In this era of technology and information at your fingertips, it may seem like buying and selling a home is an easy task to DIY. There is a never-ending flow of services and tools to empower you as a consumer, so why should you bother with a real estate agent? Let’s take a close look at the answer. 

First of all, this is one of the biggest financial decisions you will make in your entire life. Calling in an expert doesn’t make you less savvy, it makes you smarter.  Second of all, speaking of the expert, the real estate agent is the expert.

Real estate professionals have:

1. Loads of expertise to navigate the language, forms, requirements, and negotiations that could cost you tons of time and lots of money when doing it yourself. 

2. Turbocharged searching power. Although those fancy sites seem to have all of the information, your agent has access to even more listings and insider knowledge!  A local agent has a pulse on what’s coming up, what’s not advertised, and has a network of professionals to help with details you haven’t even thought of yet. 

3. Negotiating skills. Negotiations can get heated, especially in today’s competitive market. You want first-hand knowledge and experience on your side to guide you through bidding wars, contingencies, and inspections. 

To read more about why you should never buy or sell a home without an agent, click here.