Why Use a Realtor: A Breakdown of What They Do For You

Couple meeting with realtor

Customers often ask us, why should I use a Realtor? Don’t I save money by going FSBO (for sale by owner)? Not necessarily. Realtors are important! They are licensed to represent you in this contract negotiation. If you don’t have a Realtor involved, then you need to hire a lawyer. Most sellers find lawyers are not typically as invested in the transaction as a Realtor would be. Realtors tend to keep things moving more efficiently, ensure dates are met, and are generally more available and prepared to discuss your questions and concerns.

Why work with a Realtor to sell your home?

Realtors are experts at assisting with buying and selling homes. When selling, a Realtor is not emotionally attached to your house like you may be. They can pull comparison sales in your area and help you list your house for top dollar. They know the market inside and out, and they have the tools and resources to find accurate data for you. Plus, they market your house at their expense. They will also hold open houses and will know if a new house comes on the market that is in competition with yours, so you stay aware of what’s going on in your area. Realtors have great suggestions for making your house show as well as possible, especially if you are trying to live there until closing.

Why work with a Realtor to buy a home?

When you buy a house, the Seller pays the commission, so the notion that you save money is just a myth. The Seller is simply hoping to pocket more on their own without the professional involved. A Seller is always going to be looking out for their own best interest. Why would you enter into one of the largest financial transactions of your life without a professional looking out for you? Realtors are constantly staying up to date on the inventory in their market, and they will alert you immediately to new homes that are listed. If you aren’t working with a Realtor, you run the risk of missing out on your dream home because it already sold before you found out about it.

Most people buy and sell a few houses over the course of a lifetime. Realtors help people buy and sell all the time. Their base of knowledge and familiarity of things to look out for and experience handling certain situations is much broader and deeper than the average homebuyer or seller. For example, if inspection items come up, a Realtor can refer you to their list of professionals to get issues taken care of in the best ways possible. This can be a headache if you are dealing with it on your own! Having an experienced professional in your corner is key to resolving issues. A Realtor will keep your transaction running smoothly and on schedule even if a few problems arise along the way.

There are lots of things in life that you CAN choose to do on your own. Cut your own hair, home-school your children, fix your own car, install your own water heater, cure your own tooth ache (Tom Hanks Castaway style), re-roof your house or write your own will. Just because you CAN do it, does not mean you’ll find the results as satisfactory as they would be if you hired a professional to do the job. What it boils down to is your skill level, knowledge, patience, time and resources. Personally, when we want great hair, we go to the salon. When we need new brakes on our cars, we go to an auto shop, and when it comes to our dental health, we visit our dentists. Whatever the need is; find a professional to assist you and make the process simpler, more accurate, faster and, above all, more enjoyable.

The right Realtor takes the stress out of the home buying experience. Contact Residential Mortgage Network to work with Iowa’s experts in mortgage lending. As the best first stop in the home buying process, we’ll help you find the Realtor that is a perfect fit for your needs.