Now that online listings provide potential homebuyers with instant access to homes for sale, there’s little reason to enlist the services of a buyer’s agent, right? Well, the short answer to that proposition is … wrong!
This opening statement, is based upon the notion that most of what all a buyer’s agent does for you is to find your new home. Veteran homeowners and first-time homebuyers alike, all know a buyer's agent’s services reach far beyond just the initial search.
Even so, taking that task on by yourself requires a great deal of diligence (and more time than most of us can spare). Most of the time the homes you find on Zillow or Trulia have already gone under contract by another buyer and are not even available for purchase.
WHAT DOES A BUYER’S AGENT REALLY DO?
A local buyer’s agent removes these obstacles by keeping a daily lookout for appropriate new listings as they come into the agents Multiple Listing Service. Knowing what their client wants, the agent then weeds out the homes that fall short of matching up with a buyer’s requirements, they also preview listings to save you time, they then play phone tag with listing agents to set up appointments so clients can tour the properties that may be THE ONE!
A local buyer’s agent has first-hand knowledge of our local neighborhoods and many times has already previewed the individual properties. That extra insight allows the agent to point out homes that you might not have picked from its listing alone, they can offer you homes that may be perfect for you in the long run.
WHY NOT JUST WORK WITH THE LISTING AGENT?
The seller's listing agent works for the seller, not you. When you team up with your own buyer’s agent, you have someone in your corner who can offer you sound advice and represent only you throughout the entire process.
If you're a first time homebuyer, there’s an extra incentive; inevitably, you're going to have a lot of questions — and you'll benefit from the extra guidance you get on your first time through the home purchasing process. Even if you have purchased before … with all the changes and new legal documents involved in the home buying process, you need someone with experience to guide you and answer all your questions.
Help will come not only by identifying the right home, your buyer’s agent offers you with an experienced skill set that is needed to negotiate your purchase contract then upon a final agreement there is a myriad of other tasks to accomplish!
Among those other tasks are identifying a suitable home inspector, interpreting the resulting inspection report, and dealing with the voluminous paperwork that comes afterward … escrow instructions, a huge stack of disclosures, the list goes on and on!
While there is no requirement to engage a buyer’s agent in town, given the size of the investment you are going to be making, having someone in your corner makes good sense.
DO I HAVE TO PAY A FEE TO BUYER’S AGENT?
Van Wig & Associates philosophy is we will work hard for you and in return what we ask of you is that you are loyal to us … if we do not meet your expectations within a reasonable amount of time … then FIRE US and find another agent but working with an agent that is committed your success is the first step to becoming a happy homeowner.
Ready to buy? Good - because we are ready to go to work for you!
Search for Homes linked to the MLS www.AutomaticHomeSearch.com
FOR THE BEST MOVE OF YOUR LIFE … LET US WORK FOR YOU!