In the age of the Internet, homebuyers and sellers feel more empowered than ever to handle things on their own. But in many ways, having an experienced real estate agent to sift through this overflow of information is more valuable than ever. Here’s why.
You can trust their expertise
By immersing themselves in the industry, real estate agents acquire intuition that can’t be learned with a do-it-yourself book. While you could probably estimate the value of a home, it might take hours of close examination and math. A good real estate agent will know the rough value as soon as they walk in the door. The same intuition allows agents to know when to do or say what in the negotiation process.
They’ll play the buffer
A real estate agent serves great purpose as an object between you and the other negotiating party. They can be more firm, especially when demanding repairs or calling out dishonesty. This keeps differences from becoming personal problems that might steer a deal south. Agents can also serve as a filtration system, turning down less serious offers so they won’t take up your time.
They’ll dot the i’s and cross the t’s
If you try running things yourself, you might feel encouraged to cut corners in the process to save time for everything else in your life. This can prove costly, like if an important document is left unsigned or inadequate records come back to bite you in the future. An experienced agent will keep that stack of paper organized and well recorded.
They’re a person
Computers can be very helpful in the search for a home, but they can’t feel whether one has the perfect playroom for a certain client’s five-year-old daughter. They also can’t network as well as an actual human being. Many real estate agents can help with personal and professional connections in the industry.
They know it all
Simply put, there’s more to know than you would expect, and real estate agents have that knowledge. They know the building codes, utility information, and financing options. They know the neighborhoods in their territory, block to block, inside and out.
Sometimes it’s just a good idea to put your trust in an expert.
Post by Bonnie Staskowski