With the amount of information available online, you might think that with enough research, anyone can buy a home on their own. However, this is a misconception. Buying a home involves a lot of difficult, complicated work, and trying to do it without professional help can cost you time, money, and even the opportunity to snag the home of your dreams. Here are 10 reasons why working with a realtor is in your best interest when buying a home.

1. They have access to exclusive resources.

Searching for a home on your own means you’ll be limiting yourself to what’s easily visible online. Free home listing websites are often missing crucial information, and many homes for sale will be absent from these pages entirely.

However, if you work with a realtor, they’ll have access to a database called the Multiple Listing Service (MLS). The MLS is the first place homes get listed when they’re put up for sale, and it has the most accurate, up-to-date details on the web. It’s also a private, members-only service, so you won’t be able to look at it without an agent.

2. They can save you tons of money.

Members of the National Association of Realtors are bound to a strict code of ethics that requires them to act in their clients’ best interests. That means your realtor is your advocate, and they’re obligated to protect you from bad deals. They know what a fair price looks like, and they have the negotiating skills to help you fight for it.

Realtors are also an excellent source of financial advice. If you’re struggling to determine what’s in your price range or which mortgage is best for you, your agent can help you figure these things out.

3. They help optimize your schedule.

Finding the time to tour homes can be a huge hassle, especially if you want to look at a lot of different properties. Corresponding back and forth with sellers takes a lot of time and effort, and you already have enough on your plate during the home buying process.

Working with an agent means you won’t have to expend any energy playing phone tag with sellers. Arranging for showings that work with your schedule is part of a realtor’s job description, so you can sit back, relax, and let them handle all the planning for you.

4. They can provide a new perspective.

Showings can be overwhelming—you have a lot to consider about a home that you’re only viewing for a short period of time. In the heat of the moment, it’s easy to let your initial impressions of a property make or break your opinion of it.

But realtors can see beyond a home’s staging. You might think the living room seems too small, but your realtor can help you visualize how much bigger it would look with different furniture. You might hate everything about the upstairs bathroom, but your realtor can help you explore options for remodeling. With an extra set of eyes, you can discover the potential in a home you would have passed up otherwise.

5. They know how to spot red flags.

On the flip side, sometimes a home that looks perfect at a showing can be hiding some dark secrets. Sellers can use creative staging to conceal or detract from notable problems like structural damage or faulty electricity or plumbing. These issues may pose a serious risk to your safety and cost a lot of money to fix.

Realtors know what problems to look for in a home and the right questions to ask. No matter how awestruck you may become while looking at a property, your agent will bring you back down to earth and make sure you don’t ignore any major flaws.

6. They’re experts on the area.

There’s more to a home than the physical building—a house’s location is equally important. Even the most beautiful property is usually not worth buying if it’s in an unsafe or inconvenient neighborhood. A realtor’s expertise can provide invaluable input on a home’s surrounding area, including crime rates, school district rankings, and ease of transportation.

A realtor is especially helpful if you’re moving a long distance and aren’t familiar with the territory. In addition to helping you close, they can provide recommendations on the best places in the area to shop, eat, and enjoy recreational activities, making it much easier for you to settle in after buying.

7. They have insider connections.

Buying a house isn’t a one-person job. Both before and after closing, you’ll likely need to employ the help of professionals from various fields. Finding the right people to work with can be difficult on your own, but a realtor’s expansive social network makes it a lot easier.

Realtors have connections to just about every industry that’s relevant when buying a home. Whether you’re looking for a mortgage lender, an inspector, a mover, or a repair contractor, your agent will surely have a reliable business to recommend to you. This guidance can save you hours of time searching, as well as protecting you from scams and poor service.

8. They can handle tricky paperwork.

There’s a lot of paperwork involved with buying a home, and unless you’re an expert in legal jargon, sorting through all of it will take ages and possibly end with you misunderstanding something crucial. Allowing a realtor to handle these documents is much safer and less time consuming.

Plus, if you happen to lose any documents in the process of moving, you can turn to your realtor for backup copies. Most states require agents to keep any records involved with closing for 3–5 years, and some realtors may even hold on to them for longer.

9. They know the best time to buy.

The real estate market is constantly fluctuating. Sometimes there may be a noticeable difference in home prices in a given neighborhood in a matter of weeks. It’s a complicated system with a lot of moving parts.

Choosing exactly the right time to buy can save you a significant amount of money, but it’s something you probably won’t be able to determine on your own. A good realtor, on the other hand, will be intimately familiar with the housing market in your area, and they can help you find the perfect moment to stake your claim on a property.

10. They can provide emotional support.

Finally, a good realtor isn’t just your business associate—they’re your mentor. Buying a home is a major life change, and the whole process will inevitably come with lots of emotional highs and lows. It’s easy to get swept up in those strong feelings and make decisions you’ll ultimately regret, but your realtor is there to prevent that from happening. They’ve seen the best and the worst of the home buying experience before, and they know how to snap you back to reality and help you see things objectively.

If you’re preparing to buy a home and are looking for a team that will have your back every step of the way, look no further than BuyHouseEZ. We know how overwhelming the buying process can be, especially if you don’t qualify for a traditional mortgage, but we’re committed to helping you make your dreams of homeownership come true. Contact us today to take your first step towards buying a home.