Have you ever wondered why you are hiring a realtor? Sure, they can find the properties that you desire, and negotiate deals, but what are they really doing when they are not showing you properties or writing contracts on your behalf? On average, for every hour a realtor spends with you, they spend nine hours behind the scenes working for you. Whereas a lawyer will charge you by the hour, a realtor doesn’t get paid until a deal is closed. That means your realtor doesn’t get paid until they have satisfied your real estate need. So, what exactly does an agent do to earn their paycheck? Though it may seem like a simple job, it is not as simple as showing properties and listing properties. First off, they shop online. They take time to search the inventory available in a certain area, and stay on top of what would be perfect for a buyer. They research the properties and neighborhoods around an area to determine what the best price for a certain house is. Listings come and go so quickly, they have to be on top of what is coming and going, to ensure they can find the best properties for their clients. Good realtors actively prospect for their clients. Most agents use the three P’s when selling a home. They Place a sign in your yard, Post it on the multiple listing service, and Pray someone makes an offer. We at Constitution realty add the fourth P. We Prospect for our clients, meaning we spend hours a day searching for buyers interested in our listings. We do not just place a sign and hope the property sells itself, we constantly search for buyers, bringing everyone together significantly quicker. A realtor negotiates offers and counteroffers, saving clients thousands. Without a negotiator on your side, you can be quickly persuaded that you are getting a good deal, when in reality, you could be netting a lot more.  Because many clients live busy lives, realtors are there when you can’t be. They will be there when inspections are done, giving them immediate knowledge of any situation, from termites, to a faulty foundation. This information can be quickly conveyed to the client, keeping them in the know at all times. One of a realtor’s biggest jobs is to make their clients feel comfortable, making sure everything goes as smooth as possible. When it comes to a sale as big as something like real estate, many things can go wrong. A realtor’s job is to, as we like to put it, put out fires. This means when something goes wrong, the realtor is there to do everything in their power to fix it. A lot of the times the client will never even know there was an issue, because their realtor has already extinguished the flame. A great real estate agent isn’t here to just hand you a house, they are here to make sure you are as comfortable and happy with your decisions as possible. People can get emotional over one of the biggest investments they will make in their lifetime.