A much cited statistic tells us that nearly all home buyers start their home search online. Many consumers type in “homes for sale” on Google or Yahoo! or visit sites like HomeGain.
With home listings available in many places on the Internet some consumers may consider buying a home without using the services of a professional real estate agent.
This would be a mistake.
A local Realtor understands current market conditions and home prices. Automated valuation tools like those found on Zillow and HomeGain can only serve as a starting point for assessing home values in a particular area.
A local Realtor acting on behalf of a home buyer can give real insight on home prices based on local, up-to-the-minute analysis of the market.
In addition to helping buyers understand home prices, buyers’ agents do a lot more.
HomeGain member Mitch Ribak, who is on track to sell more than 350 homes this year, recently provided us with these 50 reasons to use a buyer agent:
1. Analysis of your real estate needs and determine housing criteria
2. Research properties
3. Send you listings that match your needs
4. Provide information pertaining to your move or relocation and short-term stay options
5. Educate you about home buying processes
6. Provide information on market conditions, schools, communities, employment, and more
7. Discuss your financing needs
8. Recommend qualified mortgage brokers
9. Make appointments and show properties
10. Provide timely and professional disclosure and research
11. In car review: pros & cons of each property
12. Point out “Hot Buttons” while showing
13. Help with loan application questions
14. Follow up of loan application with your selected mortgage broker
15. Help cleaning up your credit if needed
16. Analyze purchasing timeline and needs once property is located
17. Free Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of a property in order to make an educated offer
18. Call listing agent to get sellers disclosure
19. Draft the offer and prepare paperwork
20. Research tax records
21. Get information on utilities
22. Explain all paperwork before signing
23. Generate net sheet
24. Write offer, collect, deposit escrow and provide verification to listing agent
25. Submit contract and follow up
26. Negotiate contract until mutually agreeable
27. Review and explain final contract
28. Send the title company the executed contract
29. Schedule and attend the home inspection
30. Schedule and attend the termite inspection
31. Recommend insurance agents to you
32. Verify loan process has begun
33. Review home inspection findings with you
34. Re-negotiate repairs if needed
35. Order survey/appraisal
36. Assist to meet finance deadline
37. Monitor contingencies – financing, home inspection, etc.
38. Check on homeowners insurance
39. Verify that the title agency has all necessary documentations
40. Follow up with the lender on all aspects of closing process
41. Schedule closing: time and place
42. Review HUD (closing statement)
43. Perform a final walk-through
44. Determine the funds to be brought to closing
45. Coordinate between lenders and title company to determine amount needed
46. Release escrow to title company
47. Explain everything needed at closing
48. Attend your closing
49. Give you the keys to your new home!
50. Follow up after closing – homestead info and insuring that everything is going fine in your new home
See also 101 Reasons to Use a Real Estate Agent
what a great read I would like to copy some of it to my site with a link back to you if thats ok?
Fort Lauderdale Water front homes
April 6th, 2009 at 9:46 am
Though this is a great post, and some great ideas. I do have to point out that a good Real Estate software or web system will take care of a lot of these things for you. Having a good IDX like IDX Blogger or something will allow you to allow clients to search, send them listings via email, and keep updated with them. I know that software cannot replace a good buyers agent, but you can still make the computer automate some of these simple yet redundant tasks.
April 6th, 2009 at 12:53 pm
Great list Louis! Of course, buyers shouldn’t use just any agent, they should use a good one!
April 7th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Texas is a non-disclosure state. In other words, there is nowhere to get ACCURATE information for comps except the MLS. People assume that the tax appraisal district and Zillow and other services give them accurate info, but they don’t. One more reason to use a Buyer’s Agent – at least in Texas!
April 9th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
Great post, I recently wrote a similar article: “10 Reasons to Work with a Charlotte Real Estate Buyers Agent” It’s very important for buyers to obtain their own representation when purchasing a home, especially for the first time!
February 25th, 2010 at 4:02 pm
Great post! We think you hit just about a lot. Check out our blog about “Home Buyers Avoid Risks by Partnering with a Qualified Real Estate Agent” here: http://bit.ly/Lx5cX5
@BlueFernRE
August 17th, 2012 at 5:36 pm