Who is a Buyer’s Agent?
A buyer’s agent is someone who represents a buyer’s interests when buying a home. A buyer is considered a “client” of the real estate agent, not a customer.
What Your Buyers Agent, Can Do For You.
As your buyer’s agent, I will help you get a more realistic picture of the home, the neighborhood, and the price you should pay. I will ensure that all of your questions are answered and put your mind at ease. Searching for the perfect home can be a confusing process, especially for first-time homebuyers. Your mind will most likely be racing with all sorts of questions. What is my price range? Where should I be looking? How do I know how much to offer? What happens after my offer is accepted? Most buyers ultimately have one question: Whom can you trust?
I represent YOU and YOUR best interests.
The seller hires a seller’s agent to list their home, promote their best interests, and protect the seller’s confidence. So, why wouldn’t you want someone to do the same things for you? When you hire me as your buyer’s agent, you will get the expertise and experience of a professionally trained agent in finding you the perfect home. I will have your best interests in mind when submitting an offer, not the sellers. I will be there for you every step of the way.
I will explain the entire buying process.
Buying a home is often the most significant purchase a person will make in their lifetime. There are many steps involved between getting a mortgage pre-approval and signing the closing papers. The process is much more complicated than people often think. It is vital to find someone who will take the time to sit down with you before you begin your home search and outline the entire process from start to finish. Buyers should know how the process works before looking at homes. I will explain how showings work, the details of writing offers, and the importance of an inspection.
I will be Your Emotional Filter
Buying a house can be very emotional and can potentially get the best of a buyer. As your buyer’s agent, I’m not emotionally attached to a specific property you may be interested in and can help keep you from making an emotional and rash decision. Ultimately a buyer is a final decision-maker. Still, a buyer’s agent can help a buyer weigh the PROs and CONs to potential properties while taking the emotion out of the decision. I will act as an emotional filter.
My Services to you is free
The number one reason to use a buyer’s agent is that they are FREE! You do not have to pay a dime to hire me as your buyer’s agent. Just for that reason alone, why wouldn’t you use my services? Most buyers assume that they will have to pay a fee to use an agent. However, in a residential real estate transaction, the seller pays the entire commission, splitting the listing agent and the buyer’s agent. So the service of a buyer’s agent is completely free for the buyer. The fact you won’t be paying any money out of your pocket should be a significant reason for having a buyer’s agent.
I have access to the MLS.
The MLS is the Multiple Listing Service. Listing agents use the MLS to promote their listings to other real estate agents. Using me as your buyer’s agent, I will access the most up-to-date and accurate information on houses for sale. With houses now selling in a matter of days and multiple offer situations, you need to find out immediately when a new home hits the market that meets your criteria. I can advise you on what kind of offer is likely to get you the home you want. As your agent, I can give you an informed opinion on where I see the local real estate market is going. Are prices rising or dropping? Are the inventory levels for homes going up or down?
You Now have someone to plan and schedule your showings.
How convenient would it be to have someone else plan and schedule a showing for every house you want to see? This is what I, as your buyer’s agent, will do for you. If there are a dozen homes you are interested in, it is my responsibility to make sure that you have the opportunity to view the potential properties if they’re available. This also means making a dozen phone calls, figuring out the best route for the showings, and ensuring you are provided with pertinent information about the properties. I will then either drive you or meet you at each home. Not only is this convenient for you, but this allows us to see firsthand what you love or hate about each house that you viewed. This will help me with finding you similar homes to look at possibly. Wouldn’t you love an email or phone call in the morning from me, your agent, saying, “Hey, there is a new house on the market, and it looks like something you would love?” If a listing agent shows you a home, they don’t know anything about you or what you are looking for. They are just there to let you into the house.
As Your Buyer Agent, I Will Be Researching The House Itself.
There are certain red flags to look for when buying a house, and sellers are notorious for not getting required building permits for remodeling work they have done in their homes. This could cause buyers problems once it’s time to sell. As your buyer agent, I will research at the local town building department when there are suspicions that permits have not been filed. Whether this is you’re first house or not, chances are you don’t physically look at homes daily. An experienced agent such as I, who looks at homes day in and day out, will quickly identify potential problems within a house. Another excellent reason to hire me as your agent when buying a house is that I know what to look for when viewing homes.
This is only one example of some things that should be identified within a house when viewing them.
- Pest/Insect Issues
- Potential Mold Issues
- Roofing Issues
- Leaks
- Age(s) Of Major Components (Furnace, Air Conditioning Unit, Etc…)
I Will Advise You on how much to offer.
The best real estate agents understand pricing well. They know how various amenities in a home will impact the ultimate value. One of the essential roles of a buyer’s agent is to advise you on what to offer on the home you’re interested in. I do this with a detailed analysis based on comparable sales data of other similar properties or comps. The focus will be on similar properties sold with a radius of the home. This will be one of the most critical tasks a buyer’s agent will provide when it comes down to it. The value will be based on actual data.
I will Serve as Your Professional Negotiator.
As your buyer agent, I know homes and the market and can use that knowledge to negotiate effectively to get you the best results after completing the home inspection. If there are any significant problems, I will negotiate a credit, price reduction, or repair. You discuss your offer, terms, etc., with me, and I become your voice. You have an ultimate say but can rely on me to be your voice and negotiate for you.
I will help you understand real estate contracts.
There are many parts to a real estate contract and having an experienced professional to guide you through this process is vital. When you hire me, you’re hiring a professional who knows the ins and outs of a real estate contract. Real estate contracts can be confusing and difficult to understand; that is why having me looking out for your best interests is essential. I know about the various possible contingencies that can show up in a real estate contract—both those the seller might try to include and those that you might want to have based on your circumstances. There are several contingencies and deadlines to consider in a purchase offer that needs to be in the contract that presents you in the best possible way in the eyes of a seller. A poorly written real estate contract or a contract with blank areas is a common reason why the seller rejects an offer.