It is a common misconception that a real estate agent solely works for the seller. In fact, they are a great asset to home buyers as well. A skilled agent will not only help you find your dream home, but they will also deal with the negotiations and the paperwork involved in securing the property you desire. While it is not impossible for you to arrange viewings yourself, using an agent will save you time and provide you access to listings you might not be able to find on your own.
Now that we’ve covered that working with a real estate professional is in your best interest, here are some top tips on how to deal with them.
The agent and the buyer
When you, as the buyer, are dealing with your real estate professional, there are a couple of things that you will need to keep in mind. These key points could help to make the whole process smoother sailing and maintain a good relationship with your agent.
- Make sure that you keep your appointments
Setting up appointments takes great care and skill. Managing the time of the seller, realtor and buyer is much easier said than done. If your agent was able to set up a time for you to view your potential new home, you should do everything in your power to ensure you are able to make this time slot. If complications arise, communicate with your agent and let them know in advance to reschedule the appointment.
- Know your affordability
Before you officially start house hunting, it is good to get a prequalification certificate through a bond originator that will tell you how much you will be able to qualify for. You can also use a Bond Calculator to estimate how much you can afford. That way, you can inform your agent of a realistic budget and be able to start looking for a house in your price range. This will help your estate agent narrow down the list and get you that dream home so much sooner.
- Be cautious to double date
It is worth being aware of the fact that a seller might have to pay double-commission if there is a dispute around which agent introduced the buyer to the property. To avoid this, it is best not to work closely with too many agents at once. Having one agent as your point of contact will also limit how many times you're shown the same property and can also streamline communications and appointments.
Real estate agents come with benefits
Just in case you are still not sure about using an estate agent, here are a couple more benefits you get from making use of one:
- Your agent will be able to narrow down the search and pinpoint the perfect property based on the information that you’ve provided.
- Your agent can provide unique insight into the local property market that will help you buy the right property for the right price, or put your home on the market for the right price the first time.
- They can recommend reliable third parties that do property inspections, maintenance, design and any other related service you might need.
- When it comes to property, they are in the know. They are part of a larger network and are often aware of a property that is going on sale before it hits the market, which gives you access to homes you might not have found on your own.
- They will walk you through all those endless documents and paperwork that you hate and make your life so much easier.
- Your real estate professional comes with honed negotiation skills to make sure that you walk away with the absolute best possible offer.
- With years of experience and knowledge, your estate agent is capable of providing you with some sound advice and can point you in the right direction of legal, financial and other skilled professionals to answer any questions you might have.
- If you first need to sell before you can buy a new home, experienced real estate professionals know the best strategy for preparing your home for sale and will be able to market it in such a way that will sell your home for the best possible price.
Find your agent today
Whether you're in the market to buy your dream home or selling your old one, RE/MAX is the world’s largest brand in real estate. Speak to the professionals at your nearest RE/MAX office and start building your real estate relationship today.
