Selling your home isn’t like selling your car. If you’ve decided to move, slapping a “For Sale” sign on the front of your house, taking some pictures and throwing an ad up on craigslist isn’t going to get you very far. Selling a home requires a great deal of time, effort, and expertise in several areas – some of which you may find surprising! So, what does a real estate agent know, and how can it help you sell your home?
- Real estate agents make a living off of the buying and selling of homes, and they know a ton. They can provide you with a comprehensive market analysis of the area in which you live that will assist you in the pricing of your home. Additionally, they can provide you with similar information on the neighborhood in which you intend to move.
- They can provide invaluable assistance when it comes to the paperwork. The buying and selling of a home requires the filling out of a lot of detailed, complex paperwork that you may not necessarily understand. As you fill the paperwork out, your real estate agent can answer any questions that may (and probably will) come up, and provide expert guidance throughout the entire process.
- They’re with you every step of the way, and will shoulder most of the load. When someone makes an offer on your home, the selling process doesn’t end there. Your real estate agent will communicate with the sellers or their agent until a set price can be agreed upon. Plus, your real estate agent will assist you with managing the home inspection, the mortgage period, appraisals, and also be there to deal with any and all issues that may arise during the course of the sale.
Ultimately, selling a home without a real estate agent is kind of like going to court without a lawyer. Few people ever do, and of those, even fewer have had favorable outcomes. Your real estate agent’s knowledge and expertise will prove invaluable over the course of your experience, whether you’re buying or selling a home.