This exercise is also an important first step for homebuyers who are interested in purchasing property in a particular area. According to Creston Inderrieden,<\/a> a top-performing agent in Houston<\/a>, Texas, this will ensure they don\u2019t end up surprised when home prices are higher than initially expected \u2014 something that can be difficult to determine simply by driving around. \u201cIt\u2019s good to not waste time looking at homes you can\u2019t afford, but even more importantly, to have a grasp on the market,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n \n\n\n\n\n Working with a top real estate agent can make a huge difference in your home sale. Our data shows the top 5% of agents across the U.S. help clients sell their home for as much as 10% more than the average real estate agent.<\/p>\n \n If you want to learn more about the selling prices of homes in a particular area, and how that relates to your homebuying or selling goals, you can\u2019t beat the expertise of a qualified real estate agent <\/a>in your area. Not only do these professionals know the ins and outs of the local market, but they have access to tools that provide the most accurate and up-to-date information on home listings and sales.<\/p>\n With the multiple listing service (MLS) at their fingertips, a real estate agent can run a comparative market analysis<\/a> (CMA), which will come up with an estimated selling price for a home based on three to five comparable homes in the area that have sold recently.<\/p>\n If a homeowner or seller came to top agent Jami Harich<\/a>, a top seller\u2019s agent in Remington, Virginia<\/a>, she would \u201cgo to the MLS and look up the active homes in the area right away.\u201d<\/p>\n She would then look up all of the properties that have sold within the last six months (or three months if the market is changing rapidly). \u201cRealtors have access to different online sites that buyers and sellers are not privy to,\u201d she says. \u201cI would research those as well to put together a property analysis.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cWhen we\u2019re looking at comparisons, we\u2019re looking at location, neighborhoods, square footage, the home\u2019s condition, and whether any updates have been made,\u201d Inderrieden adds.<\/p>\n![\"homelight](\"https:\/\/www.homelight.com\/blog\/wp-content\/themes\/ccprototypev5\/images\/logo-small-cta.png\"){kind=logo}
\n <\/div>\n \n Who You Work With Matters<\/h3>\n
1. Rely on the expertise of an experienced real estate agent<\/h2>\n