What is a buyer's agent?
I often get asked by prospective buyers "What does a buyer's agent do and why do I need one?" Bryan Robertson as written a great article clearly explaining what is a buyer's agent and how we can help you with the home buying process.
The home buying process can be a daunting task, but with a quality agent in your corner, it'll make all the difference.
If you're looking for homes in or around the Hickory, NC area, give me a call and let's see how we can help you find your home today.
As a home buyer, the buyer's agent is there to advocate your interest in a real estate transaction. They have a fiduciary duty to represent you and your wants/needs when buying a home. Unlike the seller's agent who care's about getting the most for the seller, the buyer's agent is working to get you the best home at the best price. They are (or should be) loyal to you. Among the many services your agent will do for you include:
- Offer knowledge and expertise about the neighborhoods you're considering living in
- Help find any home on or off the market that meets your needs as a buyer
- Advise you on pricing and negotiating offer terms, as well as negotiating with the selling agent
- Assist you with obtaining and understanding disclosures and inspections on your desired home
These services involve significant amounts of time that encompass phone calls, emails, reading, writing, and lots of paperwork as well as a fair amount of data analysis. This work on your behalf is NOT simply a matter of print out MLS data and showing you a home. There's a lot of value in what your agent gives you in each of these areas:
Neighborhood Expertise: A buyer's agent will talk to you to find out what you want in a neighborhood. Their expertise will direct you to the neighborhoods that best suit your needs. At the same time, they can compare and contrast several neighborhoods to help you narrow down the best 1-2 for you.
Help Find A Home: Sure, home buyers spend hours on the Internet searching for homes but a buyer's agent will point out what you can't learn online. We'll find expired and cancelled listings that might still be for sale, "off MLS" listings only agents know about, and other opportunities you'll never find online.
Pricing and Negotiating: Don't trust the Zestimate for your offer price and don't plan on automatically offering 10% below the listing price either. A buyer's agent will review recent sales and come up with a price that reflects current market value. We'll help advise you on how to then get the best possible deal and negotiate that with the seller.
Disclosures and Inspections: There can be hundreds of pages in a disclosure package on a home and your agent will help point out how much of that is important and how much isn't. Many reports have "boilerplate" text, while others make "suggestions" that may not be relevant. Your agent will point out what matters so you can negotiate repairs, if necessary.
The bottom line is that a buyer's agent is working in your best interest as a home buyer. The listing agent, working for the home seller, will NEVER give you the guidance you need because they can't tell you what the seller's motivation or position are. Having a buyer's agent gives you the edge you need to get the best home at the best price.
I represent several buyers and offer unique services in finding your ideal home. If you're looking for a home in Silicon Valley, give me a call.
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Bryan Robertson, Broker Associate | T: 650.799.9951 | Email: bryan@serenogroup.com | Website: http://www.BryanRobertsonHomes.com |CA License: 01191946 | Sereno Group - Los Altos branch | 369 S. San Antonio Road | Los Altos, CA 94022
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