Recently, I met with homeowners who were considering selling their home. As we walked through the house and talked about the selling process, they started telling me about what happened when they purchased the home a few years earlier.
They shared issues that came up during the inspection, information they felt they hadn’t received from their Realtor, and problems they encountered within the first few months of owning the home. As they told me more, I realized that some of those issues may have been avoided with the right questions, information, and guidance.
It made me think of the saying, “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Buying or selling a home is probably one of the best examples of where that saying applies.
For most people, buying or selling a home is something they may only do a handful of times in their lives, and for first-time home buyers the process can be especially daunting. Yet they are suddenly expected to make decisions involving hundreds of thousands of dollars, legal contracts, inspections, appraisals, financing, disclosures, deadlines, and negotiations.
That is why it is so important to work with an experienced Realtor who has the knowledge and expertise to educate, guide, and advocate for you every step of the way.
It’s Not Just About Finding a House
With so much information available online today, it can be easy to think a Realtor’s role is simply to schedule showings, open doors, write an offer, or put a home in the MLS.
But those are just the mechanics of a real estate transaction, and only a small part of what an experienced Realtor should be doing.
When representing a buyer, a Realtor should look beyond the home itself and consider the entire transaction through the eyes of the client. That means knowing what to look for, anticipating potential issues, asking the questions the buyer may not know to ask, explaining the options along the way, and advocating for the buyer’s best interests throughout the process.
You Have Options – If You Know About Them
Real estate contracts provide buyers and sellers with rights, protections, and choices, but those protections are only valuable if you understand them.
A buyer may not realize there are additional inspections they can perform beyond a general home inspection, such as a roof, pool, sewer scope, etc.
They may not understand their options when an appraisal comes in low, when an inspection uncovers an expensive problem, or when something concerning appears in the seller’s disclosures.
Sellers Face The Same Issue
Should you make repairs before listing, or sell the home as-is? Should you replace aging carpet or offer an allowance? Which improvements are likely to help the home sell, and which ones probably won’t provide a return? What should you disclose? How should you respond to an inspection request without unnecessarily giving away thousands of dollars?
There is rarely one answer that is right for everyone. The important thing is knowing what your options are before making the decision.
The Details Can Matter Long After Closing
One of the reasons experience matters so much in real estate is that seemingly small details can have significant consequences.
Something overlooked during an inspection can become an expensive repair after closing. A seller who doesn’t fully understand disclosure requirements could face questions later. A buyer might accept a repair when a credit or price adjustment would have been a better solution. A seller might agree to something in negotiations without realizing there was another way to structure it.
Even warranties matter. For example, if repairs are completed before closing, is the warranty transferable to the new owner?
These aren’t necessarily things the average buyer or seller would think to ask.
Why would they?
That’s exactly why they hired a professional.
Advocacy Is One of the Most Important Parts of the Job
A good Realtor should do more than process paperwork and keep a transaction moving. They should advocate for their client.
That means explaining the contract instead of simply asking for signatures. It means pointing out potential concerns, discussing the pros and cons of different choices, anticipating problems before they become bigger problems, and making sure important deadlines aren’t missed.
Because in real estate, what you don’t know really can matter. Having the right Realtor by your side isn’t just about getting you from contract to closing. It’s about making sure you understand your options, protecting your interests, and helping you make the best decisions for your individual situation.
If you have questions about buying or selling a home, or simply need information about the real estate market, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m always happy to help.