Many people ask this question:
“What is the value of a real estate agent anyway?”
I’m honestly unsure of why this question gets asked…I don’t really see other professions needing to legitimize their work but honestly, I thought “why not tackle this one?! I mean, I’m honored to be able to do so.
So let’s go ahead, and for the sake of an email, I’ll keep this write up brief.
The real estate agent is a valuable advocate on both sides of the transaction.
Yes, it is true that it can be done with just a contract, a lawyer prepping docs and a title company, but with your most valuable asset being handled, it’s best to have someone advocating and advising you through the process, not just have someone looking at the facts on the document and closing the sale.
Instead of looking at it like your real estate “agent”, I think real estate “advisor” is much more appropriate.
On the seller side, your agent will:
Discuss with you- your needs, want’s and goals.
Prepare options and help you to determine a strategy that meets those needs, wants and goals.
Based on that strategy,
Find buyers from making phone calls and following up from inquiries.
Set up and arrange showings, and previews.
Field all of the calls, texts, and emails from (6 am to 11 pm, yep).
Receive and review offers, advise you on each one, confirm qualifications for offers (call the lender or verify proof of funds), advise on negotiation and terms in the contract, ensure that you are performing on your part of the deal, ensure that the buyer is performing on their side of the deal, ensure that everything and everyone is communicated with and within the appropriate time frame.
Additionally, your agent will discuss everything with you, keep you informed regularly, and help you to stay calm and level headed, basically be “your person”.
On the buyer side, again, your agent will first:
Discuss with you your needs, want’s and goals.
Determine a strategy that meets those wants, needs, and goals.
This is when I like to have my “buyer consultation”.
At that consultation we will:
Discuss the entire purchasing process so that you know everything to expect up front and be totally confident and prepared to move forward.
Your agent will locate the properties that are a fit.
Once you identify that property, Your agent will do a cma report.
Advise you on offer price.
Your agent will build rapport with the listing agent and get valuable information such as: “how much interest, how many showings, are you working any offers?” Based on that conversation your agent will help you to
For both the the buyer and the seller, your agent will never disclose any confidential information that you have not given permission to disclose.
*You must always disclose everything you know about the property, but a seller does not need to know “how much the buyer will pay” and a buyer does not need to know “how much the seller will accept” understand? That is confidential between you and your agent.
And when I say “your agent” in all of the things above, I mean “me”. This is how I serve my clients.
Okay, so there’s a BRIEF overview of your real estate agent’s true value.
Are all agents the same? Nope.
Can this be placed in monetary terms? Absolutely.
The agent protects the sellers bottom dollar and formulates an overall strategy to get the seller the highest price possible.
The agent protects the buyers dollar by getting them the best deal possible and with the best terms.
Looks like I wrote a lot right? I did, but man I left a lot out from that overview.
Wondering if I’m worth my keep? Ask me for my resume.
