With all those mobile apps, websites showcasing homes and even Google Street Views allowing home buyers to instantly see the “real” neighborhood, who needs a real estate agent these days? The answer is you, at least if you want to ensure you find the perfect home at a fair price. There are endless services available to make it easy to search properties yourself, but why add on extra stress when that’s not necessary? The reality is that Realtors and buying agents have connections, tactics and avenues that the average home buyer just doesn’t, including exclusive access to every single agent’s listings in the area. These experts have an “in” with every property, including those that aren’t clearly listed anywhere else. It might be fun to browse listings during your lunch break, but finding the ideal property is a full-time job. Consider these reasons to get a Realtor or buying agent on your side. Convenience from Start to Finish You probably have a life, a job and commitments. Are you sure you even really know the right questions to ask during a showing? You’re busy, but it’s an agent’s job to be the middleman between home buyers and sellers. Don’t assume that she only has access to “her” listings, because licensed real estate agents and buying agents actually have access to every single house on the market. At the same time, negotiating is both a talent and a skill that takes years to hone—luckily, it’s the specialty of these pros and they know exactly how to do it. In the end, sellers are looking to get the most money and home buyers are looking to save the most, so you need to meet in the middle. Many people don’t like negotiating or think that it’s simply not in their cards, but a Realtor knows exactly how far to go and a good one will always go out on a limb for their clients. Put Contract Worries to Rest You’ve found the perfect home for sell and everything is set—or is it? The legal jargon of contracts can seem like gibberish, and figuring out all the intricacies of that mortgage is enough to make anyone throw in the towel, sometimes meaning a less than stellar end result. You don’t want to end up in a legal dispute with the seller, wasting time and money, which happens far too often when you don’t have the tools, knowledge and resources necessary for a seamless transaction. Buying agents know the ins and outs of all these contracts and can explain them to you in laymen’s terms. Plus, keep in mind that it’s not just unethical, but illegal, for agents to lie. They’re not salespeople, they’re buying agents (although there is, of course, some overlap between these two titles). It’s not in their best interest to be sneaky, since they’re legally bound by a fiduciary relationship to act in your best interest. Plus, they count on those referrals to make a living, so if you have a reputable buying agent, know that they’re always working on your side.
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