If you're ready to put your home on the market, you may be tempted to save money by selling the home yourself. However, even though a real estate agent charges a fee, it is usually well worth the investment to work with one, especially if you can pass all or part of the expense onto the buyer. Here are a few reasons why selling your home through a real estate agent is the way to go.
You Get An MLS Listing
If you want a lot of exposure for your home, you want it on the Multiple Listing Service. That means your home's details are available to every agent working in your area. Plus, your home will be listed on local real estate websites as well as major national sites. You wouldn't be able to buy that much advertising exposure for your home. The end result is that you should sell your home faster and weed out tire kickers since photos and video tours of your home can be viewed in advance on the real estate websites.
Your Home Can Be Staged
If you need to move out of your home while it's for sale, your real estate agent can arrange to have it staged. Then buyers won't have to look at bare rooms when they view your house. While it won't be filled with furniture, a staging expert can arrange pivotal pieces that make your home more appealing to potential buyers. Plus, with minimal furniture being used, your home will seem roomy, which is always a feature that buyers look for in a home.
You Get Advice On Upgrades
The best thing about working with a real estate agent is the advice you get. An agent wants to sell your home because he or she won't get paid until the house sells. Good advice will keep you from spending money on upgrades that won't bring you a good return. You want to get the money back when you sell your house. Some things, such as painting and improving landscaping can pay off and others can be a waste of money. An agent knows what's trendy with buyers and what little tweaks will get your home sold the fastest.
You Have Guidance On Paperwork
Since you own the house now, you know how complex it is to go through the buying and selling process. Since a house is such a huge financial investment, you want to make sure you are protected along the way. You really need a lawyer or a real estate agent to have your back when you sell your house just to make sure nothing goes wrong with the process and handling of the documents.
The best thing about a real estate agent is they come with a list of ready buyers, especially if you hire an agent that works your local neighborhood. If you put up a sign and list your home on "for sale by owner" sites, you may not get much action for a long time unless you just get lucky. If your home is in good shape and offers the features that appeal to buyers, a good agent could have your home sold in a matter of weeks or a few months.
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