Should You Use A Real Estate Agent?
With the many easy access real estate websites and apps, you may think do-it-yourself is the best road to finding and purchasing a home. But buying a home is a huge task, with a lot of legal and technical jargon to decipher. And though you may hope to steer clear of paying what could be a hefty commission, there are many reasons why using a real estate agent when buying a home is a good idea that could save you time and money (and emotional woes) in the long run.
Do You Need A Real Estate Agent?
First and foremost, consider this: it is a real estate agent’s job to buy and sell homes for clients. That means that they know what they are doing. No matter where you are hoping to move, whether it be down the block or several states over, you can find an agent who has knowledge of the particular area in which you are looking to buy. These agents work together with other agents to get exactly what you’re asking for. You tell them what you want out of a house, your wish list and must-haves, and they track it down for you. And unlike what you see on TV shows, if you ask for something or request a specific upper budget, the real estate agents aren’t going to drag you to places that are above budget or don’t have that second bathroom you’ve got to have.
What Should My Real Estate Agent Do?
One very daunting part of purchasing a new home is dealing with the contracts and negotiations. There is a lot of jargon involved in real estate, and all of the paperwork can get overwhelming, especially if you’ve made an offer and get back counter offers. Don’t want to go through all of this? Great, a real estate agent reads and drafts these contracts for a living. Their job is to negotiate with other buyers and sellers and agents. Who wouldn’t want to pass off all of that to a professional?
Aside from the contract issues, a real estate agent can help with or give you access to tools that will identify your financial abilities for buying a house. And don’t forget, they’re human, too. Real estate agents are acting in your best interest to advise you as to what you can actually afford to purchase and pay for each month. You may have many questions, especially if you are a first-time home buyer or haven’t purchased a home in a long time.
- Are your credit reports accurate, up-to-date and correct?
- How are you going to finance your new home?
- What can you afford to pay?
- What options do you have for loans?
A real estate agent has up-to-date and local knowledge to answer every one of these questions. They work directly and individually with you to help.
Homes For Sale
You can find a lot of the houses for sale in a particular area online, but you can take your negotiating power several steps further if you use an agent. Agents generally work in a relatively small area, which gives them the best knowledge at to what the market prices are (and what they have been and may become), what comparable homes there are in the area and what price at which they’re listed.
Use a REALTOR
Overall, it seems in the buyer’s best interest to get a real estate agent to help find and purchase a new home. They’re professionals that understand contracts and negotiating, have a knowledge of the homes in the area in which you’re looking. Don’t forget before you contact an agent, use your resources to search reviews to find the best, most trustworthy agents in your area.
