Let’s face it, all the information in the world about how to buy and sell a house is at your finger tips. So why hire a real estate professional to represent you in the purchase or sale of your home, when you can save the big fat commission they charge and do it yourself. If you have asked yourself this question, you are not alone. Here are the top 5 reasons to hire a real estate professional:

1. Education & Experience

Most people buy or sell homes 2-3 times in their lives. Many real estate professionals are involved in buying and selling real estate 2-3 times a month. Henry Ford once said that when you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are. You don’t need to know all there is to know about buying or selling real estate, you just need to hire the people that do. Hire someone with more experience and education than you that can help you get the best possible deal and save you precious time and money.

2. Agents are Buffers

If you are a buyer, agents will insulate you from builder representatives and listing agents, who can be piranhas when going after a sale. And if you are a seller, your agent will weed through the ‘lookie loos’ and bring you only well-qualified buyers. Real estate professionals save you time…and as they say, ‘time is money.’

3. Neighborhood Knowledge

Your neighbor may know that the people who sold the house down the street were asking $350,000, but your real estate agent will know that the house actually sold for $295,000 and paid $5,000 of the buyer’s closing costs after being on the market 45 days.

4. Price Guidance

Your real estate agent is able to guide you through the decision making process to help you make the right choice for yourself and your family. Whether a buyer or seller, agents are able to provide you with the data you need to choose a correct price and then put together a negotiating strategy based on market supply, demand and conditions.

5. Market Conditions Information

Real estate professionals can also provide you with market data such as price per square foot, median and average sales prices, days on market and list/sell ratios that will have a bearing on your buying and selling decisions.

Take a look at sales figures in our local real estate market for February 2013.

Midtown Montgomery real estate sales statistics for February 2013 show the number of homes sold increased by 25% when compared to February 2012. The average sales price increased by 21% to $120,403 for the month. The median sales prices increased by 30%, and market times increased by 16 day. The highest selling home price increased by 59%, and the lowest selling home price increased by 20% from February 2012.

Midtown Montgomery February 2013 February 2012
Homes Sold 24 18
Average Selling Price $ 120,403 $ 95,287
Median Selling Price $ 82,656 $ 58,000
Days On The Market 133 117
Highest Selling Price $ 695,000 $ 286,000
Lowest Selling Price $5,000 $4,000

For the latest Midtown Montgomery real estate market conditions in your area, please call me at 800-HAT-LADY or visit HomesForSaleInMontgomeryAlabama.com.

Information is provided by the Montgomery Area Association of Realtors and is deemed accurate but not guaranteed.