7 Reasons you Need to use a Realtor® for your Home Purchase or Sale

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by Ed Kunkel, Jr., Realtor® and U.S. Military Veteran

Are you about to be in the market as a buyer or seller?  Have you been reluctant to reach out and talk to a “Real Estate Salesperson”?  The lions share majority of us manage our business more as consultants than salespeople, and we are pretty harmless and easy to approach.  We have so many benefits at our fingertips that we’re ready and willing to share with you to help you achieve success, so much so that it’s quite a shot in the dark to attempt to go it alone.

There’s probably more than 100 ways an experienced Realtor® can prove to be resourceful for you, but that experience will have to be had by you to truly appreciate what it means.  And the best advice I can offer for clients that I serve is simply put – never be afraid to ask if you don’t know the answer.

1.    We know the market and trends.  It’s not enough for a seller to ballpark the value of their home and hope for the best to be successful on their own.  It takes reasonable skill and care to analyze market trends and price a home effectively, while helping you negotiate concessions and repairs.  Likewise, a buyer should seek out an exclusive agreement with an agent instead of approaching owners or the owner’s agent on their own.  A buyer’s agent can help guide a buyer to know what to ask, negotiate for, and expect from a seller without guessing what is appropriate.

2.  We have a much better handle on value.  How do you know if your house, or the one you intend to buy is priced reasonably?  Are the improvements overstated or understated in their relation to the overall value?  Does the garage conversion add market value?  Agents carefully monitor market trends to more accurately determine fair market value, and can additionally help sellers determine the best approach to making improvements or changes for the best overall value and desirability.  They can also help buyers negotiate and sometimes even avoid homes that are overpriced.

3.  We help you prepare your home for the market.  From advice on the best approach to improving your home for the best appeal, to cleaning, de-cluttering, and staging – an agent has the best understanding of what works and what is a waste of time, energy and money.

4.  We know how to effectively market your home.  If your plan is to sell by owner by putting a sign in your yard, and praying that a miracle will happen – you really need a better plan.  An experienced agent will be able to demonstrate an effective marketing plan for you, and it will likely include online exposure, networking with other professionals, and the most important resource – their local MLS.  Looking at it from another angle, an overwhelming majority of home buyers have a timeline to be settled in their new home, and are working with an agent.  The first and best resource their agent is drawing from for their buyer clients is the MLS.  If you’re not on it, you’re not visible.

5.  We screen buyers and listings for you, so you don’t have to.  Every buyer comes with limits, those limits can be a cap on their purchase value set by their lender or the cash they have in the bank.  Limits can also be based upon the condition of a home and/or property, as it may not qualify for either the buyer’s preference or it may not comply with the type of financing the buyer is using (example –   Properties that are in a flood area, or a fixer-upper that is missing basic necessities for habitability).  Agents understand what type of Real Estate their buyer clients can qualify for.  Likewise, a listing agent can determine first if a potential buyer for your home can actually afford to buy it before showing it.

6.  We help you negotiate.  How challenging is it for someone to negotiate price, terms, and conditions of a home they raised their family in on their own?  Is there a potential that you will negotiate your way out of a potential sale if you insist on doing it yourself?  An agent will help you look at your sale objectively, and will be your guide in making decisions that are rational instead of emotional.  Likewise for buyers, this practice of negotiating the purchase of a home with the added repairs is not something you do every day, but you can hire an agent that does do it every day – and you being the buyer may likely not have any out of pocket cost for hiring an agent.

7.  And last but not least, we know people.  Part of my service includes a vendor list for both buyers and sellers.  This vendor list contains professionals that I know and trust that can help clients I serve with needs from legal counsel, home inspectors, contractors, painters, insurance reps, financial planners, and more.  Sometimes, these professionals also play a part in helping me market a home for sale – since they know people too.

Let me know if I can be resourceful for you!  Send me your questions to Ed@EdKunkelRealEstate.com and thank you for reading.

Ed Kunkel, Jr. is a Managing Broker/Realtor® at Keller Williams Realty in Olympia, Washington. Visit Ed here. Ed’s Military History: Veteran – U.S. Army and Air Force Reserve; Highest rank, E5; 11 years combined military service.