Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Professional

With so much information readily available online, customers often ask, "Why should we hire a real estate agent?" They wonder if they couldn't buy or sell a home through the Internet or at least without representation. There will always be the few success stories, but the amount of frustrated, unhappy, failed stories highly out-number the successes. If you've wondered the same thing, here are 10 reasons why you might want to consider hiring a professional real estate agent.

1. Education & Experience

You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. The trick is to find the right person. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you? We're all looking for more time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time.

2. Agents are Buffers

Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If you're a buyer looking at new home construction, your agent will handle the negotiations with the builder's agent. This means you don't feel pressured or attacked and you know that your agent is on your side making sure you get everything you need. If you're a seller, your agent will filter all those phone calls that lead to nowhere from lookie loos and nosy neighbors and help serious buyers to immediately write an offer.

3. Neighborhood Knowledge

Agents either possess knowledge or they know where to find the inside information about your neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime or the community. For example, you may know that a home down the street was on the market for $350,000, but an agent will know the inside scoop of how long it sat on the market, what upgrades it had and how it dropped in price twice.

4. Price Guidance

Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select prices for sellers or buyers. However, an agent will help to guide clients to make the right choices for themselves. Selling agents will ask buyers to weigh all the data supplied to them and to choose a price. Then based on market supply, demand and the conditions, the agent will devise a negotiation strategy.

5. Market Conditions Information

Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will govern your selling or buying process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, average sales prices, average days on market, among other criteria, will help you decide what is in your best interest; weather you need to act now, or do you have time to sleep on it.

6. Professional Networking

Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of whom provide services that you will need during the buying or selling process. Agents know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and competitive pricing and can give you a list to choose from so you know you're getting great service.

7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality

Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they are not emotionally invested in the outcome of the transaction. It's part of their job description. Good agents are not merely messengers; they are professionals who are trained to present their client's case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests.

8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork

One-page receipts were prevalent in the early 1970s. Today's purchase agreements run 10 pages or more. That does not include the federal- and state-mandated disclosures. Most real estate files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands. It's good to know that your agent has an attorney who is reviewing your documents to make sure you are covered!

9. Answer Questions After Closing

Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax assessments, doc stamps or transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up invoices, but one call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents are with you even after the last piece of paper is signed and are ready to take your call with any questions you might have.

10. Develop Relationships for Future Business

In order for an agent to have continued success in a career in real estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This ensures your agent is working to make certain you are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you informed and to stay in touch.

Keller Williams Realty Cary located at 201 Shannon Oaks Cir. #101, Cary, NC 27511, opened in 2003 and has 174 real estate agents. 

If you are interested in speaking with a real estate agent for your buying and selling needs, or if you are looking to change careers, contact Team Leader, Bill Middleton by phone at: 919-882-3229 or visit our website today!