How Realtors Help Home Buyers
While many can immediately understand what Realtors do to help home sellers, I’ve often confronted confusion as to how Realtors help home buyers. Indeed, there have been such occasions when clients have asked, “Do I really need a Realtor to purchase a home?” I often respond by suggesting that if you want to potentially save money, stay clear of problems and avoid being taken advantage of, YES, you definitely want to work with a Realtor. For anyone who questions the need of a Realtor, I suppose one could pose other questions – Are physicians really needed to help overcome a medical condition? Are accountants really needed to help prepare your taxes? Are mechanics actually needed to keep your car in good working order? Even the most diligent of do-it-myselfers can concede that there are situations when expert help is not simply warranted, but demanded. And that certainly holds true for those preparing to make what may well be the most significant investment of their lives. What’s more, if you’re a home buyers, this will be the best FREE help you’ll ever encounter. I say “FREE” because home buyers NEVER directly pay the Realtor. When a home is purchases, it falls to the home seller to pay the agent. In other cases, such as homes within new and emerging developments, the developer pays the Realtor – NOT THE HOME BUYER.
And while relying on the services of a Realtor costs you nothing, be assured that we’re going to earn your appreciation. It is a daunting task to identify the appropriate property, in the appropriate neighborhood, when there is simply so much to choose from. Buyers are not always immediately aware of the options they have, the advantages of one over another, factors impacting the quality of life in one neighborhood over another. Sure, that property may look and sound great, until that first big rain hits, or that plane takes off from the runway, or you get that quarterly bill from the homeowners association. Part of my job is ensuring you identify and secure the home that best aligns with the needs of your lifestyle and budget. Additional ways that Realtors help home buyers include the following:
- Handling the negotiations with the Realtor that represents the home seller
- Coordinating and guiding you through home tours (which includes exerting vigilance as to potential architectural issues, proper pricing and more)
- Completing the volumes of contractual requirements and other necessary paperwork
- Helping clients connect with necessary resources in title services, insurance, mortgage services, permitting, moving companies and other expertise.
This is simply a portion of the services I fulfill, but the important thing to remember is that my role is that of a fiduciary agent who is legally bound to represent and act on YOUR best interests. Rest assured, when it comes to negotiating with that sales team at a new development, or that Realtor who is representing the home seller, you’ll benefit from having someone who is singularly dedicated to representing YOU. In return for providing these services, buyer’s agents like myself typically will typically earn a commission of one to three percent, but again, it’s the home seller who is responsible for paying the fee. I take particular pride in providing the help that I offer. I can’t help, but recall the difficulties my wife and I encountered the many years ago when we relocated from Massachusetts to Naples. With so many neighborhoods and so many promising to offer all we sought, we were grateful for the professional who helped us navigate what were essentially unchartered waters for us. These many years later, I still continue to find it a true honor to help young families and long-married couples achieve their specific real estate goals. A number of clients have since become close friends & confidants, for which I’m even more grateful. With respect to those with which I’ve worked, there’s no confusion as to how Realtors help home buyers.
For anyone wanting additional insight on how Realtors help home buyers, peruse the printable document below:
