In many areas of business you may be able to navigate through just fine by yourself, but using a realtor to buy a home is really the most efficient method. Many people become self-taught on specific topics such as buying or selling a home, which is great, but is it likely to take significantly longer than using a realtor? Yep. Much like representing yourself in court, going it alone when buying (or selling) a home really isn’t recommended.
There are many tricks of the trade that a realtor knows, since we do this for a living and have experienced all manner of realty scenarios. If you do not have the time to dedicate to the nuances of real estate – and there are many nuances, as well as the patience necessary, you may miss out on many opportunities or at least on the opportunity for your perfect dream house once you find it.
Realtors know the ins and outs of the market. They know the areas that they are showing you the homes in, they know the neighborhoods and the school systems. These are factors that the buyer or seller may not be willing to disclose to you, especially if it would not be beneficial to them. Realtors have a vast network of connections in many areas, to make sure all of your questions or concerns are addressed.
Time is another vastly important variable. Let’s say you are able to get through all of the necessary steps to buy or sell a home, and negotiations begin. Do you have enough time in your day to go back and forth with the selling agent and the seller and deal with submitting offers? Especially in today’s market, if you cannot be responsive, your offer is likely to be rejected and the seller will move on to the next offer before they lose THAT opportunity. This happens fast and frequently!
One of the most common misconceptions of buyers looking to not use a realtor is that they believe they are saving money on commissions and fees that the realtor may charge. These fees are actually something that are covered by the seller and the selling agent if one is used. While there may be some fees associated with the home transaction, the amount is minimal in comparison to the headache and time you save by using a realtor.
Next, let’s say you are able to navigate through the buying process and your offer is accepted. Great! The job must be done, right? The job is actually not even close to being done. After the offer is accepted begins the process of inspections. Do you have the connections a realtor does in order to make the inspection process streamlined? Various contractors come in very handy during inspections and the resulting tasks that need to be completed to keep the sale moving along.
Unless you work in the industry yourself, it is highly unlikely for you to know the specific people necessary to complete the necessary inspections. Your realtor will know all of the people to contact to make sure your home gets the proper inspections, and in a timely manner. And inspections really are necessary – to the bank loaning the money for the mortgage And to the homeowner-to-be so that they encounter no “surprises” down the road with a failing roof, damaged plumbing, termites, or a garage that’s actually built partially on someone else’s land!
So all in all, it IS possible to buy or sell a home without a realtor, but the headache and time wasted by not knowing the proper ins and outs of the industry makes hiring a realtor all the more necessary. Not only will this keep you out of all sorts of complications that can really mar the real estate experience for most buyers/sellers, but an agent is not going to cost you an arm and a leg like some people may have you believe.
Get in contact with The Katie McNeill Team today if you are looking to buy a home! We would love to speak with you in person. We’re also available if you need to sell a home, and our easy home appraisal tool will help you get started thinking about your finances and possibilities when you part with your property. Trust the real estate experts of the Katie McNeill Team – we love our jobs and we look forward to helping you love the real estate experience!
