You've watched a handful of success stories about people selling their homes without the help of a real estate agent, and now you think you can achieve the same success on your own. See, these success stories don't show the nitty and gritty details about selling real estate. They make it seem so easy when in fact, it can be a frustrating journey. 

Many people believe that hiring a real estate agent isn't worth the money and doesn't make a significant difference. In truth, the services of a real estate agent can make the difference between successfully selling your house or not. There's so much that happens behind every successful property sale. Once you understand what real estate agents do for you, you'll understand the commission they ask for is justified, and you'll see why they can help you get the most out of your home sale.

You don't have the time

Sure, you can probably manage to sell your house while going to your nine-to-five job every day, but at what cost? Aside from stress and fatigue, you probably won't be able to maximize the value of your property since you won't have all the time you need to find the best deal. Selling your home is not just putting up a "For Sale" sign, and it can take up as much time as a full-time job. You'll have to take care of all the paperwork, answer calls from interested buyers, manage where you want to advertise, make your house presentable, and do dozens of other tasks that will undoubtedly consume all of your time. A real estate agent will deal with all these tasks on your behalf so that you can focus on your life and job. 

Unlike you, a real estate agent can finish the required paperwork quickly, respond to interested buyers immediately, find a place to advertise your home in a jiffy, and thoroughly evaluate all interested buyers' qualifications. A real estate agent won't only do all these things for you; they also do them well. They already have the knowledge and experience in selling a house; hence they don't need to spend additional time studying. If you just don't have the time, you can't go wrong with hiring a real estate agent.

You don't have the expertise

If you never were good at selling stuff and negotiating, don't expect yourself to be good overnight. Taking the time to study will consume too much time while winging the sale can only result badly. A real estate agent has undergone training, taken and passed exams, and sold a house before. A successful real estate agent has dozens of home sales under their belt, and this experience makes them the best person to navigate the market.

Real estate agents are superior negotiators. Plus, they do not have the emotional attachment you have towards your property. If you're doing the negotiations yourself, you're less likely to make a good deal because of your attachment to your home, even if you're a good negotiator. A real estate agent's lack of attachment allows them to be objective and apply their superb negotiation skills to the fullest. 

Furthermore, they'll also be able to give better guidance and advice, especially about your house's value. Those who want to sell their long-time homes tend to overvalue their property because of the hard work they've put into them. This often results in their home staying too long in the market and ending up being sold for a significantly lower price. A real estate agent can see your property's actual value as they're not attached to it, they know the market, and they understand comparable housing prices. If there is a huge difference between how much you value your home and what your agent values it, you can always discuss it with them. They are likely to convince you about the most attainable price. 

You don't have the connections

Unless you are networked with people in different areas of expertise, especially real estate, you probably don't have access to people that can help you succeed in selling your home. Real estate agents have a vast network, and they can share their valuable connections with you. They can put you in touch with home repair experts and other professionals that may help in making your home easier to sell. 

Their connection with other real estate professionals, potential buyers and sellers, appraisers, home inspectors, and other industry players is guaranteed to help you sell your home. They can quickly spread the word about the property they just listed. Ultimately, a real estate agent's access to a vast network allows you to access a larger pool of potential buyers, which means a higher chance of a successful sale.

In summary

While it's tempting to sell your home yourself, the risks usually outweigh the benefits. Without a real estate agent, you risk getting few potential buyers, making decisions based on emotion, ruining the negotiation, and not having the time to manage the sale. Real estate is a full-time job, which means agents will dedicate their time to give you an excellent deal. The commission you pay them is worth the time, expertise, and connections they offer you.