If you're looking for a home, you need someone to help you find it. With so much on the market and considering the sketchy information in most real estate ads, you could spend months chasing down ads and not see a home you want.
That means you'll choose a real estate agent to assist in your search. You'll explain to the agent just what you're looking for: How many bedrooms and bathrooms, the approximate square footage, and any special rooms/amenities that are important to you. You'll talk about the location you want in terms of services, stores, and facilities available nearby, schools, and proximity to your employment. You'll discuss the size of the property you'll need to suit your lifestyle.
Then, you'll rely on that agent to sort through the hundreds of listings available and show you the choices that fit your description of the perfect home.
In order that you'll have someone who represents you when you find the home you want, you'll probably want to hire a "Buyers Agent." Without one, the agent who shows you around can be presumed to be working in the seller's interests rather than yours.
Since this is a diverse world, you will end up with one of three different varieties of buyer's agents.
The agent who insists that you sign a buyer agency agreement before he'll show you a home. This agreement binds you to the agent and assures the agent that he'll be paid even if you find a home on your own. And that, unfortunately, is what he'll expect you to do.
He may suggest some homes and take you out once, but after that you'll have to read ads and call him if you want to see a home. Once you find one, he'll be glad to write the offer for whatever price and terms you specify, and he may assist with all the pre-closing tasks - but then again, he may not.
Next is the agent who will ask you to sign a buyer's agency agreement, but who will then search diligently for homes that fit your want list. He'll call you if he sees something he thinks might be the perfect fit. He'll also make sure you get an automatic email from the MLS system each time a new listing in your category comes on the market.
He'll assist you with your offer, will negotiate on your behalf, and will work hard to see that your closing comes off without a hitch.
Third is the agent who only asks you to sign a disclosure stating that he is representing you - and who doesn't ask you to sign a contract for buyer agency. This is the agent who wants to keep your business through superior service rather than through a binding legal contract.
He too will work hard for you, because he wants to earn your loyalty, and because he really cares about you finding your dream home.
Obviously, most of us would choose agent #3 - but such agents aren't always easy to find. In some brokerages, the policy says that buyers will be under contract or they won't be served. The agents don't even have the option to show you homes without a contract.
That means you could just as easily end up with agent #1 as with agent #2.
What should you do? Insist that the contract contains an escape clause, so if you feel the agent isn't working for you, you can fire him without a lot of trouble.
And before you ever hire an agent, do visit their website. Read what they have to say about service to buyers. Read their "about me" page to see their philosophy. Read their testimonials.
Then call up and talk to them. If they're too busy to talk to you when you're a "prospect," they'll be too busy to talk to you later.
Finding the best agent to help with your search is worth spending a little time. It can mean the difference between frustration and fun, and it can make a difference to your bank account as well.
Marte Cliff is a Freelance Copywriter and former real estate broker who specializes in writing for real estate and related industries.
She'll help you with one letter, or an entire marketing plan. For Real estate agents and brokers who are ready to get full value from their websites, she offers web copywriting and lead generation packages. She also offers a course called the Real Estate Career Builder, which covers best practices along with marketing methods. You'll find it at promotemyrealestatecareer.com promotemyrealestatecareer.com
Marte's weekly ezine for real estate professionals offers tips and hints for building a successful business. To subscribe, and to see the other resources available for real estate sales professionals, visit her at marte-cliff.com/RealEstate.html marte-cliff.com/RealEstate.html
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