Why should I hire a real estate pro to buy or sell a house? If you've ever asked that question, the quick answer is: Guidance. You need a real estate pro to guide you, no matter where you land on the home buying or selling spectrum. And guidance is only one of the reasons why using an agent will matter to you. Whether you're a homebuyer or seller, learn these ABCs on the importance of hiring a real estate pro.

Access

Access to the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) is critical to selling a home and real estate pros have it. The MLS is the most up-to-date database of all homes for sale. A listing on the MLS is also important because every other real estate pro in the area will have access to info about your home. The MLS maximizes your reach to a greater pool of potential buyers. Access to MLS also matters if you’re in the market to buy a home. You know what you want and a real estate pro can search MLS for available homes that match your requirements. Want to visit a home your agent finds? Your agent will do the legwork for you, contacting the seller’s agent to make the appointment.

Bidding

Unless you negotiate for a living, it pays to have a real estate pro in your corner. Whether fielding bids for your home, or making bids on a home you want, agents know how to negotiate. And negotiation just may be the biggest part of the real estate game. With the hot housing market now, bidding wars will be a reality for both buyers and sellers. The real estate pro you hire works for you to get you the best deal.

Clients

A big reason to hire a real estate pro when you’re ready to sell your home? Clients. They have them – people they know who want to buy a home. And real estate pros will also use their local network to get the word out, helping you reach more potential buyers. Real estate pros rely on client referrals to grow their business. So they work hard to ensure their home selling or buying clients are satisfied with their sale. Because the pros know each successful transaction can lead to repeat business.

Details

To buy or sell a home you need to accurately complete a lot of forms, disclosures, and legal documents. A real estate agent ensures you cross every ‘t’ and dot every ‘i’ to help you avoid having a transaction fall through and/or prevent a costly mistake. And when you hire a real estate pro, you will set up a real estate contract with your agent. This contract protects you, whether you're buying or selling a home. An agent also protects you on offers and counteroffers, using a purchase contract. This contract protects you in the event you want to back out of a deal. Your agent will have your back--an invaluable reason when it comes to dealing with the myriad details involved in buying or selling a home.

Experience

Real estate agents have a level of experience that an amateur house hunter cannot replicate. For example, they know how to decode often obscure listing information to uncover homes for sale that have the requirements you need. Your agent’s experience dealing with local building codes and zoning laws can also help ensure your home is “to code” if you’re ready to sell. And your agent will have experience and advice to offer you on the best home improvements to make, or the staging tips that put your home in the best light, which help ensure your house gets sold.

Farm

Real estate pros work hard to grow their “farm”—a specific local area or market—in order to develop their business. The pro you hire has farmed (marketed) him or herself in your area, using advertising, postcards, direct mail, and email campaigns. These techniques help them target locals with the goal of reaching people who will list or buy a home using them. When these leads become their clients, you will have access to them as a potential pool of buyers for your home.

Guidance

A real estate pro is your guide on journey that has many twists and turns. Your agent helps ensure that the buying or selling of your home goes smoothly. And your agent guides you through each step in the transaction process. It’s a long list that includes contracts, escrow, title search, mortgage approval, closing costs, inspections, offers, contingencies, final walk-through, signing, and more. A real estate transaction is never easy—and it is often the biggest investment anyone makes in a lifetime. Guidance through a transaction process is vital.

Home Love

Real estate pros love homes. If you’ve never met one, it may be the first thing you’ll notice when you talk to your agent. Their passion for their work matters, because you are dealing with a big investment. You want someone on your side who loves the product they are acquiring, or selling, for you.

Interpersonal Skills

When it comes to relationship building, real estate pros have created an art form. That’s because, like all great salespeople, they know how to relate and communicate well with others. A real estate agent also always “knows someone.” Looking for a photographer, home inspector, plumber, contractor, handyman, mortgage broker, title specialist, real estate attorney? That’s just a few of the types of people or businesses in your area that they either know personally, or have used previously and can recommend to you. If you’re buying or selling--you want a good salesperson working with you. And after the sale, you’ll have a new friend with an indispensable network of other friends that you can tap whenever you need it.