Why work with a Realtor who specializes in your geographic area or property type when purchasing a property?
1. Access to the history of the listing. Information such as how long it has been on the market, what price changes it has had, etc. help position the buyer better for negotiations. Since they specialize in the area, they might even have insight into the Seller’s current position and motivation, helping you know how to structure your offer.
2. The Realtor might likely have information about recent closed sales such as condition of the home, incentives offered by the Seller etc. which will not be reflected in the “sold price” on the MLS, putting you in a much better negotiation position. If they do not know, they have a much higher chance to obtain this info than a non-Realtor might. If a home “sold” for $425,000 but the Seller contributed 3% toward closing costs, you would want to know that when making an offer on a similar property.
3. The Realtor will likely know the other Listing Realtors in the area and have a professional working relationship built on a history of integrity and respect with them, possibly helping during the negotiations phase.
4. The Realtor will have a good working knowledge of your particular market, regarding both what is currently on the market, what has sold and what has expired. Their insights into the housing inventory will help you during your search and negotiations
5. Having a Professional work with you will take the personal emotional dimension out of the deal and keep it purely a business transaction. Buying and selling a home is a BIG personal and financial transaction and it is normal for emotions, both positive and negative by both the buyers and the sellers to impact or kill a deal.
6. Working with a professional Realtor helps you to know what is legal and customary in your area to make sure the transaction both legal and fair. Without that 3rd party, you are dealing directly with either the Seller or the Seller’s agents, both of whom do not always have your best interest at heart. Their goal is to sell the home, not get you the best deal.
7. A Realtor specializing in your area can help shorten your search as they already have knowledge of the pros and cons of many of the current listings and can eliminate wasted home visits for you.
8. A Realtor working in your area might know of other homes that are either recently off the market, but have owners still interested in selling, often putting you at an advantageous negotiation stand-point on a house you might not otherwise have seen.
9. A Realtor can often gain you access to a house immediately if you are together with them and you see one you are interested in by simply calling the listing agent and obtaining a lock-box code. Listing agents will not give out lock-box combinations to non-Realtors.
10. A Realtor who specializes in a certain area or property type will also have information on homes about to come on the market, even before they do, putting you ahead of the masses.
11. A Realtor who specializes in your property type will often know the standard items to look out for in your property type. Ie building construction issues, zoning issues, etc.
12. Finding your dream home is only step one in your home buying process. You must successfully negotiate the price and terms, navigate all of the inspections and possible re-negotiations that result from the inspection report, get through the appraisal and finally successfully close the deal including insurance issues, financing, etc. A Realtor works with you from A-Z to make sure you have all of your bases covered to protect yourself, your family and your new purchase.
13. If something does do wrong, either on your side or that of the Sellers, the Realtor can help steer you through the murky waters to a satisfactory end result. The Realtor will likely have experience or knowledge in the particular situation and help smooth the ground to a win-win close.
14. and darn it, Realtors are just good people ;-)
Janie Coffey
Owner/Broker, GRI, TRC, QSC
cell: 786-252-4970
email: janie@papillonllc.com
www.PapillonRealEstate.com
www.SouthFloridaHorseProperties.com
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