Remember when everyone did almost everything for themselves? It’s so rare these days that we now have a lifestyle category called DIY. The do-it-yourself enthusiasts boast their ability to do things for themselves. Lately, this has more to do with crafts or fixing up your home. However, some people try to expand the DIY label into their professional lives. This includes real estate which is a common and very big mistake.
Imagine trying to pay your taxes on your own each year. You would be accurate, probably within 20% of what you really owe, but you would still be off and that means off by thousands of dollars. That’s not something that’s acceptable in taxes and in real estate. You need to work with a professional, regardless of whether you are buying or selling.
Why You Need A Realtor
It’s understandable why you would want a professional realtor to assist you. They can help you with areas of real estate you are not familiar with and ensure that everything is taken care of properly. However, there are other benefits that they can offer you that will minimize any mistakes you make during this process. Their assistance can save you thousands of dollars and make the entire process seamless. Here are the top four reasons you need work with a realtor:
- Set the best price for your home: With home prices skyrocketing, it’s easy to underestimate the value of your home. For example, you may think that a reasonable price for your home would be $395,000 because it needs plenty of work and most of the houses in your neighborhood are going for $425,000 or more. However, a realtor who has experience with houses in that area knows that the entire area is in high demand and that you could easily sell for over $430,000. Would that difference be worth hiring someone?
- Market your home in the right way: No house is perfect and ready to go on day one. Every property needs work and certain upgrades. A real estate agent will know how to market your property based on what people in your area are looking for. If people are trying to select a new home to live in, you need to market yours as ready to live in immediately. If flippers and investors seem to be checking out the area more often, then marketing it as a promising property with affordable renovations needed is the way to go.
- Eliminate any tricks buyers can use: Buyers are getting creative, and sellers need to be aware of that. Buyers will use tricks like asking for cash as part of the deal, a longer or shorter escrow time depending on what gives them the advantage, applying inflation pricing for potential repairs and other tricks to get themselves a better deal. Your realtor will be able to help you avoid these tricks and save thousands of dollars in the deal.
- Manage buyers completely: In some cases, you may have already moved out or you simply are not in the mood to deal with buyers. That’s reasonable and a real estate agent can help you with that, handling all the communication with potential buyers and only involving you with the important aspects of the sale.
A realtor is someone who is going to work hard to ensure that you get the best deal on your home. It doesn’t matter if you are buying or selling, you need the assistance of an experienced professional who can help you navigate your way through this process. Many DIY enthusiasts have ended up having to take on more responsibility than they originally expected and also lost out on a lot of money because of mistakes they were not aware of. Avoid those mistakes and give yourself the advantage you need.
