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These days, there’s no shortage of real estate websites providing information and advice. It can be tempting for home sellers to try to bypass hiring a real estate agent in order to save a little money. Of course, it’s perfectly legal to sell your home without the help of an agent. However, hiring an agent comes with many important perks and benefits.

Benefit from Their Education and Experience

Unless you have prior experience selling homes, trying to sell one on your own can be a little overwhelming. A real estate agent is required to go through extensive training before obtaining their license. In order to do their job well, they need to continuously fulfill education requirements and stay connected with market changes in your neighborhood and surrounding areas. A real estate agent is always familiar with local codes and laws, mortgage and title companies, and knows how to keep the process moving — preventing delays in the home sale. Their knowledge in these specific areas go deeper than that of the average homeowner, and without that knowledge, the homeowner could unknowingly sabotage their selling efforts.

Learn More: Buying, Selling, and Your Taxes

Make More Money on Your Sale

Many home sellers try to sell their home without a real estate agent in an attempt to avoid paying a commission on the sale. However, studies have shown that homes For Sale By Owner don’t actually save sellers money. In fact, they might even be costing sellers more money. People selling on their own often end up selling for up to 6 percent less than comparable properties that are sold by agents through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). A real estate agent knows the market and the going prices for comparable homes in your area. They’ll calculate the right asking price for your home to get you the best possible offer.

Better Exposure to Sell Your Home Faster

Anyone trying to sell their home on their own is limited to third-party real estate websites, signs in their yard, or ads in the newspaper or online. Only a licensed realtor can list a home for sale using the MLS. This gives your sales listing exposure to hundreds, if not thousands, of other agents in and around your area. And, since MLS listings are often dispersed to third-party sites like Trulia and Zillow, your exposure is extended even farther.

Learn More: Is Now the Time to Sell Your Home?

Inquiries are Handled for You

When you sell your home on your own, you have to do all of the work on your own. You’re fielding calls from prospective buyers, agents or people who are curious about your home. If you’re working full time or are busy trying to raise a family, this is extremely disruptive to your routine. A real estate agent takes the calls, responds to the inquiries and does all of the work on your behalf.

Save Yourself from the Hassles

Real estate agents handle a lot of things in the home-selling process on your behalf. Among those is open houses and the showing of your home to prospective buyers. This means that you don’t have to take time off work or disrupt your family’s plans. Once an offer has been made on your home, your agent will handle:

• Contracts
• Contingencies
• Disclosures
• Inspection arrangements
• Potential re-negotiations

He or she will also deal directly with the title company to make sure your home’s deed is clear and any other details are handled before closing.

Learn More: What to Expect When Closing on Your Home

Have Someone on Your Side

When you hire a real estate agent, they’re immediately on your team. Agents are great at negotiating. They work diligently on your behalf to get you exactly what you’re looking for. This can be very helpful if you find yourself dealing with a difficult buyer, their agent, or even a closing attorney. The agent you hire has a fiduciary responsibility to you as their client, and no one else. They are professionally obligated to put your wants, needs and best interests first, before the buyer’s or their own.

Determination and Dedication

Despite what many people think, the initial listing of your home with a real estate agent doesn’t actually cost you anything. They only benefit if and when they sell your home. Naturally, this gives them an incentive to find you a great buyer at the best possible price. After all, it’s how they make a living. Their determination and dedication to selling your home can get you much higher offers than you likely would have received selling on your own.

Learn More: What Affects Your Home Value?

When you stop and consider all the work that a real estate agent saves you, you’ll quickly see that the right agent can be worth their weight in gold. If you’re considering selling your home in Colleyville, Texas, or surrounding areas, see why hiring an agent from The Wall Team can make all the difference.