Real Estate Agents Open Doors—and so much more! (Reasons to Use a REALTOR)

Reasons to Use a REALTOR: Real Estate Agents Open Doors—and so much more!

Real Estate Agents Open Doors—and so much more! (Reasons to Use a REALTOR)

Reasons to use a REALTOR?! A common misconception about REALTORS® is that all we do is “open doors,” but it couldn’t be further from the truth. Contrary to what it seems, most of an Agent’s job happens after you find the house and is done quietly behind the scenes.  Anyone can find a house, but an agent’s job is to get you closed on that house. Check out just a few reasons why getting an Agent beats trying to do it yourself anytime:

1. GUIDANCE- Reason to Use a REALTOR #1

Real estate is, for most people, the largest financial investment you’ll ever make. If it’s a residence, it is highly personal and not just a pile of bricks—it is home.  Buying and selling real estate for personal use brings an emotional element into what should be “all business.” It is human nature–even the most logical thinker can get spirited when the stakes are so highly personal.  An agent will help keep things in perspective and offer the best course of action in difficult circumstances.

Don’t know the difference between an appraisal and a BPO? What is a structural engineer’s report? What is a CD and when will you get it? Was that an aerobic system and what was that inspection all about? There is a lot to know—and with an agent, you have a wealth of knowledge and experience to pull from.  Because your Agent is knee deep in real estate every day, he or she has a plethora of contacts for anything and everything related to it. Any kind of service you might need for your home, both at the time of purchase and after, your Agent knows who to call.  The providers have likely been tested and approved by the Agent and the Agent’s prior clients, so you’re not just picking a random number from the phone book.

2. PRICELESS KNOWLEDGE-Reason to Use a REALTOR #2

Have you ever heard the story of the man who bought a locked safe at auction? He just knew there was something amazing in it, but he tried and tried and couldn’t get it open. He finally decides to call in a pro to get it open. The locksmith comes in, takes a peek at it and walks back to his truck to get his tools. He comes back with a rusty old hammer and gives the upper right hand corner of the safe a hard tap in the upper corner.  Like magic, the safe door swings open. The locksmith says, “That will be $100, please.” The guy is flabbergasted, “$100?! How do you get that?!” The locksmith says, “$25 trip charge and $75 for knowing how and where to hit the safe.”

That story is a great lesson—and not just in real estate.  Sometimes just because something looks easy, doesn’t mean it is. There is nothing more valuable than knowledge, especially the kind that can only come from firsthand experience. Most people will buy 4-6 homes in their lifetime. A Realtor® may assist in 3-5 home purchases or more a month. You can see where I’m going here. It’s hard to put a dollar value on knowledge and experience, but when something goes wrong and your Agent handles it in 15 minutes, that knowledge has value—it is priceless. Regulations, laws and trends change often and real estate transactions can be complicated, so having an Agent on your side with that knowledge is always in your best interest.

3. SAVE MONEY & TIME – Reason to Use a REALTOR #3

There is much more to a real estate transaction than finding the house. Nobody wants to overpay or under price (at least, nobody I know). Your Agent has your best interests at heart and will help you navigate the nail-biting negotiations. When buying, your agent can protect you from overpaying and negotiate the best terms possible. If you are selling your home, your agent will help you price correctly to keep in line with current market conditions, based on recently sold data from MLS. According to the National Association of REALTORS® 2016 report, the average For Sale By Owner (FSBO) home sold for $185,000 compared to $240,000 for agent-assisted home sales. That is a big difference.  Yes, you’re paying commission vs. FSBO, but your agent does the work and you walk away with a bigger check at closing.

Your REALTOR® is there to hold your hand and assist you in the biggest financial purchase of your life and it pays (in dollars, cents and sense!) to have a trusted advocate working on your behalf. You want a knowledgeable ally on your side and oftentimes, you’ve made a new friend too! These are only a few of the examples that REALTORS® do so much more than just open doors—we get them closed.

Lisa E. Priest likes to open (and close) doors and is a Real Estate Broker with Picket Fence Realty, Inc. You can reach her via phone or text at 903-948-3343 or read more at BuyPalestine.com.

Real Estate Agents Open Doors—and so much more! (Reasons to Use a REALTOR)