In most cases, you need to be able to sell your current real estate before purchasing a new home. Though it’s a tricky process, some people think that they can do it on their own, saving the real estate commissions that they’d otherwise have to pay for if they worked with an agent. The truth is, though, that most times these people don’t save any money, and could actually spend even more when purchasing a home than they would’ve with a real estate agent.

If you’re thinking about buying a new house, here are a few of the ways that real estate agents can help make the process not only more affordable, but also smoother.

Negotiation Skills.

Realtors are highly trained in the art of negotiations. They know how to get homebuyers the best price at the perfect time through extensive training, which ensure that the agents are prepared and qualified for the job, and through experience in their specific markets. Plus, they know what negotiation tactics work, so they won’t waste time using strategies that don’t.

Around-the-Clock Service.

Life tends to get in the way of the home buying and selling processes, since most people have jobs and other responsibilities that they need to take care of on a daily basis. However, it’s the job of the realtor to sell houses, which means they can take care of things for the clients when life gets in the way.

More Choices Available.

Sure, between friends, family, co-workers and the milieu of housing websites, homebuyers can check out a pretty impressive range of houses that are up for sale, but it’s nothing in comparison to what a realtor can offer. Agencies have large networks of contacts that can produce exclusive leads for which only certain people may qualify for. These networks also make the buying process faster, as they quickly eliminate the houses that aren’t worth checking out.

Real estate agents are experts at both selling and buying a home. Even if you’ve gone through the process several times before, it’d be a big mistake to do things yourself. If you have any questions about how a real estate agent can help with buying a house, feel free to ask in the comments. Find out more here.