Remember your last car purchase? For most of us the response to that question is “Remember?! How can I forget?!  Many times it seems like your playing poker against the house with the cards stacked against you! But what if you had to opportunity to bring into the negotiations your own auto-sales professional who knows what you want and what you can afford and protects your best interests? How much easier and less stressful would that be?! Having an advocate in your corner is a great feeling. More people might actually like to go car shopping if that was the case. Now unfortunately, as far as I know, this is not available in auto-sales but these buyer advocates are available in #RealEstate where, on average, the deals are more complicated and expensive. Yet some people still choose not to use them! Why you ask?  Because for some buyers, they feel they can get a better deal if they don’t have an experienced representative protecting their interests. I know, right?  

 

Now “ A fox in the hen house” may be too drastic an analogy but keep in mind the first word in listing agent; “listing”. That is what the agent represents as well as the seller behind the listing. Even in a transactional agent situation, where the agent has limited representation to both sides as it pertains to the transaction,  the agent still has a primary familiarity with the seller that may cause some challenging relationship dynamics during the negotiations no matter how professional the agent or broker may be.

 

Here are some reasons why should have your own agent representing you when buying a home in #Orlando or anywhere for that matter.

 

  1. When you have your own agent representing you, it eliminates this potentially awkward dynamic of "who is the agent more familiar with?” or the assumption that they may be taking sides even when they are not.
  2. You have a licensed professional real estate agent and/or broker in your corner to educate, direct and advise you. Having your own experienced professional in your corner is priceless when you’re buying a home, townhome or condo.
  3. You have someone who understands your story. A great buyer’s agent doesn’t just show you homes. They first want to hear and understand your story.
    1. Why are you looking for a home?
    2. What is important to you and your family in terms of a home, location, community, timing, etc?
    3. What is your spending power? A great #RealEstateAgent will make sure you are pre-approved first and that you understand what your buying power is before you go look at potential homes. This may save you much frustration and aggravation in the future. 
  4. #Purchasing a home can become a very emotional decision and that may put a chink in your negotiating armor. A great real estate agent, in other words a Realtor, will make sure you’re focused and your feet are firmly planted on the ground in terms of making sure you stick to your financial plan while still finding the home that is best for you.
  5. When dealing with Real Estate contracts and jargon, you should always have a polished and effective communicator and negotiator. You need someone who is organized and understands the state and local requirements, regulations and paperwork. For this reason alone, having a Realtor represent you as the buyer and your interests seems like a no-brainer to me.
 
This also should be the rule when dealing with new construction homes as well. Yes, I said new construction too! The person speaking with you represents the builder not you. Yes, there are many perks available with new construction and the process can seem very easy but did you know that the same benefits and in some cases better benefits and terms are available when you have buyer representation? Remember, even with new construction, you want someone who has your interests in mind first. Especially when you are inspecting the home (yes, again, even with new construction) and negotiating price and seller concessions.
 
So in conclusion, maybe the analogy here is: “Don’t bring a knife to a gun fight.” You should really have professional representation available to you ensure your best interests are represented in one of (if not the) largest purchase of your life. Use it!Take the time to interview some agents, look up their credentials, see if your personalities are a good match and choose a quality Realtor to represent you the next time you purchase a home.
 

 

If you would like more information on buying a home in the Orlando area, please visit us at www.SimplicityRE.com or call us at 866.642.2052.
Rob Sassos
Broker/President