4 Reasons to Always Hire a Real Estate Agent When Purchasing a Home

If you're on the hunt for a new home, it's easy to feel intimidated. While the current real estate market is booming, that can be a challenge for many buyers. You may not even know where to start, especially if you've never purchased a home before.

Fortunately, there is a simple shortcut to finding the right home: working with a real estate agent. Technically speaking, you don't have to work with a real estate agent when finding a house. But with over 3 million active real estate licensees currently available in the United States, according to the Association of Real Estate License Law Officials, there are a few reasons why you may want to consider it.

Here are just four reasons why you should have a qualified real estate agent by your side when you're buying a home.

1. Save Time

Time isn't on your side when you're house hunting. In fact, lots of people only have a few months, if that, to find and close on a house. A real estate agent can cut through the homes that aren't worth your time and help you find a house that is exactly what you're looking for. Additionally, a real estate agent has access to resources like a local MLS, which will enable them to compile a list of homes for you more efficiently.

2. Save Money

If you want to save money on a house, you should work with a real estate agent. A good real estate agent will not only stick to your budget, but help you negotiate with sellers in order to get the best deal possible. They can also keep you from overspending on a house that's likely to have underlying issues or getting involved in a bidding war that you aren't likely to win without great sacrifice. Although agents do earn a commission from the sale, their expertise can ultimately help you spend less overall.

3. Better Options

Thanks to their use of resources like a local MLS, real estate agents are much more aware of the types of houses available in your area. They will be able to find homes that you didn't even realize were available and potentially locate the house of your dreams. They'll have learned the tips and tricks of the trade that can help you find available properties that might not be open to the masses. That's especially true if they're working with other clients looking to sell their current homes!

4. Less Work

It takes a lot of effort to find a house. If you try to find a home on your own, you may spend months search online, only to end up with nothing but frustration. A real estate agent can use a local MLS to locate homes for you. In other words, they'll do all the grunt work by locating available properties, setting up appointments, and negotiating with the seller's agent. It really is a full-time job, so don't take that burden on by yourself.

Looking for a home? Don't do so without a real estate agent. To learn more about how we can help, get in touch with us today.