In your experience... what have you found to be the top ten (10) reasons why a homeowner uses a real estate agent when trying to sell a home?

number one reason is, time, shyness, divorce, Agent can get you more money ect.. :)

My top five (5) reasons:

1.) Time management - Sellers want attention. Sometimes (...or most of the time, depending how one looks at it) buying and selling real estate is time consuming; not everyone can juggle the buying/selling process in-between one's daily life.

2.) Specialization - I beleive this has a hand in my above opinion. Sales persons develop specialization in relationships between buyers/sellers. Specialization is very important to a growing economy; and create jobs, also.

3.) Commission - Sales persons are competitors within the market place, to earn a commision and, they will work to please/advocate. They want a sale and they want to make a high commission; which in return, may contribute to a home seller's price they may need OR a price they may want, "depending on the market."

4.) Proper disclosure - There are disclosures that many home owners may not be aware of when selling. Sales persons train in the process of what it takes to legally sell a home through a process of proper disclosure that require certain acknowledgements.

5.) Negotiation - This is where experience comes in, too. Negotiating, I beleive, is not about a price. Instead, I beleive it's about bringing two parties (buyers/sellers) together in an agreement that is fair and content (economical).

However.., experience in negotiating may bring in a higher price for the home seller; If so, the buyer may have an agent as well, but, may hire an Appraiser, as well, to address market value, for the purpose of re-negotiating.

Sincerely,
Benji