Whether you’re set on selling or just starting to think about buying, navigating the real estate process can seem overwhelming at best — especially when you factor in all the associated fees. One of the most important costs to consider before you embark on your upcoming real estate journey? The percentage you’ll have to pay your Realtor. And while some may attempt to take a more DIY approach to the homeownership cycle to save money upfront, the truth is that the right Realtor is worth every penny. Keep reading to discover the (many) reasons why!

For Sellers:

Real estate agents play a critical role in helping sellers prepare their homes for the market through the following steps:

Property Evaluation: Conducting a thorough evaluation of the property to determine its current market value, and providing a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help sellers understand the pricing landscape.

Home Staging: The most regarded agents make a habit of giving advice on home staging to make the property more appealing to potential buyers.

Repairs and Maintenance: Identifying necessary repairs or improvements that could enhance the property’s value, and recommending reliable contractors or service providers to address any issues.

Photography and Marketing Materials: The way we see it, any agent should arrange for professional photography to capture high-quality images of the property and create attractive marketing materials — such as brochures and online listings — to highlight the property’s key features.

Market Research: Because wouldn’t any prospective seller want to know the best time to list their property based on market dynamics?

Legal and Disclosure Documents: Helping to gather necessary legal documents, such as property deeds, surveys, and tax records, while ensuring that sellers are aware of and compliant with disclosure requirements is a value-add that shouldn’t be overlooked.

Open House Planning: Conceptualizing and organizing open houses — or events! — to attract potential buyers.

Upgrading Your Online Presence: Optimizing online listings on real estate platforms with compelling descriptions and high-quality images to match.

Negotiation Strategy: Our advice? Hire an agent who has a proven track record of developing effective negotiation strategies to secure the best possible deal for the seller, while responding to offers and counteroffers at the same time.

Thinking about selling? Check out these blogs to learn more.

• Is Selling Your Home In The Winter A Good Idea?
• Should You Hire a Friend to Sell Your Home?
• Top Home Selling Mistakes to Avoid

For Buyers:

As agents, our goal is to streamline the home-buying process, provide valuable guidance, and advocate for the best interests of the buyer throughout every transaction. Here’s how we do it:

Needs Assessment: We work with buyers to understand their specific needs, preferences, and budget, identifying key criteria along the way — such as location, size, amenities, and style preferences (to name just a few).

Market Education: Providing buyers with information about the current state of the real estate market, including trends, pricing, and neighborhood dynamics.

Property Search: Actively searching for properties that match each buyer’s criteria using various resources, including (but not limited to) multiple listing services (MLS).

Property Tours: The top agents will schedule and organize property tours for buyers to visit potential homes, providing insights into each property and pointing out marketable features as well as potential concerns.

Negotiation: We negotiate on behalf of the buyer during the offer and counteroffer stages, leveraging our expertise to secure the buyer the best possible terms.

Market Analysis: Any agent worth hiring will conduct a comparative market analysis (CMA) to help buyers understand the fair market value of a property.

Financing Guidance: Connecting buyers with mortgage brokers and lenders to facilitate the financing process.

Paperwork Assistance: Real estate transactions involve extensive paperwork, and agents help buyers complete and understand the necessary documents to ensure that all legal and contractual requirements are met.

Inspection Support: The best agents will advise their buyers on the importance of property inspections and help coordinate the process overall. Not to mention the fact that they’ll assist with interpreting inspection reports and guide buyers through any necessary negotiations based on inspection findings.

Closing Process Assistance: Guiding buyers through the closing process in order to make sure that all necessary steps are completed by working with the title company, escrow officers, and other professionals involved.

Post-Purchase Support: Our work doesn’t end after the contract is ratified; whether you need insight into certain local services or are looking to explore your new community, we’ll always be here for you.

In need of DC-specific home-buying advice? We’ve got plenty of helpful resources on our blog. Check out these posts.

• How Much Mortgage Can I Afford?
• How Many Homes Should I Tour Before Submitting an Offer?
• How to Buy a Home with No Money Down