The phones have been ringing! Buyers are looking! Homes for Sale are going under contract. I faxed an offer on a foreclosure property last weekend that already had at least one offer on the table. Another one I called about had 4 offers pending review by the seller.
What does this all mean to you the buyer, and how can you get a great deal on a home? Is there really a secret way to get on the 'inside track' , or is there really an 'inside track' in the first place?
First I'm going to tell you that there is no secret. However, there are some tips that I can share with you to ensure that you receive the most up-to-date information and are able to find that 'great deal' that you are searching for. Follow this Do and Don't information and you will be on your way to finding your own GREAT DEAL!
DON'T: Call every Realtor in town asking questions about individual listings. Here's what happens. You call Agent Nancy about a house on Smith Rd. Agent Nancy asks "are you working with an agent." You say NO. Agent Nancy goes to work looking for homes for you. Then, Agent Nancy calls Agent Sandy to inquire about another listing's availability. Agent Sandy says "funny, I just got a call about that a few minutes ago." Eventually YOUR NAME comes up, and Agent Sandy says, HE CALLED ME TOO! I was just sitting here looking for properties for him. What happens now? Both Agent Nancy and Agent Sandy decide you are calling every other agent in town, and lay your name aside and don't call you back. You are no longer taken seriously.
DON'T: Try to do it alone.I realize that many of you are techno-savy, educated and able to purchase a home without anyone's help. However, this is not the time to be stubborn and flex your intelligence. The fact is that in the real estate market today things are happening fast and major changes occur almost every day. Foreclosure properties are listed with agents, not advertised to the general public. In addition, there are many Pre-Foreclosure properties that only an agent would have knowledge of and be able to negotiate a deal for you. Interested in a HUD property? Only AGENTS can represent you to make a bid on a HUD home. And I haven't even mentioned the advantages of having a agent when it comes time for negotiations. Navigating these waters alone would be like representing yourself in a murder trial instead of hiring a defense attorney.
DO: Find a qualified agent that you trust to work for you. It's ok to interview agents. Or, ask a friend for a recommendation. Once you have located an agent that you feel comfortable with, sign a Buyers Brokerage Agreement with that agent.
This agreement ensures the agent that you are trusting them to work for you and that you are not calling 
other agents. Your agent will make you a top priority and find you what you are looking for. When presented new information on homes, your agent will call you first! It's like having your own "secret agent"!
DO: Listen to the advice your agent offers when it comes time to make an offer. Understanding that if you have entered into this agreement with your agent, they are working for YOU and your best interests. Many people are misled into believing that asking prices are just a figment of the bank's imagination. Please understand that before these properties go back on the market, banks have already hired one or more qualified brokers to make an assessment of the value of the property. Then they will price the property accordingly. Yes, the bank will be inclined to accept a 'reasonable' offer. But folks, 'reasonable' is not $20,000 below the asking price. To make such an offer only wastes everyone's time. It's almost a guarantee that the asking price is still well below the former value of that home. So even at asking price, you will still be in a good position.
What's the bottom line? Hire an agent THAT YOU TRUST, and then TRUST the agent that you hire.
If you're in the North Georgia Area...Call Kimberly Wilson, your Dawsonville Real Estate Specialist!
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