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7 Reasons Why You Need An Agent Instead of Trying For Sale by Owner

Lot For Sale signage If you’re thinking about selling your home, you might still be on the fence about whether to hire an agent to help you sell, or if you should try selling by owner. Though it’s up to you how to go about the process of selling, there are some major benefits to using an agent that will help you save time, increase the value of your sale, and support buyer confidence. Here are just a few ways an agent can help make your home-selling experience less stressful while ensuring you get the most value on the market.

  1. An agent is an expert for real estate in your area, like Blue Ridge
  2. This is at the top of our list at number seven, but it’s one of the most important factors to consider. Even though you may be keeping up with recent sales in Blue Ridge and watching trends in the market, a real estate agent is going to be the most knowledgeable about what you can do in your home to help it sell faster and at a higher value.

  3. Access to the Multiple Listing Service, like North East Georgia MLS and Georgia MLS (Atlanta)
  4. An agent is going to help you sell your home faster because he or she has access to the Multiple Listing Service, or MLS. The MLS is a database of all the homes for sale in your area, and when your home is listed in that database, all other potential homeowners’ agents will be able to see your home as an option. This expedites the “word of mouth” process and helps others see that your home is also being sold with help from an agent. For buyers using a real estate agent, that person could be more interested in showing their clients homes that are being sold with help from an agent rather than from a family who’s trying for sale by owner. Effective agents in the Blue Ridge/Tri-State area subscribe to the North East Georgia MLS and Georgia MLS which doubles the coverage in which your home is displayed.

  5. They’re in-the-know on code regulations and zoning laws
  6. You might know everything about events in your neighborhood, the quality of the schools, and where the best markets are, but an agent is going to be your trusted source for all of the local coding laws and zoning regulations that will apply to your residence. This is especially important when looking at different types of properties such as cabins and mountain homes in the Blue Ridge area. Making sure your house is up to code will make the selling process much smoother and will give buyers confidence when they make offers to buy your home. If something isn’t up to code, like the entrances, foundation, roof, wiring, flooring, or plumbing, you’ll want to have someone on hand who can point out what needs to be repaired, and what doesn’t, helping you increase the value of your home and keep repair costs from exceeding what they need to be.

  7. Inspector and contractor referrals
  8. After your agent helps you evaluate your home, he or she might find something that needs to be addressed further before introducing your home to potential buyers. That’s where their knowledge of professional inspectors and contractors in the area will come into play. Having an agent is kind of like having a guide through the home selling process, a guide who doesn’t want you to waste money or find yourself in a situation where you’re in over your head. Having their knowledge of how to go about prepping your home for sale will be a huge help and will save you time and money.

  9. Networking with other agents and potential buyers
  10. Not only should your agent know of well-reviewed inspectors and contracts, but he or she will also have a trusted network of other real estate agents and potential buyers. Rather than depending on your own advertising and word-of-mouth, your agent is going to be able to reach out to other agents with which he or she has built a relationship. If your agent has facilitated positive home sale experiences in the past for other agents and their clients, those agents will likely want to work with your agent to help find the right buyer for your home. In addition to the MLS list, your agent will make sure your home is visible on the market and attractive to buyers.

  11. Official and professional price negotiators
  12. One of the most challenging tasks as a seller is to know the best asking price for your home. You might be able to be a pretty good judge based on what other homes similar to yours are selling for in your area, but you might not be taking amenities, aesthetic appeal, remodeling, and other factors into account. If you post an asking price that’s too high, you’re going to keep yourself on the market for a longer period of time, wasting your own time, when you’ll likely wind up with lower offers in the near future. But at the same time, you don’t want to start your asking price too low, because you might not realize that certain upgrades and additional features in your home, that were missing from a comparable home a few blocks away, might make your house worth more than you previously thought. Having an agent evaluate what your home is worth and come up with a pricing plan for buyers is a huge part of what an agent’s role is in the selling process, and it’s one of the most crucial reasons why having input from an expert is ideal.

  13. A stress-free selling experience
  14. Overall, the absolute best reason to use an agent is to make the sale of your home be as stress-free as possible. Of course selling your home will involve some stress and decision-making, but having an agent to guide you through the entire process is invaluable, and though having an agent might seem like an extra expense on the surface, his or her expertise and connections will help save you time and money overall. Because you’re only going to sell just a few homes, or many just one home, in your lifetime, it can be a daunting task. Using a real estate agent who is aware of current trends and issues in your community, and is helping families sell and buy homes each week, will be a tremendous asset to you in your own experience. There’s a value in what you’re getting from your agent that goes beyond a price tag, and the confidence and security an agent can provide your family will make the sale of your home a positive experience.