Why it’s important for homebuyers to enlist aid of Realtor
This week’s column was written by Juli Gates, director of communication for the Arkansas Realtors Association.
Buying a home can be overwhelming. There are so many voices telling you to do this or that, and unfortunately, some buyers end up more frustrated than when they began the process in the first place.
If you are interested in purchasing a home, it’s important to use a Realtor. Listed below are just a few reasons why a Realtor is the way to go.
• Realtors abide by a code of ethics.
What does that mean, you might ask? Every Realtor must follow a set of rules and guidelines that were set up by the National Association of Realtors to be sure that all Realtors are practicing properly and fairly in the real estate business, with integrity and honor.
• Realtors never stop educating themselves.
Before I started to work with Realtors, I had no idea how much continuing education is involved. Along with the state-mandated number of hours, Realtors go beyond
that in continuing their education with designations, certifications and other forms of professional development.
• Realtors look out for your best financial interests.
A Realtor will do everything in his or her power to protect you. This falls back to my first point — Realtors abide by a code of ethics that requires them to always have their clients’ best interests at heart.
• Realtors keep up with ever-changing real estate regulations.
Each home is different, and real estate laws vary among states. A Realtor will have the knowledge to guide you in the many rules that might have changed since you last purchased a home.
• A Realtor will work hard to help you find the perfect home. Realtors will share their knowledge of everything you should look for in a new home, besides the basics of square footage or the number of bedrooms and baths. While these two things are important, a Realtor will go beyond the aesthetics and give you vital information that you might not otherwise think of when purchasing a home.
• Realtors know the ins and outs of contracts and negotiations.
Your Realtor will guide you through all of the complex documents and help you make the best offer when you find a home. Negotiating can be a tedious and long process, but with the help of your Realtor, the process will move much more quickly and smoothly.
If you are considering purchasing a home, I challenge you to consider using a Realtor and see what he or she can do for you. House to House is distributed by the Arkansas Realtors Association. For more information about homeownership in Arkansas, visit www.ArkansasRealtors.com.