With all of the information available today on the internet on sites like Trulia, Zillow, and Realtor.com, you may wonder what value hiring a realtor can bring to the transaction.
Experience and Expertise
Let’s not forget, this is probably one of the biggest, if not the biggest, financial transaction of your life. Real estate transactions almost never go through without a couple surprises or bumps in the road. You want someone on your side who has received hours of training and continuing education, and who already has the experience of dealing with hundreds of these transactions.
Buffering and negotiating
Buying a home can be an emotional roller-coaster, and every transaction involves some negotiation. Your realtor is removed from the emotion of the deal and can analyze the transaction without clouded judgment. They can draw from their negotiating experience to get you the property for the right price.
When issues arise, your realtor is there to play the role of “bad cop” so you don’t have to do the dirty work yourself. They will know which battles to fight before the closing so you can remove yourself from the more difficult conversations with the sellers.
Market Knowledge
Real estate websites don’t always list every property available for sale. The selling agents are responsible for advertising their customers properties on sites like Trulia and Zillow. Realtors have access to a Multiple Listing Service (“MLS”) that has more information and a more comprehensive listing of properties.
How do you know if the property you want is priced right? A realtor can perform a CMA on the property that you’d like to buy, which will compare the price of the property to comparable units or properties in the same area.
Lastly, these realtors live in the community that you’re looking to invest in. They can show you the neighborhoods that satisfy your needs. If you need restaurant recommendations, they know where to send you. They can help you find anything you’re looking for nearby.
Professional Networking
Realtors know everyone. Often times, as a buyer, you are coming to a new unfamiliar community and you’ll need real estate lawyers, mortgage brokers, contractors, and home inspectors. You should leverage their professional network to help connect you with a list of references to help suit your needs.
Paperwork
No matter how small a real estate transaction is, there is always a ton of paperwork that comes with it. Your realtor has dealt with the same forms and contracts numerous times and knows what to look for. Not to mention, who wants to spend their own time filling all those forms out when you can have someone else do it?
The best part!
Generally speaking, in Connecticut when you’re on the buying side of the transaction the seller usually pays for the cost of the selling agent and the buying agent. You can have all of the above benefits without having to pay your broker yourself.
Contact
Looking to buy or rent in any of these communities? Send me a message to find out more details.