So you’ve decided to go house shopping. With your pre-payment and personal budget all set and your house preferences listed down, you’re almost tempted to cut out the real estate agent from the equation. And why shouldn’t you? Hiring a real estate agent costs extra dollars. But before you choose to go solo, here are some reasons why doing so can be risky:

Cutting out the realtor’s commission may seem like it’ll save you money, but it can also lead to real estate disaster. While online databases, local searches, and word-of-mouth can be helpful when house shopping, they’re not enough.

Without the skilled knowledge of a realtor, you might find yourself missing out on potentially great house listings. Your limited resources will make it impossible for you to look for good properties which haven’t yet been publicly listed on the market.

A real estate agent will have deep knowledge of any neighborhoods with house listings. They will be aware of zoning codes, school districts, the nearest drugstores, and emergency services in the neighborhood that you’re looking at.

For instance, if you’re looking for a property in San Diego for your family, a realtor might be able to help you choose a property that’s closest to, let’s say, a high school you really want your kids to go to. But without the services of a realtor, there’s a high risk of you missing out on such insider knowledge.

To supplement this loss of knowledge, you might find yourself going out to the neighborhood to determine if it’s an appropriate location or not. But this can only take you so far. It’s quite possible that sellers might withhold some facts about the neighborhood that they don’t want you to know.

If there’s no realtor in the picture, sellers aren’t required by law to disclose everything about the property that they’re listing. While realtors are usually held to stricter standards, a seller might get a free pass when it comes to disclosures.

This means that without a realtor in the house buying equation, you’re at greater risk of not finding out about any alarming conditions that might change your purchasing decision.

Knowing which inspections to request can be a tricky process. Different areas have different inspection guidelines. For instance, while houses in Area A might require a fire inspection, houses in Area B might require an inspection for insect infestation.

Without the expertise of a realtor, you might find yourself getting confused about which inspection is advisable for your area. What’s worse is that without the help of the realtor, there are higher chances of buying a house with real problems.

To sell your home fast in Mechanicsburg, contact Smith Top Team. We are a father son team with over 40 years of experience in the real estate sector. Our agency will ensure that you get only the top listing agents in Mechanicsburg, at your disposal.