It’s true that you can sell your own home- but should you? I’ve met countless people that have attempted to go the home-selling route without an agent, and it can have disastrous results (even though you can technically do it on your own). Rather than advocating for people to simply use a real estate agent because it’s the fashionable thing to do, I feel it’s important to understand what a high-quality agent can bring to the table before making the decision to hire one (which I wholeheartedly believe you should do).
They have tons of expertise
Real estate has its own language, from terms like EIK to W/D to 4B/2B, and your realtor is trained to speak that language fluently. Buying or selling a home requires dozens of forms, disclosures, reports, and the like, and agents have the expertise to help you prepare a great deal (while avoiding delays or costly mistakes that can mess you up).
They know how to search
Yes, I know- you can find almost anything on the web, and it’s a waste of your money to hire someone to look something up for you. This would apply to real estate agents if not for the fact that realtors have access to even more listings beyond what is publicly available and know the search area on a comprehensive level. If buying a home, your realtor will be able to guide you towards the right home, given your circumstances, in a way that non-professionals never could.
They know how to negotiate
Any time you buy or sell a home, you’re going to encounter negotiations, many of which are going to get heated. Having a professional negotiator who can seal the best deal for you is an extremely valuable asset to have when buying or selling a home, and if their ability to secure a good deal for you wasn’t enough, they can help draw up an agreement that meets your specific needs (inspection time, contingencies, etc.).
They have connections
While real estate agents might not know everything, part of their job is to make sure they know essentially everyone that you’ll need to buy or sell your home- real estate attorneys, home stagers, mortgage brokers, and so on. Using these hand-picked professionals through your realtor’s network will pay off tremendously.
They can be a therapist, parent, and data analyst- all in one
The great thing about agents is that they wear a lot of different hats. They’re salespeople, to be sure, but they actually do a lot to earn their commission, with duties of the job ranging from home marketing to research to emotional counsel. Having an experienced professional by your side during one of the biggest emotional and physical upheavals in your live is one of the best decisions you could make.
Source: Realtor.com