Are real estate agents worth it?

Whether you’re buying or selling a home, a good agent can make the difference between a smooth and successful transaction and an otherwise troublesome experience. They can help you find a property that suits your needs, negotiate on your behalf and ensure that all the legal paperwork is completed correctly and on time.

It’s a complicated and stressful process, so it’s essential to have an expert on your side. The right agent can help you avoid delays, uninterested parties, undesirable prices, complicated paperwork and the fear of shady people or cons.

Many homeowners believe they can save money by using a real estate agent to buy or sell their home. While this is true in some instances, it’s not always the case.

For one thing, a real estate agent will usually ask for a percentage of the sales price. This amount is called a commission and is typically paid to the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. This is a small percentage of the total sale price, but it can make a big difference in the end.

The real estate industry is also a lucrative one, and it pays well for experienced professionals. While the average commission in 2021 was 5.46%, more experienced agents may charge higher fees to build their reputation and gain your business.

You can get a real estate license by taking the appropriate education and passing the state’s licensing exam. This typically involves a pre-licensing course and a few hours of classroom work.

Once you’ve passed your state’s licensing exam, you must find a broker to “sponsor” you and complete continuing education requirements to renew your license when it expires. Once licensed, you can begin working as a real estate agent in your area.

A reputable real estate agent will not try to hide negative aspects of a home from a potential buyer or seller, and they’ll be transparent with any information they share. They’ll be honest about the property’s pros and cons, and they’ll be willing to provide advice on how to fix any problems that might come up.

They’ll be able to market your home in a way that gets it noticed, which can lead to faster sales and more money on the sale. They’ll also help you get your home ready to sell and can even offer tips on what you should do before you list your house.

This can include hiring a professional photographer, deep-cleaning the house and sprucing it up, getting it staged and offering advice on how to improve its curb appeal. Some agents will even take a photo of your home in a different setting and post it on social media, so that people can see what your home looks like in a variety of environments.

In most cases, you’ll pay the listing agent a 6% commission at the closing, but this can vary from agency to agency. Some brokerages offer special perks for their sellers that can offset the cost, such as a deep-cleaning session, staging advice and photos of the house taken by a professional.