If you have found this article, there is a good chance you are looking to buy a home and are wondering whether or not you should utilize the services of a real estate agent or take a do-it-yourself approach. Spoiler alert—the answer to your question is that you absolutely should hire a real estate agent.

In fairness, it is possible to successfully complete the purchase of a home without the services of a buying agent. However, doing so is bound to be far more stressful. Perhaps more importantly, why would you ever want to take on this complex task on your own when you can secure the services of a real estate professional without spending a dime of your own money? That's right, you can hire a buying agent without spending any money. This is not a gimmick, and you don't have to be a member of any exclusive club. Real estate agents simply work on commission and since these commissions are paid by the seller, you are free to take advantage of these services at no cost to you. This is just the beginning of what a real estate has to offer. Keep on reading to learn more about what these professionals have to bring to the table.

Exclusive Access

Just as is the case with many professions, the real estate profession maintains exclusive databases that are only accessible by individuals who hold valid credentials. These exclusive databases help to ensure that agents have access to the most up-to-date information concerning available properties in their local market. The reason this should matter to you is that the longer it takes you to learn about a particular property, the greater the chance will be that another buyer chooses to submit a bid before you get the chance to. While this may not be a big deal when discussing just any run-of-the-mill property, it is sure to be a huge deal when your dream home finally hits the market.

Negotiation Tactics

While you may feel like a master negotiator, the fact is that negotiating a real estate deal requires a special set of skills that you are not likely to posses if you don't have any specialized education in the area of real estate transactions. This is because real estate contracts can actually be quite complex. In addition to knowing the basics such as how much you wish to pay for the home and how you plan on financing it, you will also need to understand the legal process that goes along with completing your purchase. This includes scheduling home inspections, negotiating the need for any necessary repairs, and making amendments to purchase contracts in order to ensure your best interest is protected. These are all tasks that your real estate agent will be qualified to complete on your behalf. 

The Bottom Line

If you want to fumble through your real estate purchase hoping for the best and doing all the legwork on your own, by all means take a do-it-yourself approach. However, if the idea of letting a professional handle the legwork for you, ensuring you have exclusive access to the most up-to-date information and making sure your best interest is protected, sounds like a better plan, then you will want to stop reading now and pick up the phone to call a real estate agent about homes for sale in your area.