Starting a Home Search? Here’s 3 Reasons To Work With a Buyer’s Agent
We’ve received the same question over and over- why should I work with a buyer’s agent when I can just look on Zillow and find a house for myself?
It’s a reasonable question, because many people do not understand what goes into working with a buyer’s agent. The most visible parts of what a buyer’s agent does can look easy. But a buyer’s agent does so much more than scheduling showings and submitting offers.
Three essential things a buyer’s agent offers are finding off market properties, negotiating a fair deal, and shepherding the deal to closing.
Hunting and Gathering
Plenty of homes are for sale that are not yet on the MLS or Zillow. Last year almost 20% of the sales The Cynthia Froid Group represented were sold before the home went on the market. Those sales happened because we were able to play matchmaker on properties.
As downtown experts, we thrive on finding our clients their perfect home. Once we sign a contract with a buyer we jump into action. We clarify criteria and draw up a list of dream properties. We reach out to our professional network to inquire about off market opportunities. And we schedule showings for homes that Zillow has no idea are available.
And if a client wants to see something that is on the market? We of course make sure to get in for a showing, and we also scout for other opportunities, on and off market, that might tick the same boxes as the home they viewed online.
Expert Advice
Once the buyer’s agent and the client have found the perfect home, the real work begins.
A skilled buyer’s agent will do so much more than write whatever offer they’re told to. A buyer’s agent is a fiduciary. This means they are legally obligated to work in their clients best interest. They have a duty to offer expert advice and to negotiate for them to the best of their ability.
This is why our agents spend time making sure we know what is most important to our buyer clients, so that we can make sure we’re tailoring our negotiations accordingly. With every offer we are developing a strategy to get our clients’s offer accepted at the best possible terms.
We take our fiduciary duties seriously and make sure that our buyers feel empowered and educated throughout the purchasing process.
Transaction Management
Inspections? Written statements? Rescission periods? Even experienced clients who have bought and sold several properties can understandably get bogged down by all the details.
The Cynthia Froid Group makes sure that no details get lost. We help schedule inspections and will review findings. We keep track of the timelines for financing needs, like appraisals, written statements, and clear to close to make sure we’re hitting all the right milestones. We track the statutory rescission periods, and will help track down answers regarding HOAs. Of course, we are also happy to recommend title companies, mortgage lenders, moving companies, and other vendors, and we only recommend people who meet our high standard of professionalism.
We provide an extra set of eyes on the transaction. We’re not just keeping track of dates- we’re proactively looking at all details to make sure any potential issues get identified and solved before they can become problems.
A good buyer’s agent is an essential partner of the buying process. They are a resource for information, a connection for finding the dream home, and a partner in strategy. If you are thinking of starting your own home search, we would be happy to help! Reach out to us by the button below to schedule your own buyer consultation today.