Is a Real Estate Agent Really Worth the Extra Cost?

Introduction

It was Black Friday, November 2023.  I had resisted many impulse purchases, but unfortunately looked at the Norwegian Cruise Line website just to see if they might have any incredible deals.  Big mistake.  They did.  Of course, they were having a blowout sale on their cruises and one my bucket list items was on the menu: Australia and New Zealand.  Not only did they have a cruise available during the season recommended to us, late summer, early Fall in that region, it covered all of the key stops I wanted to make… more than most other cruise lines offered.  In addition, they had discounted flight options and several included upgrades.  How could we say no?

I called Norwegian and talked to an agent.  She confirmed all of the perks, but said that we had only until the next evening to make the purchase before the sale would end.

I called our travel agent, but because it was a Friday night, she was not in.  Even worse, she would not return until Monday.  What travel agent thinks it is ok to not be available 24/7 for my once-a-year phone call?  We camped on the idea for a night and could not resist pulling the trigger.  We purchased the cruise directly from Norwegian.

This one experience taught me more than I could have ever realized about using a travel agent.  First, when the travel agent returned my call on Monday, she confirmed that the irresistible sale prices were still available… to her.  Second, she had unlisted perks available to her that we could not receive by just calling the cruise company directly. Third, she had access to select cabins that were not made available to us by just looking at the website.  Fourth, she would assume responsibility if anything went wrong after the purchase.

I had deep regrets immediately about points one through three.  However, it is that fourth point that convinced me I will NEVER book a cruise again without using a travel agent.

Sure enough, problems came up.

An online credit promised to us was forgotten in the documentation filled out by the cruise line’s representative.  At least 20 hours of personal effort later and talking to layers upon layers of customer service, the promised credit was never issued.  It was a bitter experience and I will never trust booking directly with Norwegian ever again.  However, it taught me at least $100 worth in life’s experience about the value of using a travel agent.  Not only would she have given us way more in value overall, her services were already included in the price.  I lost money, missed out and perks and upgrades, and had a mountain of unexpected headaches because we chose to not use her services.

Did you know that the cruise lines prefer that you use a travel agent instead of booking directly through them?  Every time we called Norwegian, their first question was if we had a travel agent they could talk to instead.  They actually told me they would prefer it in the future.

Did you know that real estate is no different?  Everyone from lenders, inspectors, city planners, title companies, listing agencies to even the buyers and sellers themselves prefer that you have an agent representing you.  Please don’t take this personally, but real estate is a complex game, with multiple rules to play it correctly, and you personally are a headache to work with and to educate at each step along the way if you are trying to “save some money” by representing yourself.  Later on, we will discuss how you rarely save much by doing that self-representation and will often even lose money.    

There are countless parallels that exist between travel agents and real estate agents, including the fact that their services are usually already factored into the overall price and that it makes very little sense in today’s market to not use one.  In the labyrinthine landscape of real estate transactions, the assistance of a seasoned professional can be the compass that guides you through the unlimited complexities that are bound to come up. Whether you’re embarking on the exhilarating journey of purchasing your dream home or navigating the intricate process of selling a property, the expertise and support of a real estate agent can transform what might seem like a daunting ordeal into a seamless experience.  Real estate transactions are not merely about exchanging properties; they entail a myriad of considerations, from understanding market trends to negotiating terms, navigating legalities, and managing emotions. In this article, we delve deep into the fabric of real estate dynamics, unraveling why the decision to invest in a real estate agent’s services is one that promises substantial returns.