Busting the Door Opener Myth: Why Unlocking the House is the Easiest Part of the Job

Host: Welcome to Market Matters with WVMLS, where we get real about real estate in the Willamette Valley. I’m Dave Pautsch with RE/MAX Integrity. Our local Willamette Valley Multiple Listing Service, or WVMLS, is a powerful but often misunderstood resource. It’s the centralized marketplace bringing buyers and sellers together locally since 1949.

Today we’re continuing our six-week series on busting the myths in real estate, and today’s myth is: agents are just glorified door openers. Frankly, unlocking the door is the easiest part of the job, but that’s not how agents earn their fees.

For sellers, your agent is a strategist. Their market knowledge helps you price your home to sell for the most money on your timeline. They’re your marketing guru, positioning your home to get the widest exposure. They coordinate photography, showings, inspections, and appraisals, and all the associated timelines and paperwork, keeping the deal on track and reducing the chance of costly surprises. They help you negotiate to protect your equity and minimize risk.

For buyers, your agent is your expert and advocate, helping you identify which homes are worth your time and which ones to walk away from. Sure, you can search for homes on the internet, but your agent has access to the most up-to-date source information and also much more detailed and nuanced data not found on public websites. Your agent connects you with qualified lenders and inspectors to help identify red flags. They help you craft competitive offers and shepherd you through the crucial timelines and due diligence. And sure, they open doors.

For both buyers and sellers, your agent is a fiduciary. They have a contractual and legal duty to act in your best interest. Most of all, real estate agents are problem solvers. They have resources you need to deal with everything that crops up during the transaction. They help you move forward with confidence in one of the biggest financial decisions of your life.

So no, agents don’t just open doors. They open opportunities for your homeownership dreams to come true. Thanks for joining us for Market Matters with WVMLS, where we get real about real estate in the Willamette Valley. I’m Dave Pautsch with RE/MAX Integrity. Join us again next Monday in the noon hour as we tackle another real estate myth.

Until then, learn more at wvmls.com.