Selling a home is a big deal. It is one of the largest financial transactions most people will make in their lifetime.
Real estate agents have expertise in the process. They have likely sold many homes over the course of their career.
Interview multiple agents, using online reviews and recommendations from friends and family. Visit open houses to get a feel for their approach and marketing.
1. They know the market
Real estate agents have a deep knowledge of the market, including property values and comparable home sales. They can help you set a competitive price that makes sense for your market and guide you through the selling process. They can also give you referrals for home inspectors and other professionals involved in the sale.
As a homeowner, you may have an idea of what your house is worth, but there’s likely a lot of subjectivity in that estimate. A real estate agent will conduct a more objective analysis of your home’s value by pulling comparable recent homes sales and reviewing them against your own to determine a fair asking price. They can also help you negotiate offers, handling counteroffers professionally and keeping you informed throughout the entire process.
2. They can help you prepare your home
The right real estate agent will recommend things like having a professional photographer take beautiful listing photos, getting any needed repairs done before the home is sold, staging the house and so on. They may also suggest pre-sale prep tasks like deep cleaning, decluttering and more.
They can help you set a fair asking price by looking at comparable homes in your area. If you overprice your home, it could sit on the market for a long time and if you underprice it, you may lose out on some extra sale proceeds.
They can help you navigate the complicated paperwork and contracts. They have experience dealing with all kinds of property transactions and can save you a lot of hassle in the process. They can also translate financing industry jargon and attorney legalese into language that you can understand.
3. They can market your home
Selling a home can be extremely stressful and a real estate agent can provide support throughout the process. They can help ease some of the stress by ensuring all paperwork is completed correctly and that items on property records are updated, as well as addressing any concerns a seller may have about the process.
Often times, agents will also be able to provide a number of marketing services for the home, such as professional photography and staging recommendations. These services can help the property sell faster and potentially for a higher price.
In addition, real estate agents can help a seller by sifting through inquiries and potential buyers so that they are only meeting with serious prospects. This can save a seller a lot of time and energy that would otherwise be spent on unnecessary meetings.
4. They can negotiate on your behalf
Real estate agents are used to dealing with the myriad of issues that arise in the course of a home sale. From mishaps with paperwork to items in property records, they’ve seen it all before and can quickly troubleshoot solutions.
They’ll help you set your sale price based on the market, and they’ll take into consideration whether it’s a buyers or sellers market. This ensures that you get the most money for your home.
They’ll also be your advocate throughout the negotiation process and will make sure that all loose ends are tied up before closing. This includes things like arranging for a home inspector and making sure that all paperwork is in order. This helps prevent any unforeseen problems that may delay or disrupt your closing date.
5. They can help you find a buyer
Real estate agents know all the terminology, and can help you navigate a myriad of issues that arise during home sales. For example, if a home inspection or appraisal reveals hidden problems, your agent can recommend reputable professionals to help resolve them.
They can also help you find buyers for your home. They can do this by marketing your property to their pool of clients. They can also make connections with other real estate professionals in the area and provide you with referrals.
Finally, they can help you fulfill your legal obligations during the sale process. This includes things like completing disclosure forms and hiring a qualified home inspector. They can also advise you on how to handle issues that may arise during the sale, such as title issues.
