Why Hire a Real Estate Agent to buy a property?
"... When you hire people who are smarter than you are, it proves you are smarter than they are," - Henry Ford.
To get legal advice, you visit a lawyer; to get medical advice, you go and see a doctor; most people, to get their car repaired, leave it in the hands of a trained professional. Even to get your hair cut, you go to someone who is trained to do that job. In all of these instances, the average consumer, without specific training and resources in a given area, defers to a qualified individual. So what is it about Real Estate that is so different?
Buying a home is probably the most important purchase you'll ever make. You don’t want to make mistakes and you simply can’t afford mistakes! When you are ready to buy a house, don’t do the common home buying mistakes. Don’t start with houses, start with the finding the good buyer's sales representative - and I'm ready to start to work for you today.
You don't need to know everything about buying and selling real estate if you hire a real estate professional who does. The best agent for you doesn't necessarily work at the largest brokerage, close the most transactions or make the most money. The best agent for you is a professional who will see eye to eye with you, prepared to set your goals, listen to you, and knows your market.
How often do you buy a property? Once, twice, three time in your lifetime? Mostly, the seller will be represented by an agent. And who will represent your interest in the time of negotiating your offer with seller and his agent ? Would NOT you want to have a complete and fair representation in any real estate transaction?
Would you like to know what will a buyer's sales reapresentative cost you? - Absolutely nothing!
And maybe the right question would be better, "What will it cost you if you don't use a buyer's sales representative? - Purchasing a property without buyer's sales representative is possibly the biggest financial mistake you can make.
And even more better to ask yourself: "Can I afford to buy a property without a buyer`s sales representative?" - The answer is "NO!"
If you want to buy smart in any transaction as a first-time or second time buyer, if you are relocating or unfamiliar with local market, or if you`re buying for investment and want negotiating help - you need a buyer`s sales representative and you`ll be best served by a Buyer`s agent who puts your interest first.
The Internet has opened up a world of information that wasn't previously available to homebuyers and sellers. The data on listings available for sale is almost current - but not quite. There are times when you need the most current information about what has been sold or is for sale, and the only way to get that is working with an agent.
1. Speak to your agent first and he can be guide you right from the start.
Even if you’re not quite ready to buy, your buyer’s agent can be an absolute wealth of information, and can often offer ‘scoops’ on local developments you might not know about otherwise.
2. Multiple Listing Service
If you're buying a property, the MLS is your agent's best tool. A REALTOR can use the MLS system to determine a fair listing price by performing a comparative market analysis. This analysis focuses on the geographical location of your property and describes it as accurately as possible. The database can then be searched to reveal comparable sold and active properties, retrieving information such as sold price, list price and average time on the market to help determine a range of fair listing prices. And REALTOR can match your specific needs to all properties listed. The MLS system supports your REALTOR in helping you to make informed decisions that lead to successful transactions.
3. Your desired price range, location and specific details.
Your REALTOR can create a profile outlining your desired price range, location and specific details like the number of bathrooms, bedrooms and fireplaces. For buyers who are geographically focused, your REALTOR can even search all active listings on a particular street and retrieve all relevant information, including property description, photographs, and assessed value.
In helping you to determine an offer, your REALTOR can also search specific properties’ historical data such as previous selling prices. Moreover, the MLS allows REALTORs to monitor monthly sold statistics to ensure property property prices reflect current market conditions.
4. Who will defend your interests?
A lot of people mistakenly believed that the sales representative who was showing them his listing also represented their best interest. Listing sales representative is representing a seller’s best interest. But not the buyer’s. Also, he is trying to get the highest price for the seller. And listing sales representative is not interested to get the lowest price for you as a buyer! You can try to negotiate the price by yourself, but with all his professional knowledge your success is very questionable. After people saw their mistakes, they were ready to say they would use a "Buyer's sales representative" the next time they purchase.
A buyer's agent's job and fiduciary responsibility (meaning legal duty) is to you. After spending a lot of time with your Buyer's Sales Representative, it's naturally to fell like you're a team.
