3 Ugly Truths You’ll Discover Trying to Buy a Home Without a Real Estate Agent
Many people, whether they are new to the market or have purchased a home before, consider investing in a home without the help of an agent. While there are benefits involved with going it alone, there are also a number of drawbacks that can significantly impact the success of your home purchase. If you’re wondering about the difficulties involved in going “agent-less”, consider the following points.
It’s A Lot Of Legwork
It might seem simple if you’ve found a house and you like it, but a lot more goes into investing in a home than just finding a place. While you can do research on your own, an experienced real estate agent will have knowledge of the market and the neighborhoods you’re searching in and will be able to share an insider’s perspective. As a result, they may be more successful at providing you with insights about the local community and the price you should be paying. All of which would be hard to determine on your own.
Navigating The Process
Home ownership can be considered as easy as signing on the dotted line, but there are so many steps that go into making the final purchase that having someone experienced along to assist can be very beneficial. In addition to pay stubs, tax returns, employment records and bank statements, you’ll need to deal with legal forms, deeds and a ton of other information the home sellers and your lender will need. Fortunately, an agent will be familiar with what’s needed and will be able to simplify the process wherever possible.
The Right Home Takes Time
The right agent may make finding a home look pretty easy, but it takes a lot of knowledge and experience to be able to find what works for you. As a result, it’s very easy to underestimate the amount of time you’ll need to invest in research and open houses and even negotiating to find your next home. If you don’t have the time to do what’s needed to find the right place for you, it may be worth enlisting the services of a professional.
It can be tempting to forego the costs of an agent when it comes to buying a home, but the right agent can save you time and help you find the right place at the right price. If you’re currently preparing to invest in a home, contact your local real estate professional for more information.