Selling your home without a real estate agent might seem like the easier choice. However, there are still huge advantages to working with a professional to navigate the market. Here are some basic things to know about working with a real estate agent to sell your home:
One excellent advantage of working with a real estate agent to sell your home is that you get the benefit of their networking and marketing skills. A real estate agent can list your home on your local Multiple Listing Service to reach more potential buyers--and their agents. Most successful real estate agents also have connections to other professionals you'll need during the process, like contractors, inspectors and home stagers.
There is a lot of negotiation involved in selling a home. Most potential buyers are working with their own real estate agent, so having professional representation in the transaction is crucial. There are contracts, legal jargon and other details that can be overwhelming and complex. Luckily, your agent can handle all of that for you, including any back-and-forth communication over price and contingencies.
Selling your home takes time and effort--about as much as a full-time job. For sellers already trying to balance work, social and family life with their home sale, all of that work can lead to frustration and a long time on the market. However, when you work with an agent, their full-time job is selling your home, leaving you to manage and live the rest of your life. An agent will help you with scheduling and hosting open houses, staging your home and all of the other clerical work involved in the process.
While it might seem cheaper and simpler to sell your home yourself, working with an agent will give you an enormous advantage in the real estate market. Consider these benefits if you're thinking of selling your home.