You Betcha!
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If you are in the market for a home, the best option for you is to “hire” an agent!
Sure, you can do it alone, but should you? With todays technology and the wonderful world wide web, it is possible to do a lot of the leg work yourself, but there is no substitution for an experienced licensed Real Estate Agent. They have a knowledge of the community and the market, great negotiating skills, extensive training, and not to mention the long list of contacts they have, such as – lenders, attorneys, home inspectors, insurance agents, the list goes on.
BUT WAIT! DO NOT call the number on the For Sale sign in the yard! I repeat, DO NOT call the number on the For Sale sign in the yard! Contrary to popular belief, this is NOT the best option for you. For years I was blind to this fact. I thought if you see the sign in the yard, that’s who you call. You know, kind of like a for sale sign on a car? Buying a home is NOT like buying a car! And yes, there is a difference.
Let’s take a look at the two main roles agents play. One Realtor can have many different roles depending on the needs of their clients. But today, we will look at the two main ones, Listing Agents and Buyers Agents.
LISTING AGENTS: When someone puts their house on the market through a realtor, they have hired an agent to sell it. This agent works for the seller, they have the sellers best interest at heart. They are going to do everything they can to get the most money for their sellers. Their loyalty belongs to the seller. If you come along and try to make an offer, the listing agent does NOT have your (buyer) best interest at heart. They do NOT work for you, they will NOT be able to negotiate fairly for you. That’s why you need a buyers agent.
BUYERS AGENTS: When you are in the market for a new home, you need to enlist in the service of a buyers agent. It is in your best interest to “hire” an agent to represent you. One that has no interest in the sellers, one that can give their loyalty to YOU. They will do everything they can to get YOU the best deal possible. They will have YOUR (buyer) best interest at heart. They will work for YOU. They will be able to negotiate fairly for YOU. Most of the time this service is offered at no additional charge to the buyer. This is possible, because the buyers agent seeks his/her commission from the sellers. However, in order to get paid the commission, the agent will need an agreement in writing stating that you have “hired” them to represent them in the transaction. So if your agent asks you to sign this paper, please do so. They are not trying to trick you or pull something over on you, they are just doing their job and protect themselves and you.
So when you decide to start looking for a home, FIND A GOOD AGENT! If you don’t know where to start, contact me. I would be glad to get you started in the right direction.
If you are in the Charlotte Metro and surrounding areas, or thinking about relocating to this beautiful state, contact me. I would love to help you elevate your living with home ownership!
Thank you for stoping by!
Your Crafty Seller
Sandy Brest
