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Selling Your Home: The Advantages of Hiring a Real Estate Agent 

Once you have decided to take the plunge and sell your home, you have another big decision to make: do you go through a real estate agent or sell on your own? Many homeowners feel that using an agent is the best way to get the maximum profit for their home (webuyhousesinconnecticut.com). Approximately 93 percent of home sales involve an agent to some degree (fasthomehelp.com). There are numerous advantages to hiring a real estate agent.  

Advantages of Hiring a Real Estate Agent 

Contracts—Real estate agents are trained in the rhetoric and legal jargon of offer letters and contracts. They understand the fine print and can guide you through the dozens of pages of paperwork that you will have to sign as part of the home sale process. Not only do real estate agents distribute the necessary paperwork to the seller and buyer, but real estate agents also facilitate the signing process. In using a real estate agent, "You are far less likely to have to worry about errors and omissions; if they do occur, a licensed real estate professional will have insurance to cover them, limiting your risk" (fasthomehelp.com). 

Time and Energy—Hiring an agent will save you time and energy in many areas. First, you will not have the headache of researching offer letter and contract templates to use in your home sale transaction. Second, you will not have to be present at your home showings. Being able to live your life freely, without having to put your schedule on hold to be available for numerous showings, is invaluable. Third, you can lean on your real estate agent to stage your home, which will save you from the time and effort it takes to select the staging items, arrange for their delivery, etc.   

Network—When you are getting your house ready for sale, often repairs and upgrades are necessary. Instead of having to find and coordinate talented and trustworthy professionals on your own, "a good agent will have a network of professional contacts, including inspectors, attorneys, landscapers, contractors, and other agents, to call on if necessary to getting your home into sellable shape" (fasthomehelp.com). Real estate agents also have a network of potential buyers with whom they can connect your home.   

Expertise—An agent’s years of experience in your local market is invaluable. Real estate agents understand market trends, know how to set appropriate price points, and can pursue the best avenues for advertising your home (fasthomehelp.com).  

Negotiations—Your real estate agent will act as an intermediary between you and the buyer. As such, your agent will facilitate the negotiation process. Negotiation is an art form. Real estate agents have much more experience practicing this art than the average home seller. "A good agent will negotiate on your behalf, which could end up maximizing your profit in the end. Having an agent in your corner will encourage potential buyers (or their agents) to bypass the lowball offer and cut straight to a reasonable offer, as they know they aren't dealing with an amateur negotiator" (fasthomehelp.com). Additionally, a real estate agent can speak to the buyer's agent and lobby on your behalf throughout the entire home selling process. 

Motivation—Agents want to sell your home (trinity-homes.com). They do not get paid until they do. Therefore, they are motivated to ensure your listing looks as good as possible with professionally shot photos, curb appeal, and an uncluttered interior. They also want to market your home in the most effective manner and show your home as frequently as interest demands in order to increase their chances of landing a sale for you and them. 

In Summary 

Selling a home can be an extremely stressful and emotional experience. Hiring a real estate agent brings peace of mind that you are not going through the home sale journey alone. An agent can ease your workload, provide guidance, offer expertise, and advocate for you throughout the process. Having a real estate professional by your side can also reduce the intimidation you may feel about attempting a process with which you are not intimately familiar.  

Sources: 

fasthomehelp.com 

trinity-homes.com 

webuyhousesinconnecticut.com