If you are looking at Sacramento real estate, are engaged in a search of homes for sale in Sacramento, or considering selling your Sacramento area home, you might be wondering why you should work with a real estate agent, so let’s explore this issue. A real estate agent can either be a buyer’s agent or a seller’s or listing agent, depending on the client’s need. Although a single agent may list property for sale and also work with buyers, each role will be a little different. To understand why you need a real estate agent and what your agent should do for you, let’s take a look at each agent type.
Buyer’s Real Estate Agent
When you’re ready to buy a home, getting help from a real estate agent will expedite your search. An important fact to know is that the seller, not the buyer, pays the commission to the buyer’s agent. So, don’t worry about having to pay commission to your agent if you want to hire a real estate agent to help you buy a home; his or her commission is paid by the seller, not the buyer.
Your buyer’s agent represents your interest during the entire real estate transaction and will work hard to ensure that you get a home with the features and benefits important to you and at a price that you can afford.
Your real estate agent is an absolute asset when it comes to researching available homes for sale. He or she should have geographic knowledge and neighborhood familiarity, along with school information and other insider information. He or she will also have a network of related professionals to assist you in completing your real estate transaction, including mortgage lenders, title companies and home inspectors.
When you are ready to make an offer on a home, your realtor will generate the paperwork to present to the seller and will negotiate on your behalf until you are either satisfied with the terms of the sale or are ready to continue looking.
Once your offer is accepted, your real estate agent will help navigate each step in the closing process. If you weren’t pre-qualified for a home loan, she will also work with you to gather the necessary elements to obtain a mortgage. However, if you want to be taken seriously and have any real chance of getting your offer accepted, you should be pre-qualified. Some, if not most, sellers will not even look at or consider an offer that is unaccompanied by a pre-qualification letter.
In short, your buyer’s agent will walk you through each step of the buying process while handling more details that you could ever imagine.
Seller’s Real Estate Agent
When you’re ready to sell your home, finding an experienced listing agent is the first step toward success and getting top dollar for your home. Your listing agent will evaluate the market and help you price your home accordingly. He or she will also make suggestions for improving the exterior and interior of your home to make it more appealing and saleable.
Your seller’s agent will list your home for sale on the Multiple Listing Service and get the word out about your home to other agents. He or she may hold an open house for other agents and host events to attract potential buyers, and the real estate agent may use social media like Facebook, Twitter, and Google+ to market your home. Like a buyer’s agent, your seller’s agent should have neighborhood familiarity, school information and other insider info to share with prospects.
While marketing and selling your home, your real estate agent will accentuate the positive aspects of your property and downplay its shortcomings. He or she will tirelessly market your home and stay in constant communication with you. And when an offer is made on your home, your real estate agent will provide experienced advice on whether to take the offer, submit a counter-offer or reject the offer completely.
When a legitimate offer is made on your home, your real estate agent will show his or her true value by negotiating every detail to your advantage. At this point, you should have enough faith in your agent to trust his or her recommendations regarding the close of your sale.
Although some homeowners do put their house on the market for sale by owner, paying the associated fees to have a professional realtor handle your sale give you the greatest opportunity to get top dollar for your home in today’s competitive real estate market.
The Bottom Line on Real Estate Agents
The role of a buyer’s agent and a seller’s agent are distinctly different, yet their paths intersect with each real estate transaction. Whether you are buying or selling, a professional real estate agent will be your ally from start to finish. If you are searching for a home for sale in Sacramento or if you are considering selling or listing your home for sale in Sacramento, give me a call and we can discuss your particular situation. I look forward to speaking with you soon.