Why should you hire a real estate agent?

With so many listing websites and so much information on how to buy and sale houses right at your fingertips, you might ask yourself; "why should I hire a real estate agent?" when you could totally DIY the process based on your own meandering experience. Here is why: 

Up-to-date knowledge and experience. Most people sell or buy a homes a couple of times in a lifetime, and most likely with quite a few years in between each transaction, so even if you are not new to the process, laws and regulations change quite often. The same goes with the market. A real estate agent handles hundreds of transactions over the course of their career, giving you the advantage of having an expert on your side and not have the pressure to only rely on your own knowledge and experience however vast or limited it could be. 

Objectivity and relevant information.  A real estate agent can provide you information about the community and the area you are interested in, as well as local utilities, zoning, schools districts, and a lot more. They also put aside their emotions giving you objective information about each property. When you are a buyer it can be challenging dealing with an owner that wants to sale you their house, plus want to put a price on the memories and precious moments they lived in said house. A home is so much more than than just another purchase. For most people, buying a home represents the biggest and most important purchase they’ll ever make. Having a committed, but objective, third party real estate professional helps you stay on track and focused what matters the most to you.

Finding a hidden gem. You can find pretty much anything online, so yeah, you can find home listings on your own if your a buyer and you can sale your home on your own if you're a seller, however, real estate agents have access to even more listings, more than you can imagine. There are lots of properties available but not actively advertised. Plus, a good real estate agent is more likely going to know your search area a lot better than you ever could.

Advertising your home. Of course, property doesn’t sell due to advertising alone, but a large share of real estate sales comes as the result of networking. Real estate agents might not know everything and everyone, but they sure make it their personal mission to know just about everyone who can possibly help in the process of buying or selling real estate, from mortgage brokers, attorneys, home inspectors, building inspector, painters, appraisers, interior designers—the list goes on—and they're all right in your real estate agent's sphere of influence, AKA a good network.

Negotiation skills. There are so many factors to consider and so many different things that will be up for discussion before two parties can settle on a deal. A real estate agent will look at every angle possible from your perspective, including creating an offer on the buyer side or counter offer on the seller side that allows you the terms and flexibility you need to take the next step.

Ethical standards. This is when it's important for you to know the difference between a real estate agent and a REALTOR®  The word itself is a trademark referring to a licensed real estate agent who's an active member of the National Association of Realtors (NAR) and therefor, has the ability to use  that widely respected title. A real estate agent is licensed to assist consumers in the process of buying and selling commercial or residential property. Must real estate agents have a code of ethics of some kind, however a REALTOR®, such as your truly, adheres to an even more strict code of ethics, which is based on professionalism and protection of the public.

Selling a home usually requires a lot of different forms, reports, disclosures, etc. A knowledgeable real estate agent and/or REALTOR®will help you prepare to get the best deal no matter what side of the transaction you are on. By having a real estate agent you can avoid delays and costly mistakes. That's why it is important not only for owners to hire real estate agents when selling their home, but also for buyers to hire a buyer's agent when buying a home.