The Advantages of Buying Real Estate with an Agent

Real estate professionals like agents and brokers can provide you with value. Working with one could be the difference between closing on a desirable home or losing it, or having an enjoyable experience or an awful one. Here are nine advantages of working with a real estate agent or broker when buying a home.

1. Find a Home
   The primary reason home buyers work with an agent is for assistance finding a home to purchase – about 88% use an agent or broker. I have access to the newest available listings and the most up-to-date information on homes. Plus, we can filter homes by your preference and alert you as soon as a home is available so I can be the first to schedule a showing.
2. Negotiating Skills
   Not everyone is an expert negotiator, but thankfully, I am! Not only can I negotiate the price of a home, but also the contract and terms of sale.
3. Dedicated Time
   I can save you time by attending appointments and open houses, replying to phone, email, and texts, managing the relationship with the listing agent, scheduling showings, sharing listings filtered by your preferences, organizing paperwork, communicating with the lender, and other tasks on your behalf.
4. Sales Experience
   Working with me ensures you get the best deal, that your homebuying process will go smoothly, and will be compliant with state and local regulations.
5. Ongoing Guidance and Advice
   Buying a home is an expensive and complex process. It involves a large amount of money, several steps, many legal documents, and a variety of parties to complete. I can guide you through the whole process, offer advice, answer any questions, provide market insight, recommend services, and prevent mistakes so you have the best experience possible.
6. Service Provider Network
   I work with a wide range of service providers and can recommend services like lenders home inspectors, repair companies, movers, and more. If you’re from out of town or are not familiar with the area, I can recommend local businesses, public parks, and other types of points of interest.
7. Paperwork Expertise
   Remembering all the documents and deadlines required to complete a home purchase isn’t easy. I can explain these complex documents, help you keep track of them, remind you of deadlines, and submit documents to the correct agencies throughout your homebuying process.
8. Seller Access
   I have a network of connections with constituents in the community that could help you – by offering insider information about a specific neighborhood and neighbors as well as recommendations for schools and local businesses.
9. Local Market Knowledge
   I have access to all the listings through the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) and can provide detailed reports on the local market activities, trends, neighborhoods, schools, and local points of interest. Plus, I’ve lived here for quite a while and know the area very well.

Working with a Realtor^®

In addition, working with a Realtor^® provides many other benefits that you might not get working with a general real estate agent.

REALTORS^® are members of the National Association of REALTORS® and subscribe to its strict Code of Ethics. When you’re buying a home, here’s what an agent who’s a REALTOR® can do for you.

1. Act as an expert guide.
   Buying a home typically requires a variety of forms, reports, disclosures, and other legal and financial documents. A knowledgeable real estate agent will know what’s required in your market, helping you avoid delays and costly mistakes. Also, there’s a lot of jargon involved in a real estate transaction; you want to work with a professional who can speak the language.
2. Offer objective information and opinions.
   A great real estate agent will guide you through the home search with an unbiased eye, helping you meet your buying objectives while staying within your budget. Agents are also a great source when you have questions about local amenities, utilities, zoning rules, contractors, and more.
3. Give you expanded search power.
   You want access to the full range of opportunities. Using a cooperative system called the multiple listing service, your agent can help you evaluate all active listings that meet your criteria, alert you to listings soon to come on the market, and provide data on recent sales. Your agent can also save you time by helping you winnow away properties that are still appearing on public sites but are no longer on the market.
4. Stand in your corner during negotiations.
   There are many factors up for discussion in any real estate transaction—from price to repairs to possession date. A real estate professional who’s representing you will look at the transaction from your perspective, helping you negotiate a purchase agreement that meets your needs and allows you to do due diligence before you’re bound to the purchase.
5. Ensure an up-to-date experience.
   Most people buy only a few homes in a lifetime, usually with quite a few years between purchases. Even if you’ve bought a home before, laws and regulations change. Real estate practitioners may handle hundreds or thousands of transactions over the course of their careers.
6. Be your rock during emotional moments.
   A home is so much more than four walls and a roof. And for most buyers, a home is the biggest purchase they’ll ever make. Having a concerned, but objective, third party helps you stay focused on the issues most important to you when emotions threaten to sink an otherwise sound transaction.
7. Provide fair and ethical treatment.
   When you’re interviewing agents, ask if they’re a REALTOR®, a member of the National Association of REALTORS®. Every member must adhere to the REALTOR® Code of Ethics, which is based on professionalism, serving the interests of clients, and protecting the public.

If you have any questions about buying or selling a home, please reach out to me. Taking care of you is my #1 priority.

Next up is Common Homebuyer Mistakes to Avoid