50 reasons
to go with a pro
So you’re buying a house this spring! Great news. What? You
didn’t know you were in the market to purchase? Well, it is a
market brimming with opportunity for the savvy investor. Wouldn’t
that be you?
50 reasons
to go with a pro
So you’re buying a house this spring! Great news. What? You didn’t know you were in the market to purchase? Well, it is a market brimming with opportunity for the savvy investor. Wouldn’t that be you?
“So now you need a great local Realtor to be your trusted advisor,” I say. “I don’t think so,” you say. “I’ve got the Internet, and there are a bunch of FSBOs for sale, and every real estate brokerage in town has open houses morning, noon and night. I don’t need you to find me a house.”
Well, of course not, silly. You certainly don’t need a Realtor to find a house. You can probably see a bunch of them from where you sit now. If you think that’s the only value of a Realtor, you’re not looking at the big picture.
Quick! What are the current interest rates for fixed loans and adjustable loans? You don’t know? Your Realtor does. Not only that, your Realtor knows what loan products are out there, and can help you assess what options will be best for your financial goals. In addition, your Realtor knows which lenders have a proven track record of honesty, professionalism, and success.
That was an easy one, I admit it. But it is illustrative of the value of a Realtor not seen at first blush. Let’s look at another example.
Remember the last time you bought a car? How good a negotiator were you, and how much fun was it? Yeah, I thought so. Guess what? Realtors love to negotiate. It gets us fired up and enthused and ready to make things happen. You probably want that sitting on YOUR side of the bargaining table when it gets down to dollars.
Lots of things can come up during the course of a transaction. Your inspections might reveal some funky realities about the house you have in contract. What if you want the house, but want repairs done or monetary concessions made in lieu of repairs? Do you want to go nose to nose and toes to toes with the seller? And do you know the laws either cementing or undermining your requests?
So now imagine you and the seller have come to an agreement about WHICH repairs are going to be done. Now the seller wants to do the work himself to save money. The bad news is he’s incompetent. He does the work, and it looks like something the cat dragged in and the kittens wouldn’t eat. What then?
Or imagine the seller agrees to have the work done at his expense but by a professional. Do you know who to call to do the work? Do you have an extensive network of plumbers, electricians, plasterers, pool professionals, landscapers, pavers, tile setters, painters, etc. whose work you know and trust and who will provide good quality and value?
A Realtor handles these situations all the time. In fact, this is the kind of stuff into which they love to sink their teeth. Grrrrr.
These are but a few examples to help you see the value of a Realtor in the buying process. It isn’t to find a house. Shoot, busy Realtors often have their clients initially drive around neighborhoods checking the outside of houses to rule out various locations. Often the buyer will “find” the house themselves. It’s such a minimal part of the entire buying process!
Let’s look at For Sale by Owner (FSBO) offerings just for a minute. The only reason anyone would attempt to sell their home on their own is to try to save money. Often they will allow a buyer to be represented by their Realtor. You as a buyer should not give up the protection and benefit of a Realtor in order to put more money in the seller’s pocket.
Finally, your Realtor will not get paid unless he or she is 100% successful with your transaction. A Realtor does not see a cent until you have purchased your home, all the details are completed, and you are moving in. (My daughter is looking at colleges right now. Maybe they’ll let us pay the tuition only if she graduates!)
Buying a house can be a stressful time. Is this the right house? Am I paying too much for it? Am I getting taken to the cleaners by the lender? What exactly is an “escrow” and why should I want one? What does it mean when it says “subterranean termites”? Is this leak a major or a minor problem? How can I assess the roof? Why is there a utility easement through my lawn? What if there are problems with the house down the road?
Don’t take it all on yourself. Pick a local Realtor, and listen to the good advice and counsel available to you. We don’t do this as a hobby; we do it as a living. We don’t buy and sell one house every five years or every 10 years. We do it every day. Get a great Realtor working for you today.
And be kind to your Realtor!
