A buyer’s agent is a fully licensed real estate agent that represents the buyer in a real estate transaction. The nice thing about a buyer’s agent is that as a buyer, you do not have to pay them. The seller of the home you purchase pays their commission for you. Ideally, looking out for the best interests of the buyer, a buyer’s agent works on a commission contracted in the listing agreement. But, sometimes, buyer’s agents are more interested in that commission than in what is best for the buyer. So if you’re wondering how to find a buyer’s agent that is right for you in Shoreline, WA, look for these key qualities in the agent.
Connections Within the Industry
A good way to find someone that you trust to represent you is to start by asking family and friends about their experiences with Realtors. If they have someone that they already know and trust, then it is likely that this person could be a good fit for you as well. A good buyer’s agent will have broad and deep connections within the industry. The seller is only one of the parties you will deal with as a home buyer. There are a host of other industry principals and professionals who will be involved in the process, including the seller’s agent, inspectors, appraisers, and title officers.
To find a buyer’s agent that is right for you in Shoreline, WA, you should make sure to look into the number and quality of the agent’s industry connections. A good agent will have sufficient connections so that you will have various options. In addition, these connections should be professionals at the same expertise