When it comes to a home or property sale, sellers and buyers are generally situated on opposite sides.

From the buyer’s standpoint, the desired outcome is to get a good deal by paying less than what is initially offered, while that of a seller is to make the most out of a sale with the hope of achieving the maximum value out of a sale.

Nonetheless, the ultimate goal of both parties is to make a sale.

This is where a real estate agent comes in, to ensure that both parties achieve the best outcomes possible.

Optimal value with an agent

For vendors, some go the way of for-sale-by-owner (FSBO) when listing properties in the market, in the hopes of getting the best value out of a sale and avoiding paying for commissions.

However, that is not the actual case because according to a 2017 study, FSBO transactions on average yielded 30% less in terms of value compared to properties sold by real estate agents.

Besides, an FSBO process could still end up paying a commission to the agent representing the buyer, of which the percentage or amount is incorporated into the contract.

Gets into the fine details

The real estate transaction between a buyer and seller is more than just money exchanging hands.

Surely, anyone who is not into real estate would discover that reviewing and preparing multiple documents and legal requirements in a single real estate deal can be quite a handful.

The process demands a thorough understanding of the legal and documentary process from start to finish.

For sure, your real estate agent is way more familiar with these compared to any lay home or property owner.

Worse, missing a step in the process or neglecting one or two pieces of legal documents could end up costing you more including penalties and fines that may be incurred.

Confidentiality, privacy, and fiduciary duty

Regardless of whether the client is a buyer or seller, real estate agents fully understand and seriously observe their fiduciary duty to their clients- which means that they are morally obligated to always look after the best interests of their clients.

One of the important aspects of this duty is confidentiality, which means they will never disclose any information to buyers or sellers from the other side that could compromise the deal and transaction that would place any or all of the parties in a compromising situation.

They know what to check and inspect

Due to their knowledge and experience in the industry, real estate agents have a strong sense of awareness and know what things to check and look for when inspecting a property for a client.

Other than the physical aspect of inspections such as fixtures, structural issues, or spot-check reports, they also have a keen eye on the documentary aspects of any property transaction whether documents and legal papers are in place and in order.

Agents also have access to intelligence and data relevant to market conditions and other key considerations, which lay people have no access to or have in their possession.

Agents know how to negotiate effectively and efficiently

Real estate negotiations can really be a pain in the neck, especially when you are not experienced in handling one. This is where the negotiating skills of real estate agents come in.

As mentioned before, agents are obligated to uphold the rights and protect the interests of their clients, so they know if a deal is going south and provide you with the best advice for your real estate journey.

In conclusion, there are more than enough reasons why you need to have a real estate agent when embarking on a real estate journey because they are the best people who can help you achieve the best outcomes.