With Online Access, Why Should A Buyer Still Hire A Broker?
Online access has changed the entire home purchasing process. It has changed the whole world. With all the technology at your hands, you may be asking yourself, “Why do I need to hire a broker/agent to assist me in purchasing a home?” Experience has shown that the answer to that question is actually quite simple. I believe Benjamin Franklin said it best when he warned, “An investment in knowledge always pays the best interest.”
With all the tools and tricks of the internet, not surprisingly, according to the National Association of Realtors 2016 Profiles of Home Buyers and Sellers, 94% of buyers used the internet in their home searches. I was happy to find out that 96% of those seeking to purchase a home, and using the internet, wisely chose to also hire a broker/agent to assist them through the process. These smart buyers did themselves a great favor! Good for them and congratulations on their new homes!
The process of choosing a home to call one’s own is so much more than just “buying”. Sifting through homes online, getting a glimpse into rooms and layouts and placing your furniture in them is just the beginning of the process. Next is the excitement of walking into a home and finding out that it feels right, is the best choice for you in terms of location and pricing, and visualizing your life there…the process may appear seamless. However, from this point, the buyer enters into a journey of what may entail complexities unforeseen.
Savvy buyers depend upon a broker/agent to put and keep together all the pieces of a transaction. Navigating the complexities can become quite confusing. A savvy buyer values the investment in a broker/agent to not only assist in finding the home they will purchase, but to use the great advantage and edge of their unique knowledge, experiences, and skills to negotiate the terms of the sale and the price of the home…always with the buyer’s best interest, and legally bound to do so.
In this series, I’ll touch base on how an expert agent not only guides buyers through neighborhoods to find the perfect home, but helps their buyer-clients navigate all aspects of the home buying process. For instance, one of the most damaging contributions to not closing on a home you desire is one’s own emotional stalemate during negotiation. Having an agent on your side who guides you through the negotiation process can help you avoid losing a home you love simply because the washer and dryer weren’t thrown in the deal, for example. An expert negotiator can assist the seller, as well, in realizing another month on the market costs more than letting the appliances go. Sometimes egos can ruin a home sale. A good agent will assist all parties in seeing the bigger picture.
So how do you find a Broker/agent? It’s always important to be your own advocate, do your research, and choose the real estate professional with whom you are most compatible. Here are the top characteristics for which to look:
- Honesty and integrity
- Knowledge of the purchase process and real estate market
- Responsiveness
- Communication skills
- Negotiation skills
The home buying process can have surprising twists and turns…don’t you want to make what may be the largest investment of your life and in some cases, the biggest purchase, with a more complete understanding of the process and with the least hassles? Only you can answer that, but my suggestion is to heed Ben Franklin’s old and wise advice and give yourself the advantage of the expertise of a real estate professional who will take you on the most direct, smooth and fun line all the way to closing!
Afton Jackson
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Soon, my brother will be in the market for a home. This will be his first real estate transaction, so he’s looking for professional help. I never knew that real estate agents can help direct you in a smooth and fun fashion towards your first home. I’ll pass this benefit along to my brother.
Kyle Winters
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It can really surprise people to learn just how much a good character is involved when picking a real estate agent. As the article points out, you want to make sure you are choosing an honest agent with good communication skills. After all, selling a house can be quite difficult, so you want an agent that will clearly tell you what you are doing wrong and suggest ways to fix it.
Tracy Draughon
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Indeed. Honesty and clear communication is such a priority…I think, from agents I have spoken to, that the most tender area in communicating with a client is suggesting where improvements and changes can be made to a home in order to get it sold quickly and for the best price. Sellers should always seek an agent with care, concern and honest communication…
Jade Brunet
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My sister’s husband just got a new job, and they are looking to buy a new home in the area in which he will be relocating. I like what was said about how working with an agent can help buyers through neighborhoods to find the perfect home and navigate buyers in all aspects of the home buying process. I also agree that it would be best to find a real estate agent with great negotiation skills. I will be sure to share this information with my sister.
Kairi Gainsborough
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I agree with what you said about doing what you can to make possible the biggest investment of your life as hassle free as possible. My husband and I have rented a few small homes, but now we are ready to buy one of our own. Actually purchasing a home is such a huge commitment compared to renting, and we really have no idea where to start. Starting by contacting a real estate agent seems like a good idea.
Finley Moreira
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I’m looking at buying a home in the next couple of months. I like how you pointed out that I should look for an agent that has good communication skills. I want to be kept in the loop about the home buying process, so this is definitely something I’ll look for.
Tracy Draughon
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Thanks Finley. If you are looking in the Wilmington, NC area give me a buzz. I’d love to help you! If not, good luck with your home search and finding a great agent!
Jordan
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I’ve been looking at some different homes for sale, and I think that being able to get a realtor would be helpful. I’m glad that you talked about savvy buyers for homes depending upon an agent when getting a home for sale. I’m going to have to see if we can find a good agent and hopefully get the home of our dreams.
Tracy Draughon
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Good luck with your home search Jordan! Let me know where you are looking and I might have a good agent referral for you. Best wishes! Tracy
Tracy Draughon
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Good luck with your home search Jordan! Let me know where you are looking and I might have a good agent referral for you. Best wishes! Tracy
Anthony Wally
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I definitely appreciated your reminder that buying a home is usually the largest investment that you’ll make. I feel like some people don’t share this perspective when buying a home, and end up regretting their decision later. I’d definitely feel more confident about the home I end up on if I were to use an agent to help match a home to my needs.
Tracy Draughon
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Yes, Anthony, matching financial goals with a home can by the key to a successful financial life!
Kylie Dotts
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I like how you said that you want to make the most important purchase of your life with as little hassle as possible. Having a real estate agent who could help you get things done with as little stress as possible would be nice. They would have knowledge that would really help facilitate that ease and also experience working in the field. All you would have to do is say yes or no to what they show you and the price!
Frank Delaware
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A friend of mine is getting ready to sell his house, and we were curious about why you would want a real estate agent to help you out. One thing that really stood out to me is that you say that they can actually help navigate complexities and investments. It would be nice to know that you are going to get the best deal for your house without getting confused in the process.
Tracy Draughon
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Absolutely Frank! The process can become overwhelming when dealing with unexpected complexities and emotion. We hope for the most seamless transaction at best, but are armed to navigate as negotiator, counselor, advisor, mediator, and confidant. Best of wishes to your friend!
Silas Knight
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I like how you said to use a real estate agent to buy a home. It’s great that 96% of home buyers chose to use an agent. My wife and I need to buy a new home soon, and we will definitely be in that 96%.
Tracy Draughon
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Sounds like you are a smart buyer. Best of wishes with your search!
Dan Moller
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Buying a house is probably the most expensive investment the average American does in their lifetime, I would know because my wife and I are currently on the lookout to purchasing a new house since we don’t want to rent until we retire. With the expertise that a real estate agent offers, I don’t find a reason why one shouldn’t hire one. They will be especially helpful when you’re negotiating prices since they have had plenty of experience when it comes to it and would know if the price is right or it’s too high.
Cameron Bennett
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I like that you mention that you can better negotiate with the help of an agent or broker. Going through the process of buying or selling a home is stressful, but it’s even more so when you’re trying to do it yourself. That’s why it’s good to compare different agents until you find the one that works best for you and your housing needs.
Ashley Maxwell
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Tracy, thanks for your comment about how you should hire a real estate agent who can help you with the buying process. I like how you said that they can help you with your transactions. My husband and I are looking to buy a house, and we are considering helpful and knowledgeable real estate agent to assist us in this process.
Tracy Draughon
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Best wishes with your home buying. Good for you in choosing to work with an agent. If I can assist you in the Wilmington, NC area, give me a shout! I would love to work with you.
Oscar O'Malley
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I really like that you touched on the knowledge, experience, and skills a real estate agent can provide. My wife and I are looking to buy our first home, and we don’t know much about how to go about it. Having a knowledgeable and reputable real estate agent would be a huge plus for us.
Elsa Anderson
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I like that you mentioned how getting a real estate agent would be able to give you an advantage over the competition when it comes to locating one of the biggest investments and decisions you’ll make in your life — buying a home. That’s perfect to learn since we’ve been planning to move for the upcoming year since it’s time for a new life. I’ll be sure to start looking for a reliable real estate agent to help us out. Thanks!
Larry Weaver
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Thanks for pointing out negotiation skills as a characteristic you should look for in a realtor. I am looking to buy a new home that fits the size of my family better, and finding a realtor would be a huge help if they had good communication and negotiation skills. Getting professional help in buying a home is what I hope to get as I find my family a new home.
Marc
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I agree with you in that it is important to look at the communication skills when looking for a good real estate agent. It is important to remember that doing this can help you find the best professional that can keep you up to date with how your transaction is progressing. We are planning on buying a house and want to find a real estate agent that can help us with the paperwork, so I’m glad I found your page.
Scott Adams
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I hadn’t thought about how having someone negotiate for you could get you a better deal. I have been looking for a new home because I’m getting married soon. I can see how it would be nice to have a professional negotiate for me. That way, I won’t end up making any serious mistakes.
Julius Wither Amberfield
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It was quite amazing how you said that a good real estate agent will guide me through the home buying process and make sure that I don’t lose the home that I have been eyeing just because of a minor misunderstanding with the seller. That was really good to know because I have been interested in buying a home since I graduated in college. Renting isn’t really my thing, and the longer I stay in an apartment, the more disappointed I become. Thanks for sharing. I’ll look into hiring a real estate agent as soon as I can.
Scott
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It’s interesting that you talked about choosing an agent that will lead your purchase as smoothly as possible. I have been looking for someone to help me buy a home because I’m getting married soon. I can see how it would be nice to choose an agent that keeps the process simple because it’s easy for me to feel stressed during a large purchase.
Marc
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Thanks a lot for mentioning how you should look for a real estate attorney that knows how to communicate. It is important to remember that doing some research and compare several agents can help you find the one that can really help you out. We are planning on buying a house this year and want to make sure we find the best agent that can help us out, so I’m glad I found your page.
Earnest Watkins
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I liked your reminder to select a real estate agent that has good communication skills. I would feel much more confident working with an agent that gives full disclosure and is transparent about how my home is faring on the market when selling. If I’d like to hire an agent to help me sell my home, what would be the best way to determine the agent’s level of communication skills?
Scott Adams
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I like that you talked about making sure you have professional help because a house might be your biggest purchase. I have been looking for a house because I’m getting married soon. I can see how it would be nice to have an agent’s help because I don’t know anything about the required paperwork.
Hannah Neilson
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You make a great point when you say that you would want to find a realtor that you are compatible with. It would be smart to do this because it would ensure that they are going to get along with you. My husband and I are looking for a realtor, so we’ll have to find someone who is qualified.
Vivian Black
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The part where you mentioned that getting an agent that we would be most comfortable working with is a tip I will be sure to heed. That is due to the fact that we are going to work for closely with them after all. Hopefully, I could get us a real estate agent with the qualities you suggested to look for in our move this summer. Thanks!
Alexandria Martinez
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You made a great point about getting a realtor to better understand the process that comes with buying a home. It can be tricky without the proper care and help you need. My mom would like knowing this as she prepares to look for a realtor to start the process.
Amanda Drew
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My husband and I have a small house right now, but we’d like to get a bigger place because we’re expecting twins and will need more room. So I like how you say that a real estate agent will be able to bring together all of the various pieces of buying a home. We’ll have to find one to help us get a new piece of real estate.
Callum Palmer
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There are a ton of factors that you need to look for when choosing a real estate agent and it is great that the article covers so many. I particularly like that you bring up the importance of negotiation skills. After all, you want a real estate agent that can negotiate any changes to the home before you buy it.
Leviticus Bennett
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I like how you pointed out that real estate agents can help both the buyer and the seller to come to an agreement. It’s interesting to note that keeping a home on the market is a cost in it of itself and that sometimes selling a home for a lower price is a better idea financially. My younger brother is looking to purchase a home for him and his family to live in, I will suggest that first he finds a real estate agent to help him settle.
Khendra Lopez
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Check their online reputation. Also take a lot of considerations for your needs, like, if you’re planning to have a baby soon then you’ll be needing another room, and so on.
Kyle Wayne
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It really helped when you talked about finding a professional who has good responsiveness. My older brother is looking to hire a realtor to start some investing. I think I will talk to him about hiring a professional who is responsive to his concerns.
Burt Silver
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I like the top characteristics that you list in this article such as honesty and integrity, communication skills and others. I think those things are especially important as well to find a good home that fits our wants and needs. My wife and I will definitely take your advice into consideration while looking for our new home. Thanks!
Millie Hue
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I have been pushing my parents to hire a real estate agent so that we could sell the house of my grandparents fast. Now, I’ve found the best idea to convince them. It’s surprising to know that leaving the property on the market for another month increases the cost. I’d relay this information to my parents when I get home later. Thanks!
James Anderson
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It was surprising to know that while the majority of real estate buyers use the internet to search for homes for sale, there is still a huge number of people who use both the internet and hiring a broker or agent that will assist them thru the process of buying a new home. My wife and I are currently checking out online listings of homes for sale. Seeing this trend, we will definitely utilize both methods so that we can choose the best home. Thanks for the information!
Ashley Maxwell
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It’s nice how you said that a real estate agent should have a lot of knowledge in the real estate business. I also like how you mentioned that they should also have a lot of experience in the business. My husband and I are considering a realtor to help us find a new house to move to.
Gerty Gift
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I like what you said about using a realtor to really help you navigate the complexities of the whole process. My husband and I need to move soon and so we’re looking for a home. We haven’t contacted any realtors, but I’m remembering just how difficult this all was the last time around. I think it would really help to have someone who could help us through everything so that we don’t have to stress out like the last time.
James Lee Tucker
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It’s good that you talked about the knowledge, experiences, and skills of a real estate agent to negotiate the terms of the sale and the price of the home. My wife and I are planning to buy a luxury home, but both of us have busy schedules. As we want to find the best house we can get our money, we’ll hire a real estate agent.
Rosie Beckett
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I am planning to buy my first home soon and I have never bought a home before, so I am thinking of hiring a real estate agent to help me with the process. You make a great point that you should choose an agent who is honest and I will get recommendations from family and friends to find out if they are trustworthy. Also, I think that interviewing a few agents would be great for me so that I can find an agent who is easy to work with and understands and listens to my needs.
Candice Eisenhower
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I agree with the fact that hiring a real estate agent would mean investing on an expert who has the knowledge in the field of buying and selling of properties that would best suit to your needs and interests. Come to think of it, this saves you time and energy while you will be assured that you can trust the person pick the best options for you. In this case, I wouldn’t hesitate in looking for a reputable real estate agent to look for a home where I can live on my own.
Mina Edinburgh
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I agree with you when you mentioned that the home buying process is full of surprises, and it will be best to rely on the experience of a professional so that there won’t be a problem with my biggest investment. To be honest, I have already made a mistake once when I got a shed built because I did not rely on a professional. Now that the investment is way bigger, I think I will get myself an agent just to be sure. Thanks!
Millie Hue
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I really liked it when you mentioned that a good agent must be knowledgeable in the market, honest, responsive, communicative, and good at negotiation. The question is: how do I find an agent that fits the description? Should I go to their website and check out the testimonials? Or should I ask them for references to their past clients? Either is good since what matters to me is that I get myself a reliable guide for my first ever homebuying project.
Jasmine Bible
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Hello Millie, thanks for the comment. Yes, reading about the agent on their website and agent page is a great start. Learning more about them and their personality will help you decide if they are a good fit for you. Once you’ve found someone you think you might like, reach out to them directly and ask for references!
Sariah Meagle
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My brother wants to buy a home for his family because they are now expecting their third child. It was explained here that when looking for an agent, they need to find someone who is responsive and has good negotiation skills.
Joy Butler
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Hi Tracy, your post caught my interest with the title itself. I want my brother to become wise in buying a property that he wants. I will advise him to get a real estate agent who’d help him. Aside from that, I am also forwarding this post to him. Cheers!
Candice Eisenhower
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I agree that it’s important to hire a real estate agent in buying a home to fulfill the correct processing of documents to close the deal or transaction with the previous owner. In that way, you’ll be assured that an expert in the field of real estate is in-charge of your behalf to do the right process and clear out any complexities that might come along with it. I’ll be sure to share this with my uncle who is looking to sell his home to add up to his bank savings.
Sherry Gajos
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I really like what you said about choosing a real estate professional with whom you are compatible. My husband and I need to move our family out of town for a new job, so I want to make sure we find a good person to help us. Thank you for the information about searching for the qualities of honesty and integrity, responsiveness, and communication skills.
Kit Hannigan
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I really like that you talked about how navigating the complexities of purchasing a home can become quite confusing. If I were looking to get a new property as soon as possible for whatever reasons, I’d definitely won’t hesitate to call on a real estate agent that can handle all the stress of the transaction. Sometimes, people just want to get it done as fast and as hassle-free as possible. Thanks for this really informative post on how buyers choose to hire a real estate agent.
Sophia James
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My favorite part of your article is when you said that we should do our own research in finding a good agent. I also like that you suggested trusting our gut since we must be comfortable with them. With that in mind, I will make sure to listen to my instinct if ever I find myself hiring one in the future. Actually, I have always wanted to buy a farm since I wanted to own horses for me and also for my future children. It has always been my dream to take care of them and ride them as well. This will be very useful in the future.
Tim Yaotome
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I did not know that 96% of those who use the internet for one’s home searches still opt to use an agent to assist them through it all. I am looking to sell my tiny house property but I am not sure how to handle the transferring of deeds and whatnot. I will not only hire a housing agent but also a legal agent so that not only will I be able to ease through the process of selling a house but also help the new owner ease through the process of owning it as well.
Olivia Pearson
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I appreciate how you said that savvy buyers depend upon a real estate agent to put and keep together all pieces of a transaction that could otherwise be complex and quite confusing. My husband and I are looking to move in order to find a home that better suits our family’s needs. We’ll have to find an experienced and knowledgeable real estate agent in our area that can not only help us find exactly what we’re looking for, but also help us navigate the process of closing on our dream house.
Retoolz
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Thanks to this website for bringing comprehensive information to the audience and adding new things to the Internet. Hope to get more of this line of information in future as well.
Mark Murphy
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I really appreciate your tip to try and get a realtor who has honesty and integrity. My wife and I have been thinking of getting a new house, and we are concerned that we won’t be able to get one in the competitive neighborhood that we want. I will be sure to tell my wife that we should try and get a realtor who has honesty so we get the house honestly!
Daphne Gilpin
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I’m glad you mentioned that 96% of people who use the internet to look for a home also enlist the help of a real estate broker or agent. My husband and I want to find a larger home to move into soon because we have a new baby on the way and will need more space. I wasn’t sure if it’d be smart to hire an agent, so thanks for letting me know that it’s a common and successful method to use both the internet and an agent.
Michael Lee
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I have been thinking about buying some residential real estate. I think you make some good points to why you should use an agent. It would be nice to have someone to help people explain why leaving the house on the market could be more costly.
Steele Honda
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Thanks for pointing out why wise buyers choose a real estate agent. My husband and I are looking for a real estate agent to help us sell our house and possibly help us buy our new one. I think it would be nice to have someone helping us who knew the whole buying and selling process a lot better than us.
Bernard Button
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I love what you’ve said here about working with a realtor. It makes sense that choosing the right home isn’t just “buying”, but is an exhaustive process. We’d rather hire a pro to help us with it when we buy our first place.