Realtors are not required in real estate transactions.
There, I said it out loud. We're really not required. There is no law that says you must include a Realtor® when buying or selling a property in the United States. So why is it, that when buying or selling in the states, the large majority of buyers and sellers still use a Realtor (or real estate agent) when buying or selling?
Well, in my humble opinion, the answer is simple. Buying or selling a property is easily the most complicated transaction of one of the most expensive items you will ever buy or sell in your lifetime for the average person. And most people buy or sell a home, on average no more than three times in their lifetime... so they seek out the guidance of someone who has some experience who can guide them through the minefield that is the "real estate transaction".
They are smart enough to understand that it is worth the fees that they might have to pay to prevent them from making potentially very expensive mistakes that could haunt them for years. It's a comfort factor. So, more often than not, they will seek out the advice of a friend or family member to see if they have some experience with an agent that served them well.
If they can't find a trusted referral, they will go online and seek out recommendations from online services such as Zillow or Realtor.com, which is why it's good to have excellent recommendations there.
We're not required, but we're still chosen more often than not, and that's a good feeling
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