Why Hire a Real Estate Professional?

Technology has definitely changed the way we live and work. It has also affected how we shop for real estate. Twenty years ago, only real estate professionals had access to home listings. Today, there are multiple resources, accessible by just a click or two. The Internet has become a popular tool for homebuyers to peruse listings in any city or state.

Besides searching for property, consumers can look online for information about communities, schools, mortgage options, and even property appraisals. With this wealth of information, consumers might ask themselves if they really need a real estate professional to represent them during a home buying or selling process. The answer is: Absolutely.

Given that this is, for many, the single largest financial transaction in a person's lifetime -- it seems reasonable, even wise, to call in a specialist.

While in the past, consumers may have seen real estate professionals as simply a person who drives you around from property to property, the role of a real estate Agent encompasses so much more. Property showings are only the tip of the iceberg. Not only can your Realtor can guide you through the cumbersome maze of listings to assist you in choosing the right home for your needs, but will also assist you in completing the necessary paperwork, get the proper disclosures and inspections from a third party and other considerations which are important to protect your interest. If considering building your new home, you should have your realtor present when you meet with a builder or his sales team.

Who better to know the exact whereabouts of that, backyard view of wildlife, charming pied-à-terre or new in-town condominium project? A sales professional can be a great resource, especially to homebuyers relocating from other communities. A REALTOR® knows the local area including home values, taxes, utility costs, and school data, and may even be knowledgeable about resources pertaining to your special interests or needs. For instance, should you require help relocating an aging parent with you, your real estate professional may be able to direct you to local services or organizations for the elderly.

A REALTOR® can familiarize you with the processes involved in buying a home, alert you to potential risks, help you determine how much house you can afford, explain alternative financing strategies, as well as provide tremendous moral support.

Another benefit is having a strong advocate during the negotiating process. A REALTOR can help you objectively evaluate an offer then work to negotiate a favorable contract. During the process, he or she will review the contract and obligations before you sign, explain how contingencies and release clauses affect you as the buyer, and so on.

As your single point of contact, a REALTOR® can manage the entire transaction including coordinating inspections, keeping in touch with the other real estate professionals, managing the documentation for the loan process, monitoring deadlines associated with contingencies, providing applicable paperwork, estimating closing costs, and helping prepare for a smooth and uneventful closing.

If you're about to begin the process of buying or selling a home, consider involving a real estate professional. When the stakes are high, it's comforting to have a specialist by your side.