A major financial decision, buying a house is one that will be a big financial investment. A majority of buyers hire a broker or real estate listings and agents to assist them in the complex home-search and purchase process. It's a no-brainer for most buyers to have an expert on their side that will work in their best interests.
To buy a house, why not use a real agent?
According to a Zillow survey, these were the most valuable activities that agents provided for buyers who hired them.
Organized and submitted all paperwork related to the purchase of their home (87% of buyers who used an agent rated this service very or extremely valuable).
· Taken buyers on private home tours (84% of respondents said it was very valuable).
· Negotiations for contracts (84 percent of respondents said it was very valuable).
· You can save money on your home purchase
Buyers rarely pay extra to have their agent represent them. The seller usually pays their agent a gross commission. This is split between the listing agent and the buyer's agency. Buyer's agents may pay their agents directly in certain cases if they sign an agency agreement. Be sure to discuss the terms of commission payments with your agent. You can save money by using buyer's agents. They can save you money by helping you avoid overpaying for a house.
Negotiate a price
Your agent is more knowledgeable about the market than you are and can advise you on when it's reasonable for you to negotiate a better deal. Market conditions change month by month and season by season, and your agent should be well-versed in these fluctuations. For example, just because you're buying in a sellers’ market, it doesn't mean you won't be able to negotiate -- it all comes down to the individual home, price, and seller.
Networking with other agents
A listing may not be listed on the local MLS for a variety of reasons. The seller may still be completing renovations or waiting for the holidays to list their home. Your agent might have information about homes that are on the market before they appear on the MLS through their connections to other agents. A vast knowledge base of the available information Agents have a greater understanding of the inventory in your local area and can access MLSfunctionality that allows them to filter more than you will find on buyer-facing websites. Agents will have better chances of finding a specific property if you are looking for it.
Personalize your shopping support
The home buying process can be daunting, especially for first-time buyers. Even experienced buyers can find it difficult to keep track of all the details. Great buyer's agents spend their time looking for homes that meet your criteria, negotiating and writing contracts, representing you, and overseeing the entire process. An experienced agent can make the process easier, especially when you have so much at stake.
Agents in real estate have certain duties to their clients. This means that they are legally and ethically bound to meet your needs.
· We will work for your interests in the transaction
· Providing disclosures
· We offer guidance
· Confidentiality of certain information
· Get professional negotiating skills
The process of buying a house is both exciting and stressful. Without negotiating experience, passion can make it difficult to achieve what you want. Agents are able to present requests in a way that sellers are more likely to comply. They can also negotiate while maintaining good relationships with the seller and listing agent -- which can be very useful in case of any issues later on in the deal.
