Are you thinking about buying or selling real estate and are wondering if you even need to hire a realtor anymore? In this video, we're going to go through the top 3 questions that residents of Sacramento have when working with realtors to see if you need to hire one or not. We’ll explore everything from the role of a realtor to fees and costs so you can make the best decision for your situation.

Do You Need A Real Estate Agent?

The top question we get is, do you need a real estate agent to buy or sell real estate? The truth is, you don't need a realtor to buy or sell a home. You can do both on your own. However, a realtor's main job is to make sure that you're protected and don't make any costly mistakes. Let me give you an example.

If you're buying a house in the Sacramento area, a couple of big factors come into play. Are you buying in the right area? Are you overpaying? Based on the market in the last few years, prices have gone up—and that's something you should really think about. This is where a realtor comes in to make sure that you don't overpay.

If you're selling your house, I'm sure you want to get top price for it. I know I do, and it’s your realtor's job to provide you with the marketing and sales strategy to make sure that you get every dollar your home is worth. At the end of the day, it's all about making sure your realtor provides value and whether or not you have the right one working for you.

Of course, if you've already found the house that you want to buy and you already know how to sell your house for the most money, maybe you don't need a realtor after all. But if you're inexperienced and want to make sure that you're taking the right steps—for possibly the biggest investment of your life—a realtor is definitely for you.

When Is The Best Time To Buy Or Sell?

The next question we always get is, when is the best time of the year to buy or sell? While there may be busier seasons, there's not a better time to buy or sell. The key is taking advantage of the right opportunity when it presents itself.

There are great deals that happen at all times of the year and at any time in the market. This, however, is another reason why hiring a realtor is so important. It's their job to make sure that you know about the deals as soon as they hit the market so you can jump fast.

Is Working With A Realtor Worth The Cost?

The next question we get is whether or not working with a realtor is worth the cost. The real question you should be asking is whether the realtor you're hiring is actually worth it. Are they providing you with the right guidance to make sure that you're making the right decision on your biggest investment?

When you're purchasing a home, you don't pay the realtor yourself. Rather, they're usually paid by the seller or through the broker that's listing the house. That's one of the main reasons that over 90% of all home buyers decide to work with a realtor when they purchase a home.

However, when you sell your house, you are going to incur some costs.  The key is paying for the right agent who will more than make up for whatever commission is paid in value. Unlike buying a house, selling requires great marketing—and great marketing costs money. A great listing agent for the sale of your home should be able to get you way above what you hope for, more than covering their cost.

Making The Best Decision

I hope this answers some questions that you may have had about whether or not you should be working with a real estate agent. The first thing you need to do is realize what you're hiring the realtor for and what you need them to actually do.

Hiring a great agent will be one of the best financial decisions you'll ever make, while hiring the wrong one can be one of the worst. We are the number one sales team in the greater Sacramento area, helping people just like yourself buy and sell every day. If you have any questions about real estate or how any of this works, reach out to me and I would love to chat with you.