Nowadays, while more and more people debate whether to do it themselves, some things are always best to engage a professional. There are several benefits to working with a real estate agent when buying and selling a home; here are a few.
Access
First and foremost, REALTORS® will have access to lists that no one else will have. Some houses don’t list publicly, and only real estate agents will have the information buyers want. There are various reasons a property may not be publicly listed, and if buyers aren’t working with a professional, they will miss out.
Savings
It might seem counterproductive to think that working with a REALTOR® will save money. Time is money, as they say. Can you leave work and rush home whenever someone wants to view your home? Can you leave meetings to answer your phone calls to the lawyers? Do you know how to prepare and market your home to get the highest investment return? REALTORS® know the ins and outs of a neighbourhood, with intimate knowledge of the market value. Years of expertise and working in the field means insight and more contacts than you could ever have. Experience will help sell a home faster and avoid the seller missing out on a home they may have their eye on to purchase.
Negotiations
Similar to the above, having a professional who knows the fair market value of a property can help the buyer or the seller through the negotiation process. Having a third party who does not have an emotional investment in the home’s sale will benefit when it comes to negotiations and help avoid unnecessary stalls.
Paperwork
Just because buyers and sellers may choose not to go with a real estate agent doesn’t mean the paperwork is any less complicated. Working with a REALTOR® will save the stress of learning and understanding all the legal terms and steps involved in real estate. REALTORS® have the training and knowledge needed for filling out paperwork, including the offer to purchase, amendments, fulfillment of conditions, and waivers. Working with a real estate agent means that all documents will be completed accurately by someone who knows what they are doing, ensuring everything is covered legally and signed by all parties involved.
Motivated to Get You Into a Home
A real estate agent’s job is to get buyers into a home and sell the seller’s home. That is their job, career, and passion, and they are motivated to do it. Full-time hours and focus ensure these things happen. When buyers and sellers do it independently, it takes time to prioritize. Not only are they juggling the steps to buying or selling, but they are also likely working a full-time job, raising a family with extracurricular activities, and everything else that comes with family life.
REALTORS® Follow a Code of Ethics
The Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA) ensures that REALTORS® follow a code of ethics. The code is in place to ensure buyers and sellers can have faith in the real estate agent representing them and in their work for them. All real estate agents who are members of CREA must agree to the code and face severe consequences if they violate it.
Eagle Eyes
A REALTOR® will be able to see issues in the home that the average person may miss. They are an excellent resource for ensuring those repairs are identified before final negotiations, so buyers aren’t surprised. For sellers, they’ll be able to identify any needed repairs before buyers see them, offering the seller a chance to address and fix any issue before it holds up closing. It could also mean the seller can ask for a higher listing price if the homeowner completes the repairs before the sale.
And so you can see that there are numerous reasons to work with a Real Estate Agent when buying or selling. If saving time, avoiding stress, and having an experienced negotiator working for you sounds good, then the next step is finding the real estate agent that works best for you.