By Kathy Henne
If there were a health issue in your family, you would turn to your doctor with questions. Likewise, you would consult an attorney if you were facing a legal problem. Chances are, however, that you would first go online to any number of medical or legal websites to familiarize yourself with the issues and get enough information to begin an informed discussion with the medical or legal professional of your choice.
Those websites won’t illustrate how to perform surgery or advise you how to conduct your case in court. That’s up to the professionals themselves. The internet plays a similar role in real estate. It’s a great place to discover information and view potential new homes, but it doesn’t replace the trusted advice and service provided by an accomplished real estate professional.
Nearly 90% of the buyers these days use the internet to begin their home search, and most of them eventually seek the assistance of a real live, real estate agent to consummate their purchase. They’re not about to take a virtual tour of 264 Main Street, add it to their “shopping cart,” and proceed to “secure checkout” to complete the sale. That would be silly.
Buying a home is not the same as buying airline tickets or DVDs online. Real estate agents provide essential services to both buyers and sellers. Unless the buyer is an appraiser, they’ll need the knowledge of the local real estate market values that their agent will provide to them. You wouldn’t want to over pay for the property. Unless the seller is a marketing guru and an interior designer, they’ll need the knowledge and advice their agent provides. If a home isn’t marketed correctly, it might be invisible to many potential buyers. And in today’s real estate market, proper staging of the home is a necessity. Also, when repair issues arise, you’ll need the guidance of your real estate professional as to which items are habitability and which items are normal wear and tear.
Don’t short change yourself on the biggest transaction of you life. Seek the representation of a knowledgeable and experienced professional. They’ll guide you to a happy ending.
