So, you’ve decided to purchase a new home. You’ve started looking on Realtor.com and have been saving properties that peak your interest. It’s all fun and games, right? Yes AND no. Buying a house is very fun, we admit it, we love our job, but it’s a jungle out there.
Prepare to compete with a stampede of other buyers in this seller’s market, as well as a lot of paperwork and no doubt some steely negotiation tactics from the seller of your potential dream home.
A very good real estate mentor once told me, “Every deal has a gremlin.” And it’s true. The AC isn’t working and the house fails inspection? Yes, we’ve been there. The property doesn’t appraise for agreed sales price and the bank won’t lend enough to you to purchase? Yes, we’ve dealt with that. Buying a luxury property advertised with ‘gourmet chef kitchen and gas stove’ and it turns out that the house doesn’t actually have any gas lines? Yes, we kid you not, we’ve handled that situation too.
There can be multiple challenges to overcome before you get exchange on those house keys – and the process can be extremely complex. With all of the above examples it was stressful, for us, not for our clients – and that’s the point of having a buyer’s agent. We solve problems, in most instances, before you even know they exist. Which is why having a pro by your side can make all the difference.
Here are the top 3 reasons to make having a buyers agent a priority in you home search:
- THE ART OF THE DEAL
We negotiate for you, with your best interests in mind. We can advise you on an appropriate price to offer and then present it to the seller’s agent. We then negotiate on your behalf to ensure that you get the best deal possible on one of the biggest purchases you will ever make.
2. USE OUR CONTACTS
We can recommend other reliable professionals, such as mortgage brokers, home inspectors and real estate attorneys. Having a referral from someone in the business can save you time and money, and enables the whole deal to be much more effective.
3. WE WORK FOR YOU!
When a seller hires an agent to sell their home, the selling agent’s legal obligation is to represent the interests of the seller, not the buyer. By enlisting the help of an agent to represent YOU, you have full confidence that your buyer’s agent is working on your behalf with a fiduciary responsibility to you. On top of that, we don’t cost you a penny! With this in mind, could you afford to not have someone representing your interests in one of the biggest transactions you’ll ever make?
If you would like further advice on buying a home, or need an agent, get in touch! We would be happy to help.