Who Are You Going To Call?

    Let’s hop straight to it, in the do-it-yourself society that we live in and with Pinterest and YouTube and other sites abounding with “life hacks” one can find almost anything, from the newest trending kitchen style or the latest and greatest air fryer recipe, all the way to just about any mechanical fix on a car. While these do-it-yourself projects are fun and can be an adventure and potentially save you time and money, they can also be on the other side of the spectrum and cost you a lot of time and money.  In my opinion, there are certain tasks in life where hiring a professional can add tremendous value which saves you time, money, and gives them the opportunity to serve you all while aligning with your goals and objectives.  

There lies the conundrum, when you are contemplating buying or selling, which is normally one of the largest purchases of your life, will you do it yourself or allow a real estate professional and specifically a Realtor to represent you? It’s important to remember that not all real estate professionals are REALTORS®, a trademarked term which specifically identifies someone as a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. These members pledge to abide by a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice, to serve you whether you looking to buy or sell a home. 

There are two sides to every transaction, the buying side and the selling side. We will talk about the importance of having an agent represent you on both sides of the transaction.

Let’s start with the listing side of the equation and why a seller should have representation when selling their home. 89% of sellers were assisted by a real estate agent when selling their home. These reasons are in no particular order but are meant to shed light on the value a professional real estate agent.

1) Paperwork. A 2015 Study by the National Association of Realtors’, showed that understanding paperwork was one of the most difficult tasks for For Sale by Owners. The amount of paperwork can lead to mistakes and have the potential to cost you both time and money. A Realtor has access to paperwork that they are trained to accurately fill out and can streamline the process for you. 

2) Save money or make money? For Sale by Owners have the tendency to sell for less than a home which is sold by an agent. Agents have access to data which the general public does not that can lead to greater accuracy in the pricing of the home. The typical FSBO home sold for $217,900 compared to $295,000 for agent-assisted home sales, based on the 2020 National Association of Realtors Profile of Buyers and Sellers. If an agent can help you maximize your financial interest in your home, would you see any reason why they should not be compensated accordingly? 

3) Representation and negotiation.  A realtor is bound by law to act in their client’s best interest, in this case the seller. Who are you going to call when a questions arises should you attempt to navigate the market by yourself? A realtor is there to serve you and ensure your goals and objectives are met. In negotiations, there are many terms and offers which can presented from the buyer’s side which a listing agent can help interpret for you allowing you to come to conclusion on which offer to accept. 

Let’s transition to the buyer side of the equation. In 2020, 88% of buyers reported working with a real estate agent to buy their home, according to data from the National Association of Realtors’ Profile of Homebuyers and Sellers. 

1) Purchasing real estate is likely to be the biggest and most complex financial transaction a person will make in their life and in my opinion a real estate professional is there to navigate the process with you. In this market, especially when we are seeing houses sell sight unseen and with multiple over list price offers, your agent will have access to properties which are coming soon and when the home becomes active. This will allow you to have peace of mind without worry about other websites which may have outdated information. 

2) Buyers’ agents represent you, the buyer, and even if you are considering new construction I would suggest having an agent represent you. The on-site agents represent the builder and while they are nice a buyer’s agent will have your best interest at hand. 

There are many more reasons on both sides of the equation in which an agent’s representation could add value to you in all your real estate needs. 

Please know our team here at Kima Real Estate Group- Keller Williams Preferred, would love to be your one stop shop for all your real estate needs. It’s our duty to serve you and it’s an honor and privilege to do so. If we can ever be of service to you or anyone you know please do not hesitate to reach out.

So, the answer to the question who are you going to call, is our team here at Kima Real Estate Group. 

Andrew Hening

Leads Manager

Andrew@PeterKima.com

Andrew.WelcomeToCarolina.com