Skip to main content

What does a Real Estate Buyer's Agent do?

So you’ve seen your dream home listed on the Internet or in your local Real Estate guide.   You might be thinking, “I am interested in buying that house, why don’t I call the Listing Agent to make an offer?”

Answer:  because the Listing Agent represents the Seller of the home and that means they only have the Seller’s best interest at heart.  The Seller’s Real Estate Agent is required to act in an honest and fair way with you, however, the Agent's loyalty, without other disclosure, is focused on obtaining the best deal for the Seller!  Using a Buyer's Broker (a separate Real Estate Agent), who has your best interest in mind, may help you shave thousands off a home's purchase price, mortgage or various other costs, and there is no fee to you the home buyer.  Typically, the Buyer’s Agent is paid with proceeds from the sale of the home at closing.

When you, the Buyer, sign a contract with a Buyer's Broker, that Broker then works for you, they represent your best interest in the entire real estate transaction.  A Buyer's Broker is legally required to represent your best interests, to follow your instructions, and to obtain for you, at the best possible price and terms, the property which you want to purchase.  The Agent also works for you in the negotiations and ensures a successful closing of your dream home.

Unless you have a written agreement with a Real Estate Agent, who is going to show you the property, you cannot be sure whether or not they are really working for the Seller.  When an Agent represents you as a Buyer’s Agent, that agent has YOUR best interest at heart.  Think about this, you are entering into an agreement that is typically for 30 years and worth hundreds of thousands of dollars – don’t you think you need someone looking out for your interests?

What might a BUYER’S AGENT do for you?
 
Represents only the buyer in every part of the purchase process.

Provides the buyer professional advice and guidance in finding the right property at the right price.

Previews properties to ensure they meet the buyer's requirements.

Researches the property and the market conditions, so the buyer can purchase at the best price.

Assists in preparing an offer to purchase the property  with terms favorable to the buyer.

Professionally presents the offer to purchase to the seller.

Negotiates with the seller to obtain the property at the best price and terms for the buyer.

Provides the buyer with an estimate of the costs involved in the transaction.

Assists the buyer in contacting the professionals necessary to complete the purchase, including mortgage services, title insurance and escrow companies, and home inspectors.

Monitors performance of all others involved in the transaction to make sure all services are promptly and professionally carried out.

Accompanies buyer to the closing to verify that all terms and conditions of the purchase agreement are met.


Just remember, if you don't have the Agent working for you by way of a signed agreement, he or she is working for the Seller.


If you are preparing to buy your dream home and you’re not presently being represented by an agent (under a  written Buyer's Broker Agreement with that agent) and have any questions about being represented by me, please don’t hesitate to give me a call.


Source: National Association of Realtors

Comments

  1. This post is great. Thank you for this post. I like this type of people who share knowledge with others

    South Florida waterfront homes for sale

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Christmas Creek Entrance

UPDATE: 10-25-13 The Christmas Creek entrance this year is to the North of the creek mouth.  As you go South along Cumberland Beach you'll see the shoaling a few hundred yards East of the mouth of the creek.  Enter Christmas Creek between the shoaling and the beach as you go South.  As you enter the entrance between the shoals and the beach, look for your hard right turn to go directly into the creek mouth.  Best to try at least an hour after low tide for that area.  If you plan on coming out after high tide, best to be at the mouth no later than 4 1/2 hours after high tide unless your boat draws less than a foot like flats boats and Carolina Skifs.  I like to go in about an hour after low tide and fish through the rising tide and then make my way out.   I made this update because this Blog post is one of my top posts which I wouldn't have know when I originally wrote it. Christmas Creek has some of the best fishing around and if you are new to it or would like to try

How to catch Blue Crabs on St. Simons Island

I know I love to eat our local blue crabs and if you do too, then here is an excellent video from Capt. Mark Noble.  Mark has been a long time friend of mine and he grew up on St. Simons Island.  There are many ways to catch blue crabs and in this video Mark can show you how he does it.  You don't need a boat either - I've caught some beautiful stone crabs with a crab net right off one of the many docks that surround the area.  Many times, I'll hang a crab net off the back of my boat while I'm fishing and catch plenty.  So a crab net off the St. Simons Pier or one or two of the crab baskets in this video and you can have yourself a big time. Here's Mark's website - he is one of the top charter captains around so check him out if you'd like to take a Golden Isles fishing charter.  http://www.georgiafishing.net I shot the video and edited this for Mark and as my reward, he let me take the crabs home for a terrific family crab boil!  

4th of July on St. Simons Island Georgia

It really has been a super busy July 4th week!  Of course there were fireworks on the 4th and we watched them from East Beach on St. Simons Island.  From our vantage point, you could see the fireworks on Jekyll Island, St. Simons Island AND Sea Island.  Three for the price of one!  The weather was perfect albeit a bit warm but sitting on the beach at night with fireworks going off was just a fun time.  St. Simons Island is always busy around the 4th of July and this year was no exception.  Visitors flocked to our island and hotels, condos and rental homes all seemed to be maxed out.  The weekend after the 4th was just as busy with the big event being the St. Simons Island Kids Fishing Rodeo.  This is an annual event hosted by Captain Billy Bice.  It is a very easy going children's fishing tournament where you catch a Redfish - Whiting - Bluefish (Red White and Blue).  Every child wins a prize and kids who catch all three of the fish listed win a rod and reel combo worth a