{"id":5648,"date":"2024-11-08T04:00:10","date_gmt":"2024-11-08T12:00:10","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/?p=5648"},"modified":"2025-04-24T08:55:48","modified_gmt":"2025-04-24T15:55:48","slug":"why-hire-a-real-estate-agent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/why-hire-a-real-estate-agent\/","title":{"rendered":"Why Hire a Real Estate Agent When You\u2019re Selling or Buying"},"content":{"rendered":"

The chances of a better offer, a faster sale, and a positive overall experience of the real estate process are just a few answers to the question: Why hire a real estate agent?<\/a> But that\u2019s just the tip of the iceberg. A qualified agent acts as your trusted advisor, preparing you for every move in a competitive and often unpredictable real estate market. Here are our top reasons why you should consider hiring a real estate agent when you\u2019re selling or buying a home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

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Why hire a real estate agent if you\u2019re selling<\/h2>\n

1. Likely to get you more money for your property<\/h3>\n

Some sellers believe they can get more money for their property by going the For Sale By Owner (FSBO)<\/a> route and avoiding paying the agent\u2019s commission<\/a>. Historically, the average agent commission is 6% of the home sale price, split between the listing agent and the buyer\u2019s agent, with each receiving 3%.<\/p>\n

By selling the property themselves, FSBO sellers no longer have to pay the listing agent\u2019s fee. Additionally, the new homebuying and selling rules brought about by the landmark settlement with the National Association of Realtors\u00ae (NAR)<\/a> further reduce costs, as sellers are no longer required to cover the buyer\u2019s agent commission. Buyers are expected to negotiate fees directly with their agents.<\/p>\n

Nonetheless, some sellers still feel the need to pay the buyer\u2019s agent commission to speed up a home sale or attract more buyers. When sellers choose to sell with a realtor, they are looking at paying 6% of the home sale price for commissions alone.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe common misconception is that we get to pocket all that money,\u201d says Kim Erwin<\/a>, a top-selling agent in Corpus Christi, Texas<\/a>, explaining that the commission typically paid by a seller is usually split evenly with the buyer\u2019s agent.<\/p>\n

FSBO sellers are walking away from home sales with less, according to a 2024 report by NAR. Only 6% of sellers opted to go this route, and the median price of a FSBO-sold home amounted to $380,000<\/a>, far lower than the median of agent-sold homes at $435,000.<\/p>\n

When you do the math, homes sold by agents statistically bring in an average of $55,000 more, even after accounting for the commission.<\/p>\n

2. Could generate a speedier sale<\/h3>\n

Agents have experience with proven strategies that help sell properties quickly<\/a>. An expert agent who knows your area will be well-acquainted with the current housing market, understand what motivates buyers in your area, and come prepared with a comparative market analysis<\/a> of similar houses that have recently sold nearby.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Why hire a real estate agent? Whether buying or selling, their expertise in the entire process will help you achieve the best outcome possible.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":319,"featured_media":40775,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[321,238],"tags":[756],"class_list":["post-5648","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-attract-buyers","category-working-with-agents","tag-what-do-real-estate-agents-do"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nWhy Hire a Real Estate Agent When You\u2019re Buying or Selling<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Why hire a real estate agent? 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