Buyers: A local agent will be familiar with the area of interest, including pricing trends, desirability of neighborhoods, local laws (such as property tax), reputable loan officers, and a host of other things that buyers would have to spend extended amounts of time learning. Sellers: Real Estate Agents help sellers in many ways. An agent’s knowledge of the area is helpful in pricing the home appropriately by comparing it with similar homes in the area. An agent will guide the individual seller in the home preparation phase, determine areas for improvement or repair, and how to best appeal to the demographics most likely to desire your home. He or she will handle the details of listing your home online on the major listing sites in your region and focus on marketing through their social media accounts and networks. Dual Real Estate Agents: When a real estate agent represents both the buyer and seller in a real estate transaction, the agent is considered a dual agent. Since the broker is representing both sides, the broker is unable to keep up with all his duties to both parties. If your agent works as a dual agent (works as an agent for both buyer and seller), he or she can make connections with his own clients, which increases the exposure of your home to another source of qualified buyers. In conclusion, though you may be tempted to try to sell your house FSBO, unless you have a buyer in mind, or a great lead on a buyer, you may spend a lot of anxious nights waiting for the phone to ring. The purpose of hiring professionals is because they know things we don’t. Given this, if you are selling, you should be working with an agent. To not do so is to rob yourself of a knowledgeable partner in marketing your home. While only 17% of buyers make contacting an agent the first step in their search, nearly all turn to an agent at the point of decision. • • •
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