Do-It-Yourself Homebuying

11700 Beringer in Sauvignon

Can you tell us why it's not a good idea to buy a home without using a Realtor?

Absolutely! Buying without using a Realtor can definitely be a risky choice. A buyer might think that they're making a smart financial decision in trying to cut expenses by not enlisting the aid of an expert in the real estate industry, but in reality, they could be making exactly the opposite.

Why should buyers elicit the help of a Realtor?

It's simple. Realtors, like myself, are experts in their profession! Buyers who try to represent themselves in a real estate transaction may have knowledge based on previous experience with buying or selling, or reading some real estate know-how books; Realtors, however, live and breathe real estate. And while books are great (I, myself, read up constantly), they don't represent all of the complex rigors and rules of our current housing market. It's our job to know all of the ins and outs of every real estate transaction, as well as to make all aspects of the sale as smooth and swift as possible.

Can you give us some examples of times when a Realtor is a necessity in a real estate transaction?

Though I believe a Realtor is necessary through every step, let me provide those examples. First of all, the biggest thing we are needed for is to help clients weave their way through the many dilemmas that plague current market-loan qualifications, appraisals, and renegotiations. Second, buyers and sellers hire agents that know the process and understand market value so that they don't pay too much or sell too low. When it's your life or your money, you need to hire the absolute best professional with the most experience available. The skills required to succeed at a high level are no different from the skills that you would expect a great doctor to have when caring for you. you would never knowingly go to a doctor for surgery who you knew only did three operation a year. As a buyer or seller, would you consider selecting a real estate agent that is not as skillful as the best doctor?