Published January 3, 2025
Selling Your Home? What to Expect From a Top Realtor!
If selling your home is one of your 2025 goals, you might be wondering: should you hire a realtor or go solo and handle things yourself?
Saving money on commission may seem like a tempting idea, but listing your home is only one step in the process.
Do you need a Realtor to sell your home?
No. Hiring a real estate agent, broker, or Realtor is not mandated by law for home sellers. However, a “for sale by owner” (FSBO) transaction takes time, expertise, and commitment.
Some people believe that choosing the “for sale by owner” (FSBO) route can help them save money by avoiding agent commissions. However, the truth is that they are likely to miss out on achieving the highest price for their home.
What to Expect From Your Realtor When Selling
1. A thorough comparative market analysis
When estimating a property’s market value, real estate agents use a comparative market analysis (CMA), which is an assessment of comparable homes in your neighborhood that have previously sold or are currently for sale.
Selling your home as soon as possible for the best price is your primary goal. But an essential aspect of selling your house quickly is making sure it’s priced appropriately for the market. Getting a thorough and accurate CMA from your realtor helps you make well-informed decisions on the pricing and marketing strategy for your home.
2. Marketing and staging
Listing your home for sale is just the first step in the marketing process. Beyond simply posting a “For Sale” sign, a realtor serves as your advisor, ally, and guide during the entire process.
Real estate agents actively promote your home through their own websites, social media accounts, flyers, videos, and events like open houses.
If you work with a real estate agent, you will also have access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS), which is the main tool used by agents to find the most recent listings, and only real estate agents are permitted to list homes for sale in the MLS.
Having a strong marketing plan boosts your listing’s visibility, attracts potential buyers, and paves the way for a successful sale!
3. Knowledge of disclosures
One of the real estate agent’s responsibilities is to make sure you’re in compliance with the required disclosures. As the seller, you’re investing in a real estate agent to guide you, offer expert advice, and ensure your transaction is handled smoothly, legally, and with peace of mind.
4. Strong negotiating skills
In the selling process, negotiating with potential buyers is one of the most crucial and challenging parts. Therefore, an experienced real estate agent will handle negotiations with professionalism and put in the effort to sell your home for the highest price, saving you money beyond agent commissions!
They know all the ins and outs and can help resolve the dozens of issues that prevent transactions from closing, such as repairs, closing costs, schedule conflicts, inspection issues, and more.
5. Take the time so you don’t have to
Homeowners who try to sell their home on their own eventually give up after a week or two since it takes a lot of time, which most people just don’t have.
The ultimate goal of hiring a real estate agent isn’t just to simplify the process but also to maximize your time and ensure you get the best possible outcome from your sale! Working with a real estate agent lets you hand off the heavy lifting, so you can focus on keeping your home ready for showings and finding your next place to call home!
So, should you hire a realtor? If you’re looking for less stress and more success, the answer is absolutely YES!
From market expertise to expert negotiation skills, the benefits of partnering with a real estate agent are endless! If you’re ready to sell but are unsure where to start, our team of experts are here to help!
