But Do I NEED an Agent?

Do you need an agent? Short answer, no. Legally, you can do it yourself. Better answer- it depends.  I know…. you probably expected me to say yes, shouting from the rooftops how valuable agents are and how necessary they are for smooth transactions, but the truth is, it really depends.

I’ll address this in a few parts (because I’m wordy, I have a lot to share, and I want you to feel empowered with information- this is NOT a one size fits all).

Who needs one?

There are a few instances that I truly believe you NEED an agent as a buyer- like non negotiable, you need the representation- today I’m going to address my first timers.

First time buyers: I don’t care if you are 26, 46 or 96. If you are a first time buyer, I truly believe you need an agent, with very limited exceptions and here is why:

1. 1. The search. It’s so helpful to have someone doing your searching for you- I can only imagine how overwhelming it is to be on 5 different sites calling agents (who NEVER call you back) to set up showings or ask questions, and try to remember if you’ve already looked at a listing.  My job, as your agent, is to sort through the MLS, reach out to other offices, agents and sellers to find homes (both on and off the market) that fit your search and then send them to you in an organized, streamlined way.
   2. Wandering eyes. When you walk into a home for a showing, it’s so easy to get doe eyed and get caught up in the decor (have you seen this post about decorating?), you want to be looking for things like water stains, home repairs, the age/condition of appliances and systems, etc.  Many times my buyers will walk through the first house and only comment on the room sizes or the color of the paint/flooring. You want to a second set of eyes to find the things that a home inspector may point out so you’re more prepared.
   3. Writing up the offer. When it came time to write my first offer I remember saying to my clients “it’s not like it is on TV- it’s not done on a bar napkin, or over the phone.”  But what does that MEAN? An offer is a legally binding contract. You want someone who understands it to write it up, explain it to you, and present it to the other side. An offer that is filled out improperly can lead to some major headaches (or heartaches) when it’s time for the attorneys to draw up the purchase and sale. You also want the offer to be competitive and need someone that understands the market to consider that before just throwing figures out there (check out this post on offer writing).
   4. Negotiating the deal. As an outside party, I’m unemotional about this home for you, but make no mistake, if you want it, I want it for you. This makes it easier for me to negotiate on your behalf. Yes, my commission may be on the line, but honestly, your happiness is far more valuable to me. My goal is to get everyone- especially my client- to the closing table with smiles. In my opinion negotiating isn’t about us vs them.  It’s finding the middle ground so everyone feels like they have won.
   5. Navigating the waves. There will be waves. I said it. You read it. You have been warned. Ten years in the business and there’s a handful of deals that I can think of where NOTHING came up. There are a lot of different players in a real estate transaction, with that comes a lot of personalities to manage, lots of roles to consider and possible bumps to get over. Not everyone wants to play nice or fairly in the real estate sandbox.  It’s not your job to worry about that. It’s your job to get packed up and ready to move. Let the professionals duke it out if they need to.
   6. All of the paperwork, deadlines and follow up! When you buy a property there is a mountain of paperwork- and that’s before we even get to that sacred closing table. That paperwork outlines responsibilities and requirements of all parties involved.  My role is to manage those expectations, keep on top of requests/repairs that have been approved and deadlines to be met- all while protecting your deposit.

Obviously, I could go on and on about how great we are as agents, other things we do on a daily basis that you may not consider or be familiar with, as a consumer, but this seems like a good place to stop- for now… I hope this was helpful and if you’re considering making a move, I am always ready to interview as your agent!