Why Use an Agent

If you are ready to sell your home then the first thing you need to decide is whether or not you want a realtor to represent you. In simple terms this choice comes down to a function of money and time: if you hire an agent, he or she will take a cut of your profits, but will more like than not sell your house more quickly. While in principle this statement has some truth to it, the actual decision can be more complicated.

Of course, the idea of someone taking a 6 percent commission out of the value of your house may hard for you to swallow, but before you choose to go it alone, you should first consider how an agent could help you:

• Agents screen prospective buyers so that you deal with people who are only truly interested in purchasing a home.
• Licensed agents need to constantly take courses so that they know the legal ins and outs of real estate. This allows them to help you avoid any of these potential pitfalls.
• Agents have extensive connections in the real estate world. A huge number of sales across the country are cooperative sales. Usually this is the result of your agent telling other agents who are representing buyers about the house being on the market.
• Agents know what is the best way to market your property. They know whether or not you take out another listing in your local news paper or if your property is becoming overexposed.
• Agents put buyer's payments into escrow, write titles, and deals with other documents that most people know very little about.
• Agents help you navigate the complicated paperwork that is part of the actual selling process of the house. Your house is probably the single most expensive asset that you will sell. You want to know what every signature actually means.