Selling your home is a big decision. Not only will it mean you are ready to move on to a new adventure, but the sale of your home can also greatly benefit your finances. Unfortunately, most people are not prepared for the time, energy, and stress of the selling process. Thankfully, help is available. If you are ready to list your home for sale, consider hiring a real estate agent as opposed to trying for-sale-by-owner. Here are a few benefits of hiring an agent.

1. Proper Pricing

One of the main benefits of hiring an agent is that they have the knowledge and experience needed to price your home properly. This is especially important since most homeowners feel their home is worth more money than it actually is. Real estate agents know the sale price of other homes within your community. This market knowledge helps them value your home at a price within reason, adjusting for any special updates, improvements, and square footage discrepancies.

Homes that are priced well over the market value will sit on the market longer, affecting your ability to sell in the most efficient manner possible. The more competitive your home is priced, the faster you will be able to sell.

2. Improved Marketing

A "for sale" sign in your yard is helpful, but it will most likely not be what sells your home. Real estate agents use a variety of marketing tools to advertise your home, helping sell it quickly and profitably.

Real estate agents will place your home on the MLS, or multiple listing service, which is capable of reaching many prospective buyers. In addition, real estate agents network with other real estate professionals who may have buyers looking for a property like yours.

Compared to a for-sale-by-owner plan, real estate agents have more skill and experience in regards to marketing your home.

3. Negotiation Skills

Pricing your home and bringing in potential buyers are true benefits of hiring an agent, but these real estate professionals can also help you negotiate with buyers and buyers' agents, ensuring you sell your home in the most stress-free and valuable way possible.

Your agent and the buyer's agent can work together, keeping you and the actual buyer out of the actual negotiation. Your agent can accept, decline, or counter offers on your behalf, negotiate deals if any issues are found on the inspection report, and sell the benefits of your home without you having to put in any physical or emotional work.

For more information, contact a company like Steve Cohn - Keller Williams Realty - Petaluma today.