What Advice Do Couples Need When Buying Their First Home?

What Advice Do Couples Need When Buying Their First Home?

Couples buying their first home need to understand that buying a home is a process. The first step of the process is to hire the right agent to represent them. 

Making a mistake at the first step of the process will not only consume valuable time and energy, it most surely will leave buyers feeling frustrated and sadly disappointed.  

 

 

Why Do Couples Want to Hire An Agent to Represent Them?

Hire an agent to represent your best interests. In other words, avoid working directly with the listing agent. The listing agent works for the seller. In a hot sellers market, with low inventory, many buyers seek to work with the listing agent believing, hoping, wishing, or praying that they stand a better chance of beating the competition and getting their offer accepted. 

There is a serious flaw in that approach.  The flaw is, as previously mentioned, the listing agent works for the seller.  While a buyer may get their offer accepted using this approach, a buyer definitely needs to consider how they are being represented.

While it is legal in the State of California for one agent to represent both the seller and the buyer, it is my professional opinion that, most of the time, doing so presents a conflict of interest. The conflict lies largely with the buyers. While there may be isolated situations where both buyer and seller may be fairly represented by the same agent, I firmly believe, in most situations, that is not the case.

Couples buying their first home are likely making the biggest investment of their lives. That investment needs to be protected by representation of a buyer's agent who works exclusively for the buyers.

How Do Couples Buying Their First Home Find An Agent to Represent Them?

Ask family, friends and co-workers if they know an agent who specializes in working with buyers and/or working with first time home buyers.  Working with an agent who has a reputation of providing excellent service and creating happy, satisfied clients  means their is a high probability they will do the same for you. 

Many couples who are just getting started buying a home visit open houses.  Open houses are a great way to find the right agent. Ask the agent hosting the open house a lot of questions. Listen to their responses and willingness to serve.  Keep your antenna up. Life leaves clues. If the agent cannot answer your questions or if you get the feeling they are not interested in truly serving you, then they are not the right agent for you.

If you are working with an agent who is not helping or representing you then you need to let them go and find an agent who will.  Don't settle for mediocrity.  Agents you want to work with:

• Will register you for a MLS property search where you will receive email alerts on new listings that match your search criteria
• Preview properties on your behalf
• Schedule property tours and attend all showings with you
• Works full time as a real estate professional
• Are never too busy to serve you in your home search
  
• Know the area(s) where you want to buy
• Are skilled negotiators

Buying a home is a process. When you hire the right agent the agent will guide you every step of the way and keep the lines of communication open from day one to the day of closing and beyond.

The right agent will have an awesome lender and other tried, true and dependable referral resources which will create a memorable and enjoyable home buying experience. After all, isn't that what couples buying their first home want?

What Advice Do Couples Need When Buying Their First Home? - By Kathleen Daniels, Broker/Owner of KD Realty - San Jose Homes for Sale

 

 

 

Kathleen Daniels, Broker-Owner of KD Realty, San Jose Short Sale Agent, Certified HAFA Specialist (CHS), Certified Distressed Property Expert (CDPE), Certified Short Sale Negotiator (CSSN), and REO Default Certified Professional (RDCPro), serving San Jose and surrounding San Jose Communities in Santa Clara County - Silicon Valley.

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