{"id":893,"date":"2013-09-23T14:27:22","date_gmt":"2013-09-23T14:27:22","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/missiondemos.com\/contractor\/?p=893"},"modified":"2013-09-23T14:27:22","modified_gmt":"2013-09-23T14:27:22","slug":"use-realtor-6-important-reasons","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kendleteam.com\/use-realtor-6-important-reasons\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Use a Realtor\u00ae? 6 Important Reasons"},"content":{"rendered":"
Real estate is a big deal. For most Americans, a home is the most expensive purchase they\u2019ll make in their lifetime. It\u2019s a serious transaction with significant financial and emotional ramifications for the parties involved, and having proper representation is critical.<\/p>\n
Today\u2019s buyers and sellers agree.\u00a0<\/b>In 2012, a full 89 percent of buyers used a real estate agent, and so did 88 percent of sellers.1<\/sup><\/p>\n Realtor\u00ae representation during a real estate transaction is important for both buyers and sellers. Here are six of the chief reasons:<\/p>\n Fiduciary responsibility.<\/b>\u00a0When you work with a Realtor\u00ae, their fiduciary responsibility is to\u00a0you<\/i>. That means you have an expert who is looking out for your best financial interests, an expert who\u2019s contractually bound to do everything in their power to protect you. That\u2019s\u00a0big<\/i>\u00a0\u2014 the value of that commitment cannot be overstated.\u00a0\u201cFor more than 100 years, Realtors\u00ae\u00a0have subscribed to the NAR\u2019s strict\u00a0Code of Ethics<\/a>\u00a0as a condition of membership,\u201d says National Association of Realtors\u00ae\u00a0President Gary Thomas. \u201cRealtors\u00ae\u00a0have the expertise and experience to help sellers protect their investment and help buyers build theirs.\u201d<\/p>\n Complex, ever-changing real estate regulations.<\/b>\u00a0Buying or selling a home is not like purchasing a plane ticket. Every home is different, and laws change every year and vary from state to state. Generally speaking, people purchase a new home every 7-10 years, and a lot can \u2014 and usually does \u2014 change between transactions. Realtors\u00ae are immersed in real estate, and they\u00a0must<\/i>\u00a0stay current with all the updates in regulations, laws, contracts and practices. Once you retain your Realtor\u00ae, they put that knowledge to work for you.<\/p>\n Help finding the right home, beyond square footage and baths.<\/b>\u00a0Browsing online is a terrific way to start a home search \u2014 in fact, almost 90 percent of people start their home search online.1<\/sup>\u00a0But when it\u2019s time to buy, knowing all the pros and cons of a property can help you make the\u00a0right\u00a0<\/i>decision. Realtors\u00ae live and breathe real estate, and they can share information about a home that you wouldn\u2019t otherwise know. For example, they can tell you about the perils of polybutylene piping (a plumbing material that\u2019s prone to bursting), or the concerns with FRT plywood (a roofing material that can spontaneously combust in higher temperatures, like those in attics). Your Realtor\u00ae can go beyond the aesthetics and tell you important details about homes you\u2019re considering.<\/p>\n Pricing and selling a home.<\/b>\u00a0There are lots of sites where you can view price estimates for your home before you list it for sale, but you take a risk using them. In some markets, online estimates can be off by as much as 35 percent, and they often rely on tax records and data that can be as old as 6-12 months. Realtors\u00ae know the local market, have access to the freshest sale data, and can price your house in line with the market to maximize your earnings. In 2012, sellers using an agent got $40,100 more: The median sale price for the 88 percent of sellers who worked with an agent was $215,000, versus a median sale price of $174,900 for the 9 percent of sellers who didn\u2019t use an agent.1<\/sup><\/p>\n Contracts and negotiations.<\/b>\u00a0Finding the right home is the fun part. Then the real work begins.: Today\u2019s contracts can be 50 pages long \u2014 not counting addendums and riders. Realtors\u00ae can help you navigate these complex documents and craft an attractive offer that makes sense for you. Plus, when it comes to negotiation, your Realtor\u00ae is\u00a0your<\/i>advocate and can bring an objective voice to a very subjective situation.<\/p>\n