Choosing The Right Buyer's Agent
This is another important part of the homebuying process for the buyer. You essentially are hiring a professional to assist you with your home search for no cost, since most commissions will be paid by the seller. Buying a home is the largest investment that most people will make in their lifetime, so why wouldn't you use a professional to help you? If you were investing $125,000, you would probably talk to a financial consultant. This isn't much different. In addition, you need to have someone going to bat for you when it comes to negotiating a purchase contract. A listing agent is certainly not going to do that.
Once you have determined that you are going to use a buyer's agent, you need to find the right one. Astoundingly, many people don't put much thought in this decision and may use a relative, friend, or the first agent they talk to! These may not be necessarily bad decisions, but you want to make sure that the agent that you are going to use has the experience and knowledge to make a difference and not someone who is just opening doors for you to look at listings.
Tips On Finding The Right Buyer's Agent
1. Find Out A Buyer's Agent Experience Level - Ask the agent how long they have been a Realtor, are they a full time agent, how many transactions do they average per year, what is their typical price range that they work in, and what areas do they normally work in. Generally, you would want to use someone that has been a full time agent for a minimum 3-5 years and who averages 20+ transactions per year. This should insure that they have the market knowledge and understands the homebuying process to make sure that things go smoothly.
2. Find An Agent The Listens To Your Wants And Needs - An agent will inquire about your needs and wants to determine the right houses to show you. A good agent will actually be listening to you and showing you the houses that you want to see. If you tell an agent that you are looking for a 4 bedroom colonial with 2 bathrooms in a certain area up to a certain amount, then that is what they should be showing you. The biggest complaint I have heard about other agents is that they aren't showing their clients the right homes and second biggest complaint is that they their agents aren't showing them any homes. They find them on their own and then tell their agent about them. What's that agent doning for their clients? Make sure the agent is listening to you.
3. Don't Sign A Buyer's Agency Contract Until You Are Ready - In my opinion, you should never sign a buyer's contract until you are completely comfortable with the agent that you are working with and you are satisfied with the work they are doing for you. If an agent won't work with you until you sign one, then move onto the next agent. Time and time again, I hear horror stories about people that felt pressured to sign an agreement because they were told they had to and end up being dissatisfied with their agent. Don't you want to make sure that you and the agent you are working with are the right fit? Personally, I don't require any of my buyer's to sign a buyer's contract. I am confident enough in what I offer to my clients, that they will want to work with me.
If you're interested in learning what I can offer you as a buyer's agent, complete my buyer consultation form or give me a call direct at (315)-656-9717.