If it has been a few years since you have purchased a home, you may not be familiar with buyer’s agency. Let me get you up to speed.
In every real estate transaction there are two parties, the sellers and the buyers. The sellers are either representing themselves, as is the case in a for-sale-by-owner situation, or they have hired a listing agent to promote and conduct the sale of their home and their interests. (Note: sometimes an agent will represent both sides of the transaction, this is called dual agency, and can be done successfully if the parties are aware of it and agree, but that is a subject for a whole other article.)
If you are a savvy shopper, you already understand why you want to contract with a buyer’s agent. The single most important reason is that they represent your interests in the transaction. They will negotiate on your behalf and represent you throughout the home buying process.
Even before a buyer enters into a contract the benefits of a buyer’s agent are evident. A great buyer agent will have her eye on the market for you, watching for potential homes that match your criteria and getting you in to see them before others do. In a hot market, this makes all the difference.
Buyer’s agents understand that today's shopper does a lot of research online, and can find homes for themselves. We appreciate that you are working toward your goal of finding the right home too, and it should be a team effort.
However, we also know that you have a regular job and you do not have all the time in the world to comb through every listing to see if it might work for you. That is our job, and a great agent loves to do so.
Agents also work in offices where new inventory comes in regularly, and we learn of listings before they hit the MLS (Multiple Listing Service). That's right, a head start if we know what you are looking for!
Great buyer’s agents are keenly aware of the inventory in their market, they have probably been in the home that you are considering. They can tell you details about the home and forward you the disclosures so that you can ascertain if you wish to take a tour of the home.
We not only know the inventory, but we know what that home is worth, we conduct a comparative market analysis just as we would as if you were the seller of the home, we want to make sure you are not over paying!
Once you are under contract, the buyer’s agent is there for all of your needs; we are well connected to our community and know which professionals to call to quote a job or repair something.
We will make sure your transaction goes swimmingly all the way to the closing table. Great agents are not there just to find it and forget it, we are in for the long haul - whatever it takes to find it, put it under contract and get you to that closing table and into the next chapter of your life.
And as if all of that is not enough, and you need more convincing, know this: buyer’s agency is of no cost to you, the sellers pay our commission. What could you possibly have to lose? Call me today, and let's start shopping! Amy Krikken is a buyer’s agent and a listing agent with Better Homes and Gardens/Masiello. She can be reached at abkrikken@gmail.com or 207-317-1338
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