Reasons you should never buy a piece of real estate on your own
You’re thinking of roughing this whole real estate investment thing on your own. Thanks to the never-ending barrage of real estate information and offers out there, you’ve read up, played catch up, and you’re feeling pretty confident to go it alone. This is all you need and your own sound judgement, right? Uh huh…
Hopefully it’s not a journey of no return. But real talk, buying a home, land, or any piece of real estate is a journey you should never go alone. This is very likely the biggest financial decision of your entire life, and you need a Realtor/ real estate advisor/investment firm if you want to do it right. Here’s why.
Expertise is the name of the game: Real estate is an art and science that not all has mastered. It’s got its own language, calculation, physiognomy, and your best bet is on the person who’s mastered all of this, and clutches a sack of experience to go like Santa on his sleigh.
If you don’t want to run the risk of short-changing yourself on all accounts, biting more than you can chew, or getting stuck in the deep, slimy end of real estate investment waters, you need your realtor/real estate expert.
Moreover, buying real estate requires a lot of technical paper trail and work, dozens of forms, disclosures, titles, and other technical documents. Realtors have the expertise to help you prepare a killer deal and spot a deal that would kill you, as well as help you walk through the paperwork process, breaking it all down—while avoiding delays or costly mistakes that can seriously mess you up.
They possess a desirable multiple personality disorder that you absolutely need: Hold on, this is not that scary sort of personality disorders. Your real estate advisor is your wise parent/data analyst/therapist/ financial manager/trendwatcher/insight accumulator—all rolled into one. They wear a lot of different hats, and step into the pants of different roles. It’s not just about earning their commission, which they assuredly do a whole lot of work to earn their keep.
But it’s beyond the commission check. They’re constantly driving around, checking out listings, going on estate tours and inspections for you. They keep their ears to the ground, staying on top of the most recent and best offers, and can smell bullshit offers from a mile away. They value their integrity above all else, so rest assured they won’t touch a shitty, shoddy deal or let you touch it with 10 feet barge-pole. They spend their own money on getting you that investment package of your dreams. They’re researching by the minute to make sure you’re getting the best deal.
And, of course, they’re working for you at nearly all hours of the day and night—whether you need more info on a home or just someone to talk to in order to feel at ease with the offer you just put in. This is the biggest financial (and possibly emotional) decision of your life, and guiding you through it isn’t a responsibility realtor take lightly.
Realtors have this one superpower: Truly, the Internet is awesome. You can find almost anything—anything! And with online real estate listing sites such as yours truly, you can find up-to-date home listings on your own, any time you want. But guess what? Realtors have access to even more listings. Sometimes properties are available but not actively advertised. A Realtor can help you find those hidden gems.
Plus, a good local Realtor is going to know the search area way better than you ever could. Have your eye on a particular neighborhood, but it’s just out of your price range? Your Realtor is equipped to know the ins and outs of every neighborhood, so she can direct you toward a home in your price range that you may have overlooked.
They are on a 2-4-7 diet of ethics: Not every real estate agent is a Realtor or expert. True story. What difference does it make? Realtors are held and hold themselves to a higher ethical standard and adhere to a Code of Ethics.
Need a Harvey spectre kinda negotiator? Hook up with the right realtor: Any time you buy a home or real estate piece, you’re going to encounter negotiations—and as today’s housing market heats up, those negotiations are more likely than ever to get a little heated. You can expect lots of competition, cutthroat tactics, all-cash offers, payment plan structures, and all behind the scene deals. Don’t you want a savvy and professional negotiator on your side to seal the best deal for you? And it’s not just about how much money you end up spending. A Realtor will help you stay on the safe side of agreements that allows enough time for inspections, contingencies, and anything else that’s crucial to your particular needs.
They’ve got the connects: Realtors might not know everything, but they make it their mission to know just about everyone who can possibly help in the process of buying or selling a home. Surveyors, lawyers, title verification connects, structural and civil engineers, interior designers—the list goes on—and they’re all in your Realtor’s network. Use them.
If after all of this, you’re still feeling confident that you can undertake all of these roles and not just undertaking them but brilliantly so, forget all that I’ve said then. Go ahead and be your own realtor. Better still call up that realtor/real estate advisor today for your real estate investment needs.