Why You Need a Real Estate Agent

Agents can get you a better deal

Working with an agent when selling your home is likely to land you a higher selling price, and a more favorable deal.

According to a 2021 report from the National Association of Realtors, the typical for sale by owner (FSBO) home sold for $260,000 compared to $318,000 for agent-assisted home sales. That’s $58,000 more in the pockets of sellers using an agent — more than enough to cover the cost of commissions and still have a healthy profit.

It’s not just agents who recommend using agents. Shaun Martin of We Buy Houses in Denver, a home-buying company, agrees that having a Realtor on your team makes sense. “An experienced Realtor will be able to help you determine the right asking price for your home based on recent sales of similar homes in your area,” he says.

Your home’s listing will get broader exposure

“A Realtor will be able to effectively market your home to potential buyers,” says Martin. “This includes creating eye-catching listing descriptions, taking professional photos and using the latest technology to market your home online.”

An agent will also make sure your home is added to the local MLS, or multiple listing service, which other agents use to help find listings that match their clients’ needs. This means many more people will see your listing — and more exposure means more people who might want to buy it. With a wider pool of house hunters to see it, your home has a better chance of getting an offer, or even generating a bidding war to really maximize the sale price.

You gain access to a wide professional network

On a similar note, Realtors typically have a large professional network that they can leverage during the home-selling process. Their access to a broad range of real estate pros can help connect you with a home-staging company, landscapers, real estate attorneys and many others who can help you on your selling journey. A trusted agent’s recommendation can save you the time and effort of having to research it all yourself.

Agents are objective

Selling your home can be an emotional experience. You likely have a lot of memories there, and it’s common to get sentimental. It can be hard for a seller to treat the place they raised their family as simply a product that’s for sale to the highest bidder — but it’s easy for a Realtor. An agent is an objective third party who can look at your home without the years of memories and emotional attachment you’ve built. That lets them provide valuable advice and guidance to get you the best price possible.

Source: Bankrate.com