When my husband and I bought our home, we worked with an Exclusive Buyer Agent from the Buyers Edge in Bethesda Maryland.
Back in 90's, there were no websites like Trulia, Zillow and Realtor.com. We relied solely on what we found while driving through neighborhoods and on what our agent sent us using the Multiple Listing Service. Today’s home search websites can be fun for home buyers however, there is no governing agency that requires the listings to be current. Unlike the MLS system, houses on Zillow and Trulia may be sold or under contract but show they are "for sale" on the search site. On MLS, when a house is under contract or sold, listing agents are required to update changes immediately.
Everyone likes to search on their own for houses but be aware that what you find on your own, may not be available. My clients, who like to search on their own in addition to my MLS updates, email me the listings they find. I will look up the homes on MLS and provide my clients the most up to date, accurate information.
Remember: Listing agents, using the Multiple Listing Service, are required to keep their home listings current. There is no such rule for sites like Trulia and Zillow.
Here are 5 tips on how to find your home working with an Exclusive Buyer Agent.
1. Sit down with a licensed Realtor and discuss your home buying options. Learn about standard sales, foreclosures and bank owned properties. Talk about home styles like Colonials, Ramblers and Split levels. What home style works for you? Finally, set up a search using the Multiple Listing Servie. or MLS. This will be sent to your email and provide you with the most current information on every home for sale in the area. If you find a home that is “for sale by owner”, have your agent contact the owner. Working with your agent, you can locate properties that you like and are still on the market.
2. Talk to a mortgage lender about how much house you can safely buy. Lenders can offer solid advice and mortgage rates. This is the best way to know what you are qualified to buy.
3. Walk and drive the neighborhoods you think might work for you. Drive the side streets. See how close you are to what is important to you like a park or coffee shop.
4. Drive your daily commute during an afternoon or evening rush hour. Your commute is a big part of your day. Be sure you are comfortable with it!
5. Now the fun part; get out with your Exclusive Buyer Agent and see homes! Our clients bring paper and pen or an iPad to take notes. After a day of house hunting, all the homes start to blend together but if you’ve taken notes, you will remember what you liked and didn’t like in every home.
My husband, Marshall and I work for Buyer’s Edge in Bethesda Maryland. We have a home search website,VictoriaandMarshallHenderson.com and a blog HomesBuyHendersons.com.
When we meet you in person, we will give you a copy of“Understanding Whom Real Estate Agents Represent”. We are required by law to give you this notice. It is not a contract but rather informs you of your rights. We will also give you a buyer broker agreement.
We enjoy working with people who are new to the Washington DC area or just moving across town. Exclusive Buyer Agents work only with home buyers. We never list homes for sale so we never have a conflict of interest. Using the Multiple Listing Service, we have access to all homes, listed by Realtors, in the Greater Washington DC area.
This straight forward approach suits us and we love what we do. Questions? Send me an email. Thank you for reading!
office 301.657.1475
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