If you are preparing to purchase or sell a new home, you may be pondering the idea of enlisting help from a real estate agent. The reality is that this type of professional is highly experienced and can generally help make the homebuying process significantly smoother. Additionally, real estate settlement companies typically have a legal background that helps them identify many different types of issues. Here is a close look at what such an organization does.
What Does A Real Estate Settlement Company Do?
A real estate settlement company assists homeowners with the closing of their property. They often work closely with the real estate agents and lenders of both parties (buyer and seller) to ease the terms of a real estate agreement. This is different from a mortgage originator, which you can reach out to in order to begin a home loan transaction.
Why Having One On Your Side Is Beneficial
There are multiple benefits to hiring a real estate settlement company. However, here we will focus on the four primary reasons why it is beneficial to receive assistance from this type of organization.
A Real Estate Settlement Agent Is An Expert In This Field
An experienced real estate settlement agent often has extensive knowledge of the housing market. More specifically, realtors understand how factors such as the unemployment rate and mortgage interest rates impact the market. An agent can also typically tell you the median home sale price in your area and the average price per square foot of similar properties. He or she can also inform you about which neighborhoods have the best schools and have experienced the largest increases in market value in recent years.
Agents Can Spot Potential Problems
Whenever an owner sells a home, he or she must always verify that the property is in good condition. Sometimes, a house’s problems are obvious (e.g. broken doors or windows, cracked drywall, etc.). However, certain issues – such as leaks, roofing problems, and mold – can potentially be more difficult to spot. Fortunately, real estate agents are trained to quickly identify these concerns. They can also ask a home inspector to deliver a detailed summary of all the issues a home has and potentially even offer recommendations for how to resolve these problems.
An Agent Is There To Help You Through The Whole Process
The homebuying and home-selling processes are often long and complex. Nevertheless, an agent can guide you through the timeline, required documentation, and all of the real estate terminology. Realtors also typically know what the most effective home marketing strategies are and have strong negotiating skills, which means they can strive to make sure that you are not taken advantage of with regard to a property’s final sale or purchase price.
A Real Estate Settlement Company Will Save You Time
Ultimately, a real estate settlement company can help you save time (and money) in several ways. Instead of looking at dozens of different homes in an area, you can ask an agent to look for properties that match what you are looking for (e.g. three bedrooms, large basement, etc.). If you are planning to sell your home, a real estate settlement company can help you stage your property so that you can quickly find a buyer and thus reduce your time on the market. It can also save you time by quickly distinguishing between serious buyers and people who are just casually looking for home options.
Contact A Real Estate Settlement Company Today
Reach out to the professionals at Mathis Title Company in Fairfax, Virginia, for more information on how a real estate settlement company can help you buy or sell a home. We provide real estate settlement services, as well as refinancing, title insurance, and legal advice to sellers, buyers, lenders, and agents located throughout Fairfax County.
Robin Mathis is an attorney with more than 30 years of experience who has performed thousands of closings throughout her career. She is highly knowledgeable about both the buyer and seller sides of real estate transactions. Ann Andreatos is a title agent who has over 14 years of experience in the closing industry.
Regardless of your type of mortgage and settlement, our agents have the experience to guide you through the closing process efficiently, including an explanation of all fees. Our representatives can also verify that all required documentation is signed. We can also help you create a purchase agreement with specific terms and conditions for the sale of the home. If you are buying a new home, we can also spot errors and advise you on how to fix them.
Call Mathis Title Company today at (703) 214-4020 or contact us online to learn more about our real estate settlement services.