What Does a Massachusetts Buyer Agent Do?

What Does a Massachusetts Buyer Agent Do?

You should know that not all Massachusetts real estate agents are created equal.  There are agents who specialize in listing homes and there are the fewer select agents who specialize in representing home buyers.  And, in between, there are Realtors® who do a mixture of both. 

Obviously, your home buying needs are not going to be served by the agent whose sole specialty is listing and selling homes.   A Massachusetts Buyer Agent is dedicated to serving the needs of someone who is buying a home and, as such, has had the training and experience necessary to cover every aspect of the home buying transaction with emphasis on representing you, the home buyer.  A Massachusetts Buyer Agent’s duties should include the following:

•  Assist you in finding the best mortgage loan provider for your needs
•  Prepare a thorough property value study of the property you are interested in
• Represent you on all kinds of properties, including for-sale-by-owners
•  Promote and protect your interests at all times
•  Advise you, the home buyer, on the quality of the home, even pointing out reasons not to buy
• Research the property’s history, neighborhoods and abutting land
• Negotiate a price and terms that are favorable to you
• Seek out and provide inside information to enhance your bargaining capability
• Withhold private information about you and your financial situation

A Massachusetts Buyer Agent works for you.  As such, one is duty-bound to research and discover anything that may affect your home purchase.  

A Buyer Agent has a fiduciary responsibility, just as an attorney does.  Your private information must remain so and your position needs to be protected at all times.  This is part and parcel of home buyer advocacy. 

Finding the right home to suit your needs is an important part of the process but once the property has been located, there is much more ahead. Following the negotiation and acceptance of your offer, these further steps need to be attended to: 

• Recommend a through and reputable home inspector who will work for you
• Attend the home inspection
• Renegotiate for problems uncovered by the home inspection
• Recommend a good real estate attorney
• Work in conjunction with the attorney during the purchase and sale process
• Set up and conduct a final and thorough walk-through of the property
• Renegotiate if there is anything wrong with the property at the time of walk-through
• Attend and monitor the closing

This is an incomplete list of duties since unforeseen circumstances frequently arise at the last minute and it is your Massachusetts Buyer Agent's obligation to make sure that all loose ends are tied up to ensure that you have a successful and smooth closing. 

As a buyer agent, the goal is not to sell you a home, but rather to provide a valuable consultation service to help you search for, find and successfully procure the best home for your needs.

So, if you are buying a home - definitely don't go it alone! 

 Copyright 2012 "What Does a Massachusetts Buyer Agent Do?"

  This post was written by   

Claudette Millette, Broker, Owner, The Buyers' Counsel - (508) 881-6230  

An Exclusive Buyer Brokerage serving the Greater Metrowest area  

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