Real Estate Myths Uncovered
Whether you’re entering the real estate market for the first time or have a few transactions under your belt, you’ve probably come across some pieces of advice, stories, and warnings that may actually leave you less ready to buy or sell than you were before. Any buyer or seller needs to start their journey prepared, so we’re dispelling some common myths that seem to make the rounds and help put you on the right track with the correct information.
A lot of misinformation swirling around involves an agent’s role in the purchase or sale of a house. You might have heard that purchasing a home without the assistance of an agent will save you money. However, a buyer’s agent’s commission is paid by the seller. Plus, an experienced agent can help you with negotiations and potentially secure you a lower price. For sellers who might be tempted to list their home without an agent to save money, not pricing it correctly, missing out on connections, and trying to negotiate on your own can also cause you to lose out on money.
In today’s world, most of us turn to the internet for just about everything. In fact, scrolling through new listings on real estate website search engines has become a standard pastime for those not even in the market. But be warned, the information on listing search engines may not be updated or always accurate. An agent will help you weed through listings and get you the full scope of the market. Additionally, if you’ve been led to believe that you can handle everything through online resources, think again. Online tools might be helpful in getting a ballpark estimate of what your home is worth, but you shouldn’t count on the figure it provides as being totally accurate; those figures are likely just based on an algorithm and not the full picture of a home, the area, and the current market trends.
Another myth is that if you do upgrades or renovations to your home before listing it, you’ll see a complete return on the cost you put into those renovations. However, this isn’t always the case as certain upgrades appeal more than others to buyers. An experienced agent will help you identify which upgrades are most important and will be most useful in allowing you to fetch a higher sales price.
For many people, buying or selling a home is a big venture full of challenges and questions that they haven’t had to deal with before, so it makes all the difference to have a trusted agent at your side who can give you the correct information. Knowledge is power in real estate. If you’re thinking about making a move, contact me today so we can strategically navigate the journey together.