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Reasons to Hire a Professional Real Estate Agent to Sell Your Home Part 2

Kathleen Bassett

March 28, 2024

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Note: (This is a continuation of Part 1, posted in late March 2018) There are numerous reasons to hire a real estate agent to help you sell your home: Handling Volumes of Paperwork Today's home purchase agreements run more than ten pages. And that does not include the federal and state mandated disclosures, or disclosures dictated by local regulations. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands. An experienced real estate agent can help you fill out all the tedious mounds of paperwork you will need before you offer your home. In some states, lawyers handle the disclosures themselves during the closing of the home for the seller too. Market Conditions Real estate agents disclose market conditions, which govern the buying or selling process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data like median and average sales prices, the average per square foot cost of similar homes, average days on market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, and among other criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality Unlike many buyers and sellers, real estate agents can negotiate well because they are skilled, and they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the house transaction. It's an important aspect of their job description. Good agents are not mere messengers, delivering buyers offers to sellers and vice versa. They are professionals, experienced and trained well to present their client's home or property in the best light possible, and they agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests. The agent will act on your instruction and must tell you about any potential offers. Your real estate agent will also proof to be an asset if the potential buyer is extremely demanding too or if personalities clash. Professional Networking Real estate agents very often network with other professionals in similar fields, many of whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell, like landscapers, home repairmen, home inspectors, attorneys, accountants, etc. They know which contractors or businesses have a reputation for competency and good pricing. Agents can give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection. A real estate agent regularly talks to other agents as well, who may also provide additional networking of your home for sale. Some qualities that make for successful real estate professionals are as follows: