If you are thinking about buying or selling a home, you may ask yourself if it is worth the expense of having a real estate professional involved in the transaction. You may think you would save money by doing it yourself however; you may be biting off more than you can chew. Real estate professionals offer a variety of services that can make a sale or purchase go much more smoothly.
In a recent survey by the National Association of Realtors, more than three-quarters of the people surveyed who had used a real estate broker to sell their home, felt the commission they paid was “money well spent.” Two-thirds of the people who had sold their homes themselves either were unsure about or firmly decided against ever doing it again. On the other end of the transaction, nearly three-quarters of the buyers surveyed said real estate professionals can show buyers a better selection of homes than they could find on their own.
Sellers can waste a lot of time and energy trying to show their home to buyers who are not really interested or are not qualified to purchase the home. A selling agent will pre-qualify buyers and facilitate the showings. Also, buyers benefit from using an agent because they are instrumental in narrowing down your criteria and finding the perfect home for you.
So how do real estate professionals get paid? Realtors® are paid on a straight commission basis. They don’t receive a salary and are not on an expense account or draw. They are paid only after they sell something. This is why working with more than one agent is not a good idea. In most cases, Realtors® are paid by the sellers when the transaction is complete.
When you are thinking about buying or selling a home, you are wise to consult with a Realtor®. At Texas Dream Realtors®, we offer complimentary consultations for buyers and sellers to help you through your real estate transaction.
Image courtesy of Stuart Miles / FreeDigitalPhotos.net