Your home is one of the most significant investments you will make, and you want to make sure you are making the right decision when you sign the sales agreement. While there has been a movement towards DIY real estate sales in recent years thanks to the internet, most buyers know that the experience and assistance of a qualified real estate professional can make all the difference in your transaction.
PAYING THE RIGHT PRICE
You can do all the research you want on pricing a home, but in the end, it takes years of professional experience to get the right selling price. Why is it so important to have a real estate agent be able to establish the right price for you on the property you want? Because when you have a professional’s opinion on what the property is really worth, you can make a very competitive bid.
There are a lot of factors that go into making sure a buyer pays the right price for a property. Elements such as the condition of the house compared to others in the neighborhood and the amount of time the house has been on the market affect the property’s value. An agent can help you to quantify all of those characteristics and give you a strong bidding price for the home you want.
NAVIGATING THE PROCESS
A real estate agent is an expert in real estate transactions, and that expertise can help you save a lot of time and money on your purchase. Your experienced agent will know what paperwork has to be submitted and will help you put together your financial information in time to get pre-approved for your mortgage.
If you want the buying process to go smoothly, then you need to submit all your documents on time and make sure all your paperwork is complete. An experienced agent has been through the process several times before, and that kind of experience will help you avoid mistakes that can hold up the closing date — or even stop the transaction completely.
SUBMITTING A SUCCESSFUL BID
We talked earlier about a real estate agent’s ability to make sure you are submitting a fair but competitive price to the seller. When it comes to submitting a successful bid, there is more involved than just putting down a price the seller will agree with.
Your bid may have conditions contingent on the sale of your home, or the seller may have conditions that have to be met when the bid is submitted. Most real estate buying bids are not straightforward events, and you need a real estate professional to help you submit a complete and comprehensive bid.
SIZING UP THE COMPETITION
When an in-demand home goes on the market, there will be plenty of competition to submit the successful bid. In situations like these, most inexperienced buyers throw together bids that are not competitive at all.
Your experienced real estate agent knows exactly how to submit a bid in a competitive situation. While you and your agent may not know who else is bidding, you will be able to meet the seller and get all the information your agent needs to submit a bid that is going to stand out from the competition.
Getting involved in a high-stakes real estate buying process without an experienced real estate agent is like going to court without a lawyer. You need a professional on your side who has the experience necessary to create a competitive bid on your behalf. If you want to place a winning bid on the home of your dreams, then you need to rely on an experienced expert to guide you through the process.
Amy and Michael Ifland are full-time realtors with nearly 20 years experience in the Houston Real Estate Market. If you’re buying or selling a home in the Houston metropolitan area, call 281.760.7299 or submit a contact form. They’ll be happy to assist you in your move.