15 Reasons to Hire a Real Estate Agent -- Even When Home Values Are Strong

In today's housing market, sellers have the clear upper hand. That's because housing inventory is extremely limited, so sellers are able to get away with commanding higher prices.

In light of that, you may be inclined to sell your home solo instead of hiring a real estate agent and paying their fee. But here's why you should consider working with a professional -- even with home values being as strong as they are.

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While home values are high these days, asking too much for your home could turn buyers away. If you hire a real estate agent, that person can help you land on the best price for your home -- one that allows you to profit without coming off as greedy.

ALSO READ: Median Home Sale Price Reaches Record High of $363,975

A big part of getting a home to sell is staging it just right. A real estate agent can help you set up your home to appeal to buyers.

You don't want to sink too much money into your home in an effort to sell it. If you hire a real estate agent, they can guide you on which improvements and repairs are worth making so you don't spend needlessly.

ALSO READ: 3 Mistakes You Might Make If You're New to House Flipping

Real estate agents are often expert marketers. And that could be your ticket to getting your home in front of more buyers for a more lucrative sale.

Although housing inventory is low on a national level, you may be looking at more competition locally. If that's the case, hiring a real estate agent could help give your property an edge.

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There are a lot of steps that need to happen to complete the sale of a home. If you don't know what the process entails, you could end up with a headache on your hands. If you engage a real estate agent's services, they'll be in charge of overseeing that process, not you.

ALSO READ: 4 Tips for Selling Your Home in 2022

Even if you've sold a home before and know what to expect, you may not have the time to deal with things like contracts and other paperwork. A real estate agent can handle all of that for you so that you can focus on your job, your family, or whatever it is that's important to you.

It often takes solid negotiation skills to end up with a high sale price. If you're not confident in your ability to negotiate, then you'd be wise to hire a real estate agent to do it for you.

ALSO READ: Looking to Sell a Home in 2022? You May Want to Get Moving Now

If you're selling a home in a neighborhood you're not so familiar with (say, you inherited a home from an older family member who passed away), you're at a disadvantage. But if you hire a real estate agent, that person can use their knowledge to market and price your home appropriately.

If you're selling the home you currently live in, you'll need to find a replacement one. A real estate agent can help you navigate the market from a buyer's standpoint while working to sell the property you're trying to unload.

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Real estate offers and contracts are loaded with terminology that may read like a foreign language to you if you're not familiar with it. If you hire a real estate agent, you won't have to worry about misinterpreting a certain clause or phrase.

ALSO READ: Making an Offer to Buy a House? Be Sure to Include These 2 Clauses

You may have a pressing need to move your home off the market quickly -- say, because you have to relocate to care for an ailing loved one, or you've been offered a new job. If you hire a real estate agent, you might manage to sell your home much faster than if you were to take on the process yourself.

A big part of marketing a home is putting together a solid listing with great photographs. If that's not a skill you have, it pays to bring in a real estate agent to do the work for you.

ALSO READ: Want to Sell Your Home at a Profit? 5 Things You Need to Do

Selling a home can be stressful no matter what. If you don't tend to cope with stress very well, then it really pays to sign up with a real estate agent as a means of protecting your physical and mental health.

The one downside of working with a real estate agent is having to pay a commission on the sale of your home. But you never know whether an agent might be willing to negotiate. It pays to at least have that conversation before writing off the idea of working with a professional.

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Today's housing market is definitely one that favors sellers. But hiring a real estate agent could still work to your benefit -- especially if you find the right one. To that end, be sure to ask around for recommendations before signing a contract. If you hire someone with a solid reputation, you're more likely to have a great experience from start to finish.

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