Yes! Most home sellers hire real estate agents to list and sell their homes. The real estate transaction is a very complex process. Experienced and licensed real estate agents guide home sellers through the many details of selling their home, ensuring that no important step is overlooked and that all legalities are complied with. Savvy real estate agents also understand how to best market the home for sale in order to attract the largest pool of potential buyers and negotiate the best possible price for the seller. The agent’s ability to tap into his or her broad network of fellow real estate professionals is another key factor in finding the best buyer for the home.
Most homeowners who do not use an agent are known as For Sale By Owner sellers, or FSBOs. They market and sell their homes themselves. In the end, most FSBOs eventually hire an agent because the agent will handle all the details of a successful home sale—including the contract, forms, and disclosure statements—and expose the home to the widest range of prospective buyers through the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS).