Why Use a Realtor
7 Reasons to Work With a REALTOR®
REALTORS® are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. When you're buying a home, here's what an agent who's a REALTOR® can do for you.
Buying a home typically requires a variety of forms, reports, disclosures, and other legal and financial documents. A knowledgeable real estate agent will know what's required in your market, helping you avoid delays and costly mistakes. Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved in a real estate transaction; you want to work with a professional who can speak the language.
A great real estate agent will guide you through the home search with an unbiased eye, helping you meet your buying objectives while staying within your budget. Agents are also a great source when you have questions about local amenities, utilities, zoning rules, contractors, and more.
You want access to the full range of opportunities. Using a cooperative system called the multiple listing service, your agent can help you evaluate all active listings that meet your criteria, alert you to listings soon to come on the market, and provide data on recent sales. Your agent can also save you time by helping you winnow away properties that are still appearing on public sites but are no longer on the market.
There are many factors up for discussion in any real estate transaction—from price to repairs to possession date. A real estate professional who’s representing you will look at the transaction from your perspective, helping you negotiate a purchase agreement that meets your needs and allows you to do due diligence before you’re bound to the purchase.
Most people buy only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years between purchases. Even if you’ve bought a home before, laws and regulations change. Real estate practitioners may handle hundreds or thousands of transactions over the course of their career.
Be your rock during emotional moments. A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And for most buyers, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you when emotions threaten to sink an otherwise sound transaction.
When you're interviewing agents, ask if they're a REALTOR®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Every member must adhere to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism, serving the interests of clients, and protecting the public.
REALTORS® are everyday working Americans who are experts at helping consumers navigate the complexities of home purchases and advocates for fair housing and wealth building for all.
Build Wealth
REALTORS® help people achieve homeownership, the best and most accessible way for American families to build generational wealth.
Lead as Entrepreneurs
Most REALTORS® are small business owners – 65% of whom are women – who exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit of this country.
Protect Consumers
Every REALTOR® is bound by a strict code of ethics that includes providing clients with all relevant information, such as about commissions.
Support Communities
As engaged neighbors, REALTORS® are committed to enhancing the communities they serve through significant philanthropy work and by advocating for fair housing for all.
Advise as Experts & Stewards
REALTORS® help people navigate financial, legal and community aspects of selling or buying a home in what are the most complex and consequential transactions most will ever make.
Contribute to Local Economy
Every home sale generates more than $100,000 in local economic activity, and every two home sales support one American job.
The National Association of REALTORS® creates guidelines that foster efficient and convenient local broker marketplaces to ensure equity, transparency and market-driven pricing for home buyers and sellers.
Support Competitive Compensation
The free market sets broker commission costs within markets based on factors such as service, consumer preference and what the market can bear.
Provide Largest Home Sale Source
Each local broker marketplace provides instant exposure to the largest possible pool of potential buyers for sellers and the greatest number of housing options for buyers.
Lead the World
Because of NAR’s guidance, the U.S. model of broker marketplaces has no hidden or extra costs and provides verified, complete information.
World without NAR and MLSs
Without NAR’s guidelines for the local MLS broker marketplaces, information on homes would be inaccurate, unreliable and scattered across real estate sites, disadvantaging buyers and sellers.
Create Consumer Choice
Buyers and sellers have many choices about the brokers with whom they work – from how they are paid to specific expertise to customer service – all at market-driven prices.
Ensure Equity
All publicly marketed property listings are widely available and accessible to all consumers via their real estate broker on local MLS broker marketplaces.
Advance Affordability
The seller broker paying the buyer broker’s compensation for finding a buyer allows home buyers to have a better shot at affording a home and professional representation.
Source Reliable Data
Consumers can confidently rely on information because real estate agents share complete housing data backed by guidelines that ensure accuracy and transparency.
The National Association of REALTORS® guidelines for independent, local MLS marketplaces that promote innovation and make it possible for residential real estate businesses of all types and sizes to compete.
Provide Business Opportunities
Many different service and fee business models – from varied commission models to flat fees – thrive in local broker marketplaces.
Enable Comprehensive Marketplaces
Access to inventory and widespread advertising, along with the practice of the listing broker paying the buyer brokers’ compensation, incentivizes local broker participation.
Ensure Reliable Data Access
NAR guidelines for local MLS broker marketplaces enable hubs of trusted, verified information where all participants have equitable access.
Create Connections
Local MLS broker marketplaces create the largest opportunity for connections between real estate agents with properties to sell and those with clients looking to buy.
Advance Small Business
Compiling housing information that is accessible to all businesses, in one place, allows smaller real estate brokerages to compete with larger ones.
Encourage Entrepreneurship
Because of lower barriers to entry enabled by local MLS broker marketplaces, new market entrants can advance technology, consumer service and other innovations.