What Real Estate Agents Do for Buyers

 

Buying a home can be an overwhelming experience, especially for first-time home buyers. You may think a Buyer’s Agent's primary function is just to drive their clients around and unlock homes for them to look at. But the brunt of the work that a good Realtor does comes after you find the right home. Of course, helping you in the home search and really listening to your likes and dislikes IS an important part of their job, but it doesn’t end there.

A good Buyer’s Agent will explain the contract to you and make sure you understand its contents. One of the most important jobs of a real estate agent is to negotiate a good deal on your behalf. They should be willing to educate you on the housing market and give comparisons on other homes that have sold, how long a house has been on the market, what houses haven’t sold, and any other activity going on in the housing market. In the end, it is up to you what price and terms you wish to offer, but you should be able to rely on the Buyer’s Agent to provide accurate information and advice. They should help you to make informed decisions about negotiating while putting your best interest above all others.

After the contract has been negotiated and both parties have signed on the dotted line, the Buyer’s Agent should help to make sure the many things that need to be done before a home can close are done within the deadlines. Many contracts fail because deadlines are not met on time. There are deadlines for loan approval, deadlines for disclosures, inspections, objections, and the list goes on. Since the Contract to Buy and Sell is a legal document, missing a deadline is defaulting and could potentially cause the buyer to lose their Earnest money. You should be hearing from your Agent often with updates and reminders about what is going on and guidance through what you should be doing during your home purchase.

You will need the service of many professionals such as lenders, home inspectors, title companies and appraisers during your home purchase. While it is illegal and imprudent for a Realtor to tell you which one to use - it could leave them liable for that person’s actions - a good Buyer’s Agent should have a list of trusted professionals to give you with a few choices for each category and their contact information.

A good Buyer’s Agent should be with you until the very end - the closing. They should be there to answer any questions you have and make sure you are represented even at the closing table.

These are just a few of the things that a good Buyer’s Agent should be doing during the home buying process. Has this been your experience?

If you are interested in buying a home in Colorado Springs or the Pikes Peak area, I would be more than happy to help you. I hope you will give me the chance to exceed your expectations! Please call me at (719) 357-1023 or email me.