CHAPTER18 How Agents Help Sellers and Buyers
After making it this far into the book, you’ve probably realized by now how important it is to have a qualified real estate agent working on your behalf, helping you navigate the home-selling, home-search, and home-buying process. Sellers and buyers alike often question whether using the professional services of a real estate agent is necessary, and are particularly concerned about the cost involved. Yes, it’s true that you’ll need to pay a commission to your agent when all is said and done, but you will probably save a significant amount of money hiring an agent rather than going it alone. The agent’s commission will be an expense, but it’s definitely worth it; in most cases, it’s paid out of the final sale price rather than your own pocket. Most home buyers — including well-seasoned ones — don’t understand all the ins and outs of real estate, and discover that it’s actually more complicated, time-consuming, stressful, and even expensive in the long run. You can save yourself a lot of headache by hiring a qualified and experienced agent who knows what they’re doing.
First, it’s helpful to understand what a real estate agent is.
WHAT IS A REAL ESTATE AGENT? GENT?
A real estate agent is someone who is licensed and certified to list and sell real estate — not limited to homes, but also including multi-family properties as well as commercial and industrial buildings. It’s also important to note that a real estate agent is 162
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