Ready to Buy or Sell a Home? Top 5 Reasons to Hire a Realtor

So you’ve found your dream home...now what?

Whether you’ve been passively window shopping or hot and heavy on the house hunt, finding the perfect home isn’t as simple as SOLD. The introduction of house hunting apps and television shows has opened up new doors for real estate. Friends and family often ask me, “With all of this technology do I still need a realtor?”

The answer, quite simply, is yes.

For over a decade, Moulton & Associates, REALTORS has guided the Des Moines Metro area as one of the top real estate brokerages, and sees no signs of slowing down in the era of technology. Years of combined experience among a team of top producing agents sets Moulton & Associates up to provide the ultimate realtor relationship for anyone looking to BUY or SELL.

So, what is it about a realtor that makes them so indispensable during the buying and selling process you ask? Here are the top 5 reasons you should hire a realtor.

1. Market Expert
   Realtors are feet-on-the-street experts in their chosen territory. It is their job to know what’s for rent, for sale or sold. From catty shacks to multi-million dollar mansions, if it’s in the area, they know the details. In many cases, realtors have weekends full of open houses and exclusive connections to get a better look at what’s on the market.  
   
   Here are a few things realtors know that make them a market expert:

• Price ranges of neighborhood

• Style or type of home - including its amenities and key features

• Total amount of homes in the neighborhood

• Property turnover rate

• Home/price stability

• Homeowners association information

• Area and neighborhood amenities - including schools districts, highway location, dog parks, etc.

Professionals have access to information that even the most up-to-date house search apps don’t.

2. The Price is Right
   It’s no secret that the early part of 2018 has turned out to be a seller’s market. This means that there are more people searching for houses than there are selling them. The ball is in the seller’s court, but that doesn’t mean they have all the power.
   
   It’s up to a realtor to know the true value of a home.
   
   The pace of the market doesn’t determine how much a buyer should pay. A realtor takes the following into account when position their client to make the RIGHT offer.
   
   For one, real estate agents access all comparable homes in the neighborhood to compare:

• Number of bedrooms

• Number of bathrooms

• Square footage

• Garage set-up

• Age of home

• Condition of home

• Amenities (central air, pool, solar energy, etc.)

• Recent updates - especially to bathrooms & kitchens

• Exact location

• Lot size

• Neighborhood atmosphere and amenities
  
  

That’s just the start of it. A realtor looks at every detail to ensure that what you offer and/or pay is fair. An agent will save you money or make you money in the end.

3. The Art of Negotiation
   Allowing a realtor to negotiate is like giving candy to a baby. Most people go through life without ever bargaining the price they pay for an item. It’s just not an everyday skill that people need. That is unless you’re with Amanda Fontana Real Estate. We sleep, eat, and breathe negotiating in order to get sellers top dollar and buyers top value.
   
   In some cases, an agent can even negotiates the price of home inspections, appraisals, and staging. Backed with a wealth of knowledge, a professional will work to make sure buyers and sellers are getting their money’s worth.  
   
   

4. Mountains of Paperwork
   After you find your happily-ever-after home or accept an offer to sell your see-ya-never house, the work isn’t over. In order to have a successful sale or purchase, there are sheets and sheets of documents you must sign in order to make it legally official.
   
   Real estate rules and regulations change regularly. Professional realtors stay up-to-date on the latest law alterations to ensure a smooth and ethical process.
   
   Not only do agents help breakdown mandates, they also help clients organize the mountains of paperwork they receive. It’s easy to miss a crucial document when you’re busy at work or with the kids all day, so leave it up to your realtor to keep you on the fast track to CLOSED.
   
   

5. Step by Step Guide
   There are plenty of steps between offer and sold. In fact, there are 180 steps a real estate agent takes in order to close a transaction.
   
   Some of the transactions include:

• Pre-Listing tasks such as researching property ownership, deed type, and current use of zoning.

• Listing Appointment Presentation information that includes a comprehensive marketing plan unique to your home’s needs.

• Listing Agreement responsibilities ranging from collecting title information to assisting in the completion of the Seller’s Disclosure form

• Putting Property on the Market by adding it to the Multiple Listing Service Database (MLS).

• Property Marketing through calls, social media, mailers, emails, and more!

• Navigating Offers & Contracts by qualifying buyers, ordering inspections, and delivering legal documents.

• Closing The Sale through careful review and management of closing documents.
  
  

Think about all of the things on your to-do list this year. Do you have time to add 180 more? If not, hiring Amanda Fontana Real Estate is the best choice. A realtor is not only an expert in the field but a guide throughout what could be a high-stress process. Real estate agents are there to help buyers save and sellers gain.