If you’re considering getting into the real estate market or wondering if now is the right time to sell your home, keep reading to discover the main benefits of using a real estate agent when buying or selling your home!

 

1. An Experienced Real Estate Agent Will Save You Time and Energy

Hiring a real estate agent will take the time to get to know you or your family’s needs and wants in a home, lifestyle, and ideal neighbourhood. Ultimately, the primary goal of a buyer’s agent is to ensure you find the right type of property and that you’re happy in your new home.

 

A great real estate agent can eliminate a lot of the work upfront by doing online research to look at zoning regulations, bylaws, neighbourhood characteristics, or property restrictions. This upfront research will save time by eliminating properties that don’t match your criteria without viewing them.

 

Your real estate agent will communicate with municipalities, listing agents, and other professionals to quickly get the information you need to make an informed decision. In addition, real estate agents have a strong understanding of the real estate industry and local market knowledge that they will share with you throughout your home-buying process.

 

The great news is that hiring a real estate agent won’t cost you anything as a potential buyer. This is because the seller pays the real estate commissions for both the buyer’s agent and the seller’s agent (listing agent).

 

It’s a good idea to work with a local real estate agent who can walk you through the home buying process and help you find the home of your dreams with less stress.

 

 

Advantages For Home Sellers

With the help of a listing real estate agent, your home will get the most exposure, attract a vast pool of buyers, and have someone on your side who will negotiate favourable terms and get you the highest price for your home.

 

Real estate agents have experience working with home buyers and home sellers, and they can apply their emotional intelligence and market knowledge.

 

Your listing agent will order professional floor plans and photos of your home, prepare a detailed digital and print marketing plan, advertise your property on the MLS®, and be available to you every step of the way!

 

 

2. Strong Market Knowledge

A local agent has access to The Multiple Listing Service. The MLS® is a member-to-member system that displays an inventory of available residential listings for potential buyers to purchase or lease.

 

As a prospective home buyer, the best way to stay updated on new listings is to sign up for MLS® matrix emails. You’ll receive emails with listings that match your search criteria as soon as they hit the market.

 

Your listing agent or buyer’s agent will have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS®). The Multiple Listing Service lists all active, pending, sold, expired, and cancelled listings in your realtor’s market.

 

In addition, your REALTOR® can gather information from MLS® property listings to determine the market value of homes you’re interested in. The MLS® is an extremely valuable information source for real estate agents and their clients.

 

3. Large Professional Network

Real estate agents have access to the best home inspectors, tradespeople, independent contractors, mortgage brokers, and other professionals you may need during your next real estate transaction. It’s great to have recommendations from a real estate agent who can easily refer you to the best professionals in the industry.

 

4. Business Ethics

REALTORS® work in your best interests and have a fiduciary responsibility to you as their client. In addition, REALTORS® follow a strict code of ethics in their day-to-day business practices.

 

5. Neighbourhoods

Local real estate agents know the ins and outs of various neighbourhoods in their city since they spend their days, evenings, and weekends showing potential buyers homes in multiple neighbourhoods.

 

Take a moment to think about what your ideal neighbourhood looks and feels like. For example, do you want to be in a better school district for your kids? Close to trendy restaurants and cafés? Or would you love to be able to walk to work? It’s a good idea to consider what neighbourhoods you’d like to live in and for how long before you start your home search.

 

 

6. They Know The Local Market

Real estate agents deeply understand their real estate market and market conditions. They can use this local market knowledge to prepare a comparative market analysis to determine the market value of a home.

They can assist you to be in the best position to make an informed decision as a home buyer or help you get the maximum exposure, highest price, and quickest sale for your home through their understanding of the real estate market.

 

7. Real Estate Contracts and Legal Terms

A lot of paperwork is involved in each real estate transaction, and there are many legal terms that real estate agents must be familiar with to write an enforceable contract. Therefore, it’s important to use a REALTOR® who is familiar with which contract clauses to use and when so that they can best protect you.

 

8. Look Out For Potential Problems

Real estate agents can help determine what to look for in a home sale and avoid any pitfalls. They’ve seen many properties and have experience working with home inspectors, sellers, and buyers. They can use their expertise to your benefit and be able to point out any problems before they become a more significant issue.

 

9. Negotiating Skills

Negotiation is one of the highest-ranked skills for real estate agents. For example, negotiating the purchase price and costs of any home repairs, getting you the best terms and conditions and effectively communicating with the other real estate agent in the transaction.

 

If you’re considering purchasing or selling your home, I’d love for you to check out my services page for more details or the FAQ section at your convenience!

 

• The Key Differences Between A Buyer’s Agent And Listing Agent
• Open Houses: Your Top Questions Answered
• 7 Common Costs When Selling Your House
• 11 Best Questions To Ask a Real Estate Agent (When Selling)
• A First-Time Home Buyers Guide For Victoria, BC