1. Realtors Are Market Experts
We’re not saying you’re not an expert, but we are saying that you should hire one to help you along the journey of making one of the biggest investments of your life. Real estate agents have constant access to market data and are always up to par with evolving purchase and list prices.
You can’t get a list of comparable homes with sale data on your own, but your real estate agent can provide with a report to make sure you’re putting in the best and most fair offer.
Movoto Certified Partner Agents are extremely specialized in their coverage areas, and they don’t stray far from their local expertise. This ensures that they can offer you the best listings and best information you can get about your target neighborhood.
2. They Take You on the Tour of a Lifetime (As Many Times as You Want)
Why do you think people love guided trips so much? You’re escorted around by an expert while learning all about what you’re seeing around you. Your real estate agent will take you to a handful of dream homes until you find “the” dream home.
Buying a house is not a small feat, so your agent wants to make sure you’re the happiest you can be with the end result. Sometimes you’ll view three homes, sometimes five, and sometimes 10 or 20 before you find the right one.
3. They Have the 411 on Listings
You can do all the online house-hunting you want, but to get truly up-to-date listings from the MLS (Multiple Listing Service), you’ll need an agent’s Realtor MLS access.
Sure, you can browse listings yourself, but the MLS contains another whole level of data to be searched and filtered. Sometimes, agents can alert you about new listings before they’re even put on the MLS. Talk about the inside scoop.
4. Great Negotiators Get Great Deals
Negotiating is a difficult beast to deal with for many first time homebuyers. It’s hard to know what to offer without going so low that you might offend the seller, but at the same time you don’t want to go too aggressively above asking price, either.
Real estate agents can help figure out a common ground between you and the seller, and can also help with negotiations for inspections and repairs. An inspector finding any expensive issues with a home is grounds for negotiating the asking price, or for asking the seller to help pay for the repairs before you buy.
5. They Help You with Financing
Your agent is alongside you the whole time to help you make smart financial decisions within your means. They wear many hats, and one can be considered a financial advisor who has your best interests in mind.
Under the National Association of Realtors code of ethics, real estate agents are required to put your interests before their own. Your agent won’t waste your time showing you homes out of your price range in hopes that their commission will be greater.
6. It’s All About Connections
Agents are always networking—they have a handful of people they trust who you’ll need in order to complete everything from home inspections to lawyers. It’s nice to have someone refer you to a professional who they’ve worked with over and over again, and it saves you the time you’d spend finding someone on your own.
7. They’re an Unbiased Voice of Reason
It can often be difficult to see the other side of things when you’re going through a personal process like buying a home. But your real estate agent is there for you to let you know the good and the bad, and provide you with fact-based information.
It’s important to stay objective when you’re buying, and although your agent won’t be making any decisions for you, they exist to guide you in resolving issues and moving a transaction to closing. Instead of you getting in a heated debate with the seller over a leaky sink, your agent will handle it professionally by writing a formal request.
8. They’re with You ‘Til the Very End
The closing process is the very last step before you have those shiny new keys in your hands. Your agent will walk you through exactly what needs to be done and when to ensure everything’s running smoothly.
Paperwork can be confusing, and one tiny mistake can certainly cost you in court. Your agent will explain each part to you and answer any questions you may have before you sign on the dotted line.
