Since there is so much “How-to” and “Do-it-yourself” information available on the internet, many people are fairly sure that they could buy or sell their home without the help of an experienced real estate agent. Many people believe that they could purchase or sell a home over the internet, through “for sale by owner” marketing and advertising, or on advertising channels without any help. Though this may be true for some, most buyers and sellers who have worked with real estate agents would agree that hiring a professional makes the whole selling process smoother.  Here are 10 reasons why you should hire a real estate agent to help you buy or sell a home. 

1. Education & Experience

You won’t need to do nearly as much research if you hire a professional whose job it is to know the ins and outs of real estate. According to Henry Ford, hiring people who are smarter than you means that you are smarter than they are. Hiring a professional real estate agent will definitely save you time and may also prevent you from losing money as a result of hasty or rash decisions.

2. Agents are Buffers

Agents take the spam out of property showings and visits. If you’re buying a new home, your agent will keep the builders at bay. If you’re selling a home, your agent will filter all those pesky, irrelevant, dead-end phone calls and try to encourage serious buyers to immediately write an offer.

3. Neighborhood Knowledge

Agents will either know already or know to find out the industry buzz about your neighborhood. They will identify comparable sales and share these facts with you in addition to helping you find information about schools, crime, and demographics.

4. Price Guidance

Though agents don’t select prices for buyers and sellers, they will guide clients to the right choice 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 tell you about market conditions, which will direct your buying or selling process. Many factors determine how you proceed, such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, average and median sales prices, average days on market, and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other things, will also influence your decisions.

6. Professional Networking

Real estate agents work with other professionals that you will need to help you buy or sell a home. Because of legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another but they will tell you which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency, and competitive pricing. Agents can give you a list of references with whom they have worked in the past and provide background information that will help you make a wise decision.

7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality

Top producing agents negotiate well because they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are experienced. Part of their job is to present their client’s case in the most positive manner and to agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests.

8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork

Today’s purchase agreements run 10 pages or more, not including the federal-and-state mandated disclosures or disclosures dictated by local custom. Most real estate files range in thickness from one to three inches of paper. One mistake or error could land you in court or cost you thousands in fines.

9. Answer Questions After Closing

Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt.  A simple phone call to your agent can resolve any problems or straighten out any confusion you may have. Many questions that were overlooked in the excitement of closing can arise after, but good agents stand by, ready to assist, rather than leaving you in the dust to fend for yourself.

10. Develop Relationships for Future Business

The basis for an agent’s success and continued career is referrals. In fact, few would survive if their livelihood was dependent upon consistently finding new business. The emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make sure clients are happy and satisfied. Also, it allows an agent who stays in the business to be there for you when you need to hire a real estate agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you informed and to stay in touch.