Do You Need a Realtor?
Once you have decided to sell your home, one of the first questions you probably want to answer is, do I need a realtor?
It may be tempting to try to sell or buy a home on your own, especially if you have purchased real estate more than once in the past. While it is possible to buy or sell a property without a realtor, the benefits of working with a realtor can easily outweigh the cost of trying to do things yourself.
You can sell or buy a home without one…but should you?
What does a Real Estate Agent do?
A real estate agent’s job is to buy, sell, or rent property. They do earn commission on sales, but real estate agents have a fiduciary duty to help you negotiate the best deal. Depending on whether you’re buying or selling a property, your real estate agent will take on different roles and responsibilities.
Learn more about what Seabrook Island Real Estate Agents do to help both buyers and sellers.
The Benefits of Working with a Realtor
Real Estate agents are professional home buyers and sellers.
1.Real Estate Agents Know Market Behavior
A major benefit of working with an experienced realtor is their knowledge of market behavior. Realtors know how to best navigate downturns, uncertain markets, and market volatility. In this day and age, that skill is more important than ever. An experienced real estate agent won’t just help you buy the perfect home, they’ll strategize with you to protect your investment for years to come.
Real estate agents also have access to information about other sales in the neighborhood and comparable markets. As the premier real estate group on Seabrook Island, our agents specialize in properties at Seabrook Island near Charleston, SC. We’re local to the community and can quickly help you narrow down neighborhoods, properties, and homes. Spend less time looking so that you can close on your dream home faster with knowledgeable, experienced agents.
2. Real Estate Agents Are Your Advocate.
A realtor is an advocate on your behalf. Having someone that can talk to clients as your liaison takes the pressure off of you and allows you to make more clearheaded decisions about properties. It also is a channel to ask all the tough questions about the property and location and to get unbiased answers before buying.
3. Real Estate Agents Remain Objective
Selling a home where you’ve lived for years is a sentimental experience. The house carries all your memories as well as your family’s. It can be hard to see a realistic picture of the market value of what you’re buying or selling through your own eyes. A real estate agent’s objective viewpoint helps detach a property’s sentimental value from its market value. Knowing what to budge on, how to restage spaces, and what to say in your listing can help you get you the best deal based on what the markets are saying.
A real estate agent can help you see a property from an unbiased perspective, that of your buyer, so you can make the best decision based on your property’s value.
4. Real Estate Agents Can Spot a Serious Offer
Save time, energy, and resources by quickly determining which ‘buyers’ are actually serious about your property. One of the most frustrating aspects of buying or selling a home is fielding requests from parties that are not actually serious about the property. Working with an agent that can quickly spot the telltale signs of a browser without purchasing power can reduce wasted resources, time, and headaches.
5. Realtors Are Full-Time Buyers and Sellers
There’s a reason ‘realtor’ is a full-time job. Selling a home takes significant energy, time, and resources. Should you choose to sell or purchase a home without a real estate agent, understand that you will be carrying the weight of scheduling, showing, and being flexible to meet homebuyers and sellers at their convenience, not necessarily at yours.
A real estate agent alleviates the burden of always having to organize, show up for, and communicate with buyers and sellers.
6. Real Estate Agents Have the Negotiation Experience
Inexperienced contract negotiations lead to potential legal and financial ramifications. With years of experience negotiating the best terms and agreements, a professional real estate agent will help you navigate around the complexities of closing agreements to ensure you’re getting the deal you want from beginning to end.
So, do you need a real estate agent?
The answer is probably yes, with some exceptions. If you or your spouse are an experienced realtor, then you could consider listing for sale by owner. If you feel completely confident in your ability to decipher listings, investigate potential issues, perform a comparative analysis of neighborhoods and properties, and can be available at a minute’s notice maybe you do want to represent your interests. You could buy or sell on your own. Just be prepared to give the process the same time, energy, and resources as you would if this was your full-time job.
At Seabrook Island Real Estate, our mission is to help you find the perfect property to enjoy life on our private island near Charleston, SC. Working with a Seabrook Island Real Estate agent means you’re guaranteed professional representation from experienced, local agents that are invested in seeing our community and property values thrive.
Get connected with a Seabrook Island Real Estate agent today!