Thinking of Skipping a Realtor? Read This Before You Buy or Sell Your Home
December 3, 2025
December 3, 2025
Why Having a Realtor Matters When You’re Buying or Selling a Home
(Even If You’re Pretty Handy and Independent)
When it comes to real estate, it’s completely normal to wonder:
“Do I really need a Realtor to buy or sell my home? Can’t I just do it myself?”
The honest answer?
Yes, you can do it yourself. Some people do.
But for most buyers and sellers, especially when we’re talking about one of the biggest financial decisions of your life, having a Realtor in your corner can save you money, stress, and regret later.
I’ll walk through why working with a Realtor – like Marni Jimenez with Grove Realty in Riverside, California – often makes the process smoother, safer, and ultimately more successful. And I’ll also be honest about the parts you could do on your own.
One of the most important pieces of the puzzle is pricing.
If you’re selling:
Price too high → your home sits on the market, and buyers wonder what’s wrong with it.
Price too low → you may leave tens of thousands of dollars on the table.
Online estimates are convenient, but they’re rough. They don’t walk through your home. They don’t see your upgrades, your view, your exact location in the neighborhood, or your home’s condition.
A local Realtor in Riverside, California will:
Study recent sales that truly compare to your home
Understand neighborhood nuances (busy street vs quiet cul-de-sac, school zones, etc.)
Factor in current market trends: are we warming up, cooling down, or shifting?
Could you research this yourself? Possibly.
But a Realtor does this daily, and that experience can make a real difference in your final outcome.
Selling a home isn’t just about putting a sign in the yard and listing it on a couple of websites.
A Real Estate Agent can:
List your home on the MLS, where most serious buyers’ agents search
Syndicate your listing to the major home search sites
Arrange professional photography (and sometimes video or virtual tours)
Share your home with their network of local agents and buyers
Use social media, email, and open houses strategically
In Riverside, there are plenty of buyers, but many of them are working with an agent. If your home isn’t on the MLS or marketed well, they may never even know it exists.
Could you do some of this yourself? Yes.
But matching the reach, quality, and strategy of a seasoned Realtor is hard, especially while juggling your regular life.
Negotiating a real estate deal is not just about haggling over price.
It also involves:
Repair requests
Credits
Closing costs
Contingencies (loan, appraisal, inspections, sale of another home)
Timelines and move-out dates
Emotions can run high. Buyers want a “deal.” Sellers want to protect their equity. When you’re doing it on your own, you’re in the middle of that tension with no buffer.
A Realtor helps by:
Offering a perspective on what’s reasonable in the current market
Suggesting smart counters instead of emotional reactions
Looking for red flags buried in the fine print
Keeping the focus on your goals, not just winning the argument
Could you negotiate your own deal? Yes.
But it’s much easier to stay calm and protected when you have someone experienced handling that back-and-forth for you.
Real estate contracts in California come with a lot of paperwork and disclosures. That’s for your protection—but it can be overwhelming.
If something is missed, vague, or done incorrectly, you may face:
Delays
A canceled deal
Legal or financial problems down the road
A Real Estate Agent will:
Use up-to-date, state-approved forms
Explain what you’re signing in plain language
Help you complete required disclosures correctly
Guide you on timelines and contingency dates so nothing slips through the cracks
Could you download forms and figure it out yourself? Maybe.
But having someone who uses these documents all the time lowers your risk and gives you peace of mind.
A home sale or purchase has a lot of moving parts:
Lender
Appraiser
Home inspector
Escrow and title
Contractors or handypeople for repairs
The other agent (or the other party, if they’re doing it themselves)
A Realtor acts a bit like a coordinator:
Following up with the lender and escrow
Making sure inspections get done on time
Keeping you on track with deadlines
Helping solve problems when something unexpected pops up (and it often does)
Can you manage all this yourself? It’s possible.
But it can feel like a part-time job, especially on top of your own work and family responsibilities.
Homes carry a lot of emotions.
If you’re selling, you might feel your home is worth more because of your memories there.
If you’re buying, you might fall in love with a home and want to ignore warning signs.
A humble but honest truth: a Realtor’s value often shows up in those emotional moments.
They can say:
“Let’s look at what the data says about price.”
“I know you love this home, but let’s talk through the inspection report.”
“Here are your options, and here’s what I’d recommend if it were me.”
You’re always in control. The decisions are yours.
But having a calm, experienced voice can keep you from making a rushed or costly choice.
Over time, a Realtor like Marni Jimenez at Grove Realty builds relationships with:
Local lenders
Inspectors
Appraisers
Title and escrow officers
Contractors, cleaners, stagers, photographers
Instead of guessing who to hire or picking the first name online, you get referrals from someone who’s already seen how these people work in real transactions.
This is usually the main reason people consider going without a Realtor.
It’s an understandable concern. Commission is a real cost.
Here’s what to keep in mind:
Homes sold without an agent often sell for less, even after factoring in commission.
Buyers approaching For Sale By Owner properties may expect a discount because you don’t have agent fees.
Doing it yourself shifts more risk, time, and stress onto your shoulders.
Sometimes, hiring a Realtor in Riverside, California doesn’t just pay for itself—it can actually leave you in a better financial position than going solo.
To be fair, there are situations where it might make sense to do it on your own:
You’re selling to close family and everyone is on the same page.
You’re very experienced with real estate contracts and negotiations.
You plan to hire a real estate attorney or a transaction coordinator to help with paperwork.
Even then, many people still choose to use a Realtor simply for the guidance and protection.
You absolutely can buy or sell a home without a Realtor. The question is whether it’s worth the risk, time, and stress.
A good Real Estate Agent is not there to take over your life or push you into anything. They’re there to:
Guide you through a complex process
Help you avoid costly mistakes
Protect your interests
Make the whole experience more manageable and less overwhelming
If you’re thinking about buying or selling in or around Riverside, California, Marni Jimenez with Grove Realty would be glad to answer questions, explain your options, and let you decide what feels right for you—no pressure.
You’ve got questions and we can’t wait to answer them.