Selling your home is one of the biggest decisions in your life, and it’s one that shouldn’t come without some degree of planning and strategizing. Making the right decisions will ensure that you get the right price for your home and sell it within the time you’ve allotted for the endeavor.

While many people worry that there are drawbacks to hiring a real estate agent, any problems are far outweighed by the benefits a real estate agent can bring to the sale of a home. Here are some pros and cons of hiring a real estate agent, and why hiring a real estate agent is still worth it.

Benefit: Real Estate Agents Have A Network of Experts

Hiring a real estate agent means that not only will you have an expert on your side, but you also have access to their network of experts in case there are any complications involved in the sale of your home.

This can mean anything from doing repairs around the house to staging it for visitors. These steps are important because houses that are in good condition and look good are usually expected to fetch a higher price, and first impressions of a house really matter.

You can also expect to not have to do any of the boring paperwork that comes with trying to sell a house and can trust your real estate agent to take care of it.

Misconception: Real Estate Agents Are Expensive

People often wonder how realtors get paid. Simply put, real estate agents are paid by commission, and sellers pay for the listing agent (the agent representing the sellers in a deal), as well as the buyer’s agent. Payment is usually a percentage of the total selling price, usually ranging between 3 percent and 6 percent of the home’s value. Though the cost may seem daunting, the price of hiring a real estate agent to sell your home is balanced out when you consider that you don't have to pay anything to a buyer's agent when you buy your next home.

You can opt for a cheaper real estate agent, but you’ll most likely get subpar service and not be able to get the price for your home you hoped you would get if you had a more experienced agent. This is doubly true if you forego the use of a real estate agent altogether.

So while the commission for a REALTOR® may seem high to you, this professional can also help you set a better deal when selling or buying a home. Home sellers working with a real estate agent aren't just paying for their time and labor, they're also paying for that agent's network and expertise. Looking it that way, engaging an agent can definitely pay off, as the peace of mind, ease of access, and quality of work will make it that much easier to sell your home.

Benefit: Have an Expert Negotiate For You

Negotiations are an art, and sometimes the whole real estate market can start feeling like a game. There are tricks and maneuvers you need to watch out for, and a real estate agent is the best person to handle these things.

Not only are they experienced in getting the price you need, but they can even manipulate the timing and circumstances of their offer to get you the advantage on these dealings.

Misconception: Having a Middle-Man Will Slow Down Your Home Sale

In most real estate negotiations, there will be at least one real estate agent involved. This means that any communication between the seller and the buyer has to go through all these extra steps, and while it may be a blessing, in many cases it can also be a curse.

However, a real estate agent has far more experience in navigating the real estate market than almost any home buyer or home seller. Even if using an agent may cause it to take longer to make an offer on a home you want, you can trust in their expertise to make the process all-around smoother and more straightforward than if you were tackling it on your own. FSBO homes are more complicated to sell, and homes sold with an agent often sell faster and for a higher value than homes listed For Sale By Owner, so it pays to invest in a real estate agent.

Having a Real Estate Agent Helps Save Time and Energy

Selling a house for a good price takes some serious marketing these days. You might have to post multiple ads, pay for listings, promote the home on social media, and much more before you find a buyer for it. Even then you might not be getting as many as you want, and they might not be willing to pay anything close to what you wanted for your place.

Or you can hire a real estate agent who already has a whole network and social media following in place where they can advertise your home, and may already know of a couple of people who are looking for a house similar to yours in the area.

This way you can save a huge amount of time and effort, all while getting the best possible price for your property.