Unlocking the Key to Real Estate: Why You Should Hire a Realtor

So you’re looking to buy or sell your house. Maybe you’re on a budget, and you hope to save some money in the process, so you’re thinking about doing it all yourself. Well, you may want to read the following and rethink that before moving forward. While we are professional realtors and totally get that we’re biased here, you will likely end up saving yourself a bunch of stress, a ton of time, and, yes, even some cash in the long run.

What Is A Realtor?

A realtor is a licensed professional who has earned that title by passing certifications and licensing exams for their particular state. Each real estate agent holds a number and must  pass a pretty arduous exam for each state (or district, we got you, D.C.) in order to represent buyers or sellers in real estate transactions. Besides that all-important piece of paper, they also have a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the real estate industry, which means that can be invaluable whether you’re buying a new home, investing in property, or selling a house. 

Why Should You Hire A Realtor? 

There are plenty of reasons. The first would be their network. Depending on their experience and how long they’ve been working in the area, your realtor will have access not only to a wide range of properties for you to peruse if you’re looking to buy, but they’ll also have access to a wide range of other professionals who you’ll eventually need to use in the home buying and home selling process as well. For example, you’ll need a home inspection done if you’re buying a property and you may want your home appraised before putting it on the market. A realtor can connect you to these professionals so that your home buying and selling process is smooth and more efficient. Home lenders and brokers are another set of professionals who your agent will have in their network, can connect you too, and help you navigate your budget and figure out what exactly it is you can offer or what you should ask for as well (if you’re selling). 

While you can find these professionals on your own, if your real estate agent has a working relationship with these people, that can expedite your process and may even give you an advantage. Instead of cold calling people, you can make a call to your agent and ask them to set-up a home inspection and get a quicker turnaround. 

Secondly, this is their job. While you may be perfectly capable of reading information online and learning about a topic, the current market, or how to negotiate a deal, your realtor has done this and in the current market. They understand the trends, history of the market, and more. Furthermore, there’s a lot of legalize to know and you don’t know what you don’t know. 

As a buyer, there might be certain advantages they can explain. Maybe you’re using  a VA loan or you’re a first-time homebuyer. Maybe you’re both. They can tell you which type of loan would be more beneficial to use. There might be certain tax incentives or advantages to buying an energy efficient home or a historical home that you may not even know to research or ask. Realtors can help identify properties that will meet your needs as a buyer and help you negotiate the deal, walk you through the legal and financial aspects, and bring in other professionals, like mortgage lenders, to help you pinpoint your budget, needs, and more. 

As a seller, they can offer assistance and suggestions to possibly make some improvements or stage your house to get it ready for the market. They can tell you what other houses have sold for, what improvements were made, and the offers you’re likely to get if you should choose to make a cosmetic tweak here or there. Realtors can offer guidance and help you decide whether to do private showings or open houses, market your home for you online, suggest a virtual walk-through to showcase your home, and what you’ll want or need to repair (if anything) before putting your home on the market. 

Lastly, they’ll take care of the paperwork. Things can get pretty complicated with contracts, offers, contingencies, memos for lead, radon, and other potentially hazardous risks, and more. Realtors will help ensure that all necessary paperwork is completed, all the t’s are crossed, and the i’s dotted, and that your transaction is legally binding. 

The Bottom Line

Simply put, hiring a realtor can make your life during this vital process of either buying or selling a home or property easier. They’ll ensure a smoother and more efficient real estate transaction and likely be an underpaid therapist as well as you navigate the ups and downs of this journey. Especially now, with the market heating up again, you’ll want to be certain you have the best team in place to procure your dream home or sell your beloved home before starting your next adventure.