5. Knowledge of Neighbourhood in Toronto and GTA
Agents either possess intimate knowledge or they know where to find the industry buzz about your neighbourhood. They can identify comparable sales and hand these facts to you, in addition to pointing you in the direction where you can find more data on schools, crime or demographics. For example, you may know that a home down the street was on the market for $350,000, but an agent will know it had upgrades and sold at $285,000 after 65 days on the market and after twice falling out of escrow.
6. Who can give you a view of the property's value if you don't working with your Buyer's Sales Representative?
I can independently measure the house to verify square footage, advise you of the pros and cons of the property, and give an unbiased view of the house`s value. I'll represent you in negotiations with the seller and work out the best deal for you.
7. Price negotiation strategy for clients.
Contrary to what some people believe, agents do not select prices for sellers or buyers. However, an agent will help to guide clients to make the right choices for themselves. Selling agents will ask buyers to weigh all the data supplied to them and to choose a price. Then based on market supply, demand and conditions, the agent will devise a negotiation strategy.
8. Do you know all Market Conditions Information for this moment?
Real estate agents can disclose market conditions, that will govern your selling or buying process. Many factors determine how you will proceed. Data such as the average per square foot cost of similar homes, average sales prices, average days on the market and ratios of list-to-sold prices, among other criteria, will have a huge bearing on what you ultimately decide to do with your Offer.
9. Network with other Realtors
Real estate agents network with other Realtors, provide services that you will need to buy or sell. Due to legal liability, many agents will hesitate to recommend a certain individual or company over another, but they do know which vendors have a reputation for efficiency, competency and competitive pricing. Agents can, however, give you a list of references with whom they have worked and provide background information to help you make a wise selection.
10. Information Confidentiality
Realtorss negotiate well because, unlike most buyers and sellers, they can remove themselves from the emotional aspects of the transaction and because they are skilled. It's part of their job description. Good agents are not messengers, delivering buyer's offers to sellers and vice versa. They are professionals who are trained to present their client's case in the best light and agree to hold client information confidential.
11. Property transaction are very complex these days.
Purchasing a home, condo or any property is complex and for the majority of people it's a major transaction of their life with many details to be handled. There are a lot of ways in which you can get stuck, and find yourself owning a "money pit" or without a home you wanted because the deal fell through. I, as a buyer's sales representativem, can make things happen for you.
12. Paperwork Volumes
The agent also is skilled at preparing the paperwork involved in making an offer to purchase and close the sale.
One-page deposit receipts were prevalent in the early 1970s. Today's purchase agreements run 10 pages or more. That does not include the federal- and province-mandated disclosures nor disclosures dictated by local custom. Most real estate files average thicknesses from one to three inches of paper. One tiny mistake or omission could land you in court or cost you thousands.
13. Who Answer Your Questions After Closing?
Even the smoothest transactions that close without complications can come back to haunt. For example, taxing authorities that collect property tax assessments, doc stamps or transfer tax can fall months behind and mix up invoices, but one call to your agent can straighten out the confusion. Many questions can pop up that were overlooked in the excitement of closing. Good agents stand by ready to assist. Worthy and honest agents don't leave you in the dust to fend for yourself.
14. Relationships with Agent for Future Business
The basis for an agent's success and continued career in real estate is referrals. Few agents would survive if their livelihood was dependent on consistently drumming up new business. This emphasis gives agents strong incentives to make certain clients are happy and satisfied. It also means that an agent who stays in the business will be there for you when you need to hire an agent again. Many will periodically mail market updates to you to keep you updated.
15. Who will share valuable and essential information?
As a buyer's sales representative I’ll share valuable and essential information with you: strengths and weaknesses of the property, how long the home has been on the market, whether the seller would accept a lower price, the seller's reason for selling and a timetable, previous offers and counteroffers for the property.
16. Who will help you to go throug the whole process to the closing?
I will help you obtain financing that is in your best interest, and advise you on a long-term investment potential of the property. I'll safely get you throug the whole process to the closing without any surprises!
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