What's a Buyer's Agent? When an agent works with you to buy a home, that agent is acting as a buyer's agent. Do you know if this agent was just working with a seller as a seller's agent prior to switching hats and meeting with you as a buyer's agent? Do you know if your realtor is someone who understands the problems, has the solutions and spends 100% of their time working with buyers, or if they're a jack of all trades trying to work with buyers, sellers, and everything else in between?
Why is a team beneficial? Getting an agent who has a team means you have more eyes looking out for you, more people available for you, and communication on a regular basis. Each team member applies their specific strengths and experience to provide you superior service and results than you could ever expect from a single agent or simple partnership.
Who's interviewing who? Realtors have the luxury of choosing how they do business and who they do business with. As a buyer, you have the same luxury. When interviewing realtors, do you feel as if you are being interviewed as well. Only agents that know what they are doing will interview you to determine what stage of the process you're in and where to guide you from there. Your realtor is there to give you the facts and figures necessary for you to make a wise decision. Your first meeting with your realtor should be a mutual interview so you both feel comfortable and decide together on how you're going to continue the process.
Who's in charge? You will be making all the decisions. If you're able to articulate your wants and needs your agent will be able to make the most of your time. Don't be surprised if you find the home you want to buy within the first few homes you view. If you're walking through a house you like and your agent doesn't ask you if you'd like to buy it, ask yourself. You may surprise yourself with an answer. That question seems to make you aware of how interested you really are.
It's almost like building a home. If you had one individual who had to come in, clear the ground, put in the foundation, do the framework, electrical, plumbing, finish carpentry, and paint- it would take forever and there would be too much room for error. In real estate, if one individual had to return calls, arrange advertising, go on listing appointments, show buyer's homes, coordinate inspections and closings, there's just too much to get done in such little time. Now does it make sense to choose an agent that specializes working with buyers and has the staff and systems to provide proficient service necessary for such a life changing investment?
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