Welcome to the Era of Empowered Buyer.

Real Estate agents love to say that markets change. But today’s property market is nothing short of a revolution in the way that people search for, investigate, and purchase real estate.

Street Easy. Property Shark. Curbed. Brownstoner. Thousands of buyers visit these sites every day. And not one of them existed ten years ago. Today, you can compare prices by block, street, and neighborhood instantly. PDFs of market trend reports can be downloaded in seconds. And new mapping tools plan open house searches for you.

Today’s property market isn’t just about what price your home will command, it’s about how you will market the full value of your home to a community of empowered buyers.

At Garfield Realty, we welcome this change. We connect empowered buyers with motivated sellers.

Why Use a Broker in the Empowered Era?

It’s a Lot of Work…

The first few weeks of searching or listing your home can be exciting. But when the process drags on into months, the amount of work doesn’t decline, just your energy level. This is when mistakes happen and compromises are made. Managing your work, your life, and your sanity is hard enough. Scheduling appointments, viewings, and meetings required to buy or sell a home adds another full-time job on top of everything.

…And The Work is Complicated.

First, there’s the paperwork. We deal with intricate contracts and mortgages every day. We know your rights and your responsibilities at every point in the process and are legally bound to protect your interests. Next, there’s negotiation. However much you may feel comfortable with this part of the process, it’s invaluable to have the experienced counsel and a neutral messenger that understands what it will take to close the deal.

You May Not Save Much in the Long Run.

In the end, the most important detail is the purchase price. The commission you think you’re saving could disappear in an instant if a negotiation goes the wrong direction. In addition, if you’re not using a broker, the other party in the transaction knows it and may use it as negotiating leverage. Any excuse to knock a few extra dollars off the purchase price will be exploited, especially if the other party is using a broker.

It’s an Emotional Process.

Unless you’re a seriously experienced real estate investor, buying and selling property is personal—very personal. Nothing less than hopes, dreams, and memories are changing hands. It’s tremendously beneficial to have an outsider’s perspective on what’s really most important and what things are really worth.