Trinity Realty, 104 N Trinity, Decatur TX 76234 (940) 627-4427
Located on Decatur’s Historic Courthouse Square
Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent
By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
With so much information readily available online,
clients sometimes ask me, "Why should we hire a real
estate agent?" They wonder, and rightfully so, if they
couldn't buy or sell a home through the Internet or
through regular marketing and advertising channels
without representation, without a a real estate agent.
Some do OK, many don't. So if you've wondered the same thing, here are 10
reasons why you might want to consider hiring a professional real estate agent.
1. Education & Experience
You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you
hire a real estate professional who does. Henry Ford once said that when you
hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they
are. The trick is to find the right person. For the most part, they all cost about the
same. Why not hire a person with more education and experience than you?
We're all looking for more precious time in our lives, and hiring pros gives us that
time.
2. Agents are Buffers
Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits. If you're a buyer
of new homes, your agent will whip out her sword and keep the builder's agents
at bay, preventing them from biting or nipping at your heels. If you're a seller,
your agent will filter all those phone calls that lead to nowhere from lookie loos
and try to induce serious buyers to immediately write an offer.
3. Neighborhood Knowledge
Agents either possess intimate knowledge or they know where to find the
industry buzz about your neighborhood. They can identify comparable sales and
hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you
can find more data on schools, crime or demographics. For example, you may
know that a home down the street was on the market for $350,000, but an agent
will know it had upgrades and sold at $285,000 after 65 days on the market and
after twice falling out of escrow.
4. Price Guidance
Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select prices for sellers or
buyers. However, an agent will help to guide clients to make the right choices for
themselves. If a listing is at 7%, for example, an agent has a 7% vested interest in
the sale, but the client has a 93% interest. Selling agents will ask buyers to weigh
all the data supplied to them and to choose a price. Then based on market
supply, demand and the conditions, the agent will devise a negotiation strategy.
5. Market Conditions Information
Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will govern your selling
or buying process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data such as
the average per square foot cost of similar homes, median and average sales
prices, average days on market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other
criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do.
6. Professional Networking
Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of whom provide
services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to legal liability, many agents will
hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they
do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and
competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of references with whom
they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise
selection.
7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality
Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers,
they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and
because they are skilled. It's part of their job description. Good agents are not
messengers, delivering buyer's offers to sellers and vice versa. They are
professionals who are trained to present their client's case in the best light and
agree to hold client information confidential from competing interests.
8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork
One-page deposit receipts were prevalent in the early 1970s. Today's purchase
agreements run 10 pages or more. That does not include the federal- and state-
mandated disclosures nor disclosures dictated by local custom. Most real estate
files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or
omission could land you in court or cost you thousands. In some states, lawyers
handle the disclosures, thank goodness!
9. Answer Questions After Closing
Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come
back to haunt. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax
assessments, doc stamps or transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up
invoices, but one call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many
questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good
agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and honest agents don't leave you in the
dust to fend for yourself.
10. Develop Relationships for Future Business
The basis for an agent's success and continued career in real estate is referrals.
Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently
drumming up new business. This emphasis gives agents strong incentives to
make certain clients are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who
stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again.
Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you informed and to
stay in touch.
Open the Door to More Possibilities
(940) 627-4427
Trinity Realty, 104 N Trinity, Decatur TX 76234 (940) 627-4427
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Top 10 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent
By Elizabeth Weintraub, About.com Guide
With so much information readily available online, clients
sometimes ask me, "Why should we hire a real estate agent?"
They wonder, and rightfully so, if they couldn't buy or sell a
home through the Internet or through regular marketing and
advertising channels without representation, without a a real
estate agent. Some do OK, many don't. So if you've wondered
the same thing, here are 10 reasons why you might want to
consider hiring a professional real estate agent.
1. Education & Experience
You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real
estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. Henry
Ford once said that when you hire people who are smarter than
you are, it proves you are smarter than they are. The trick is to
find the right person. For the most part, they all cost about the
same. Why not hire a person with more education and
experience than you? We're all looking for more precious time in
our lives, and hiring pros gives us that time.
2. Agents are Buffers
Agents take the spam out of your property showings and visits.
If you're a buyer of new homes, your agent will whip out her
sword and keep the builder's agents at bay, preventing them
from biting or nipping at your heels. If you're a seller, your agent
will filter all those phone calls that lead to nowhere from lookie
loos and try to induce serious buyers to immediately write an
offer.
3. Neighborhood Knowledge
Agents either possess intimate knowledge or they know where
to find the industry buzz about your neighborhood. They can
identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in
addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find
more data on schools, crime or demographics. For example, you
may know that a home down the street was on the market for
$350,000, but an agent will know it had upgrades and sold at
$285,000 after 65 days on the market and after twice falling out
of escrow.
4. Price Guidance
Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select
prices for sellers or buyers. However, an agent will help to guide
clients to make the right choices for themselves. If a listing is at
7%, for example, an agent has a 7% vested interest in the sale,
but the client has a 93% interest. Selling agents will ask buyers
to weigh all the data supplied to them and to choose a price.
Then based on market supply, demand and the conditions, the
agent will devise a negotiation strategy.
5. Market Conditions Information
Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, which will
govern your selling or buying process. Many factors determine
how you will proceed. Data such as the average per square foot
cost of similar homes, median and average sales prices, average
days on market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other
criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide
to do.
6. Professional Networking
Real estate agents network with other professionals, many of
whom provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to
legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain
individual or company over another, but they do know which
vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and
competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of
references with whom they have worked and provide
background information to help you make a wise selection.
7. Negotiation Skills & Confidentiality
Top producing agents negotiate well because, unlike most
buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the
emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are
skilled. It's part of their job description. Good agents are not
messengers, delivering buyer's offers to sellers and vice versa.
They are professionals who are trained to present their client's
case in the best light and agree to hold client information
confidential from competing interests.
8. Handling Volumes of Paperwork
One-page deposit receipts were prevalent in the early 1970s.
Today's purchase agreements run 10 pages or more. That does
not include the federal- and state-mandated disclosures nor
disclosures dictated by local custom. Most real estate files
average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny
mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you
thousands. In some states, lawyers handle the disclosures,
thank goodness!
9. Answer Questions After Closing
Even the smoothest transactions that close without
complications can come back to haunt. For example, taxing
authorities that collect property tax assessments, doc stamps or
transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up invoices, but one
call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many
questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of
closing. Good agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and
honest agents don't leave you in the dust to fend for yourself.
10. Develop Relationships for Future Business
The basis for an agent's success and continued career in real
estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood
was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This
emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make certain clients
are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in
the business will be there for you when you need to hire an
agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you
to keep you informed and to stay in touch.
Located on Decatur’s Historic Courthouse Square
Open the Door to More Possibilities
(940) 627-4427
