role in house transactions and can help make buying or selling your home easy, stress-free, and financially beneficial to all parties involved. Here are just a few reasons why buyers and sellers should use a real estate professional:
1. Negotiating Skills
Negotiating a closing price can be a tricky business, especially if you find yourself in a bidding war. Real estate agents engage in negotiations every day, and it is their job to help you get the price you want.
Whether a real estate agent needs to soften your negotiations or help you stand firm on your price, they will protect you and your interests while being objective and realistic.
2. Marketing Power
Many real estate agents will put together an entire marketing strategy to sell your home, including an MLS listing, social media campaign, open houses, and print advertisement. It is their goal to sell your home as fast as possible, and to do this they rely on marketing, advertising, and media coverage.
A good real estate agent will utilize many marketing avenues to get your house out on the market and sold in record time.
3. Expertise
Real estate agents are experts in the housing industry, with extensive knowledge of the local market, market trends, and sales data. Therefore they will be able to recommend realistic prices for buyers and sellers that are reflective of the current market value.
A real estate agent can also give you valuable information on different neighborhoods and up-and-coming communities, and whether or not it’s the right time to buy or sell.
4. Protection
Licensed real estate agents are bound by law to act in their client’s best interests, so you can be sure that they will go out of their way to protect you and your home through the entire process. A real estate agent can ensure that you are getting the best value for the right price while protecting you both legally and financially.
Real estate agents deal with purchase contracts and legalities on a daily basis, therefore they know exactly what clauses and conditions will protect you throughout the whole transaction, particularly if you need to back out at the last minute.