Do-it-yourself taxes, do-it-yourself renovations, do-it-yourself wills … when it comes to DIY there are plenty of things that you can do without involving a professional. This also includes buying or selling a home or cottage. The question is, is DIY really a good idea?
Although there are certainly benefits to selling your home privately, namely the money you’ll save by not paying a real estate agent a commission, there are also some solid benefits to working with an experienced real estate agent that may make you reconsider taking the DIY route.
Education and Expertise
Unfortunately, it’s just not possible to be an expert at all things. Although you may feel that you have a pretty good understanding of market conditions, including your neighbourhood and how much your home is worth, it’s very likely that you don’t know all the ins and outs when it comes to real estate and the complicated process of buying or selling a property.
Not only do most people not have formal real estate training, it’s also likely that you aren’t as up to date with market and neighbourhood conditions and the legalities involved in buying or selling your home. Some real estate agents also specialize in certain types of properties such as condos, luxury homes, cottages or commercial properties. This means that if you are looking to buy or sell a special type of property, you may find even more benefit to working with a realtor that really knows their stuff.
No Need to Negotiate
Negotiation is both an art and a science. It’s also typically something that most people do not enjoy. Real estate agents, on the other hand, have the experience (and background information) needed to effectively negotiate in order to get the best price – whether you are buying or selling.
Marketing Mojo
Although you can definitely purchase a few for sale signs and place them on your property to advertise that your home is now on the market, it’s not as effective as the marketing tools and channels that your real estate agent has access to. Not only can your real estate agent post your listing online in order to attract buyers, they also have access to network connections and past client relationships that they can leverage in order to find the right buyer.
They’ll Take Care of the Tough Stuff
Selling or buying a home is a full-time job. Researching potential properties, setting up viewings, showings and open houses, preparing offers, communicating with potential buyers via email or phone – these tasks can all be pretty time-consuming. Working with a real estate agent will save you the time and the hassle.
Although every situation is different, for the majority of cases, it’s a good idea to work with a real estate agent when buying or selling your home or cottage in Muskoka. It’s also a good idea to work with a real estate lawyer. A real estate lawyer can help you get the most out of your contracts and help you protect one of the biggest investments you’ll ever make. For real estate legal advice and assistance in Muskoka, call our experienced team at Ares Law today at (705) 645-8743.
