Why Should I Hire a Real Estate Agent?
Buying a home without the help of a real estate agent can be a recipe for disaster. There are so many moving parts to a successful real estate transaction that it is in your best interest to hire a real estate agent when buying a house. Here are 3 important reasons that explain the benefits of hiring a real estate agent.
1. Learn Which Neighborhood Will Hold Its Value
The local real estate agent has so much experience in the market that they often have a sense of the true value of the home just from walking through it. The real estate agent views houses as they come on the market with their realty company, and they consider the location along with the home value to determine the real bottom line. When you are searching for a home within a certain price range, not only will the agent show you houses that you can afford, they will show you houses in certain neighborhoods that they feel will hold their value longer than others. This is important because when it comes to selling your home in the future, you want to make a profit. Buying a house in a neighborhood that holds its value helps you build equity and means you’ll likely get a bigger return on your investment.
2. Hire a Real Estate Agent to Identify Unique Home Features
When you are searching for a home through online listings, the information is limited at best. It is common to find only the basic information of the home listed. When a buyer has a particular need, like a finished basement, separate office space, or laundry room with utility sink, the real estate agent can recall which homes have those features, having visited so many homes on the market. Trying to locate a house that has unique features is more challenging on your own because you have to see the houses to get the answers. The real estate agent can help narrow down the search so you don’t waste time looking at a home that doesn’t fit your needs.
3. Requesting the Seller Make Repairs
Requesting the seller make repairs on the home or negotiating price based on the home inspection report is tricky business. Real estate agents have the experience and proper etiquette to do this tactfully. When you hire a real estate agent, they will recommend a home inspector who will check everything in the house from plumbing, electrical work, to the foundation. These reports are usually dozens of pages long, and your realtor knows how to select the repairs that will yield the biggest return on your investment, and what you should accept as-is. Instead of demanding the seller fix petty issues, the realtor will negotiate with the seller to make a few repairs that will increase the value of the home instantly while saving you out-of-pocket expenses the day you move into the house.
These reasons to hire a real estate agent show all the work that goes on behind the scenes of a real estate transaction. Your realtor has experience navigating all the potential issues that could come up so you move smoothly and easily through the home buying process.
When you’re serious about finding the house of your dreams, the best thing you can do from the beginning is team up with a professional real estate agent.
Inspect a Home, Ltd provides New York and Connecticut with home inspections and home testing services, as well as commercial building inspections, construction management, and property management services. Contact us if you are purchasing a property and would like to hire any of our professional services.
Click here for an article we wrote with tips on buying a home in a seller’s market.