Every once in a while, I'll hear someone say:

“Why do I need a Realtor? Why can't I just use a lawyer?”

The short answer is that they are completely different professions.

A lawyer is there to help with legal matters.

A Realtor is there to help you navigate the entire transaction from start to finish.

That may sound obvious, but a lot of people don't realize how much happens during a real estate transaction that has nothing to do with practicing law.

Most attorneys are not hired to handle things like:

Help determine what your house is actually worth in the current market

Market your property

Schedule and coordinate showings and inspections

Advise you on presentation, staging, and photography

Have a network of contractors, lenders, inspectors, handymen, and vendors

Know the local market block by block

Spend every day negotiating real estate transactions

Most importantly, a real estate transaction is rarely as simple as exchanging money for a house.

Inspections happen.

Appraisals come in low.

Financing falls apart.

Unexpected repairs get discovered.

Deadlines get moved.

Buyers get cold feet.

Sellers get emotional.

The contract is important, but knowing what to do when things don't go according to plan is where experience really matters.

There is also a licensing component. Real estate agents and brokers hold licenses that allow them to market and negotiate real estate on behalf of others. Those licenses come with education requirements, continuing education, and legal responsibilities.

They're different professions because they solve different problems.

And just like I wouldn't want to represent myself in court because I watched a few YouTube videos, I probably wouldn't want my attorney pricing my house and negotiating multiple offers either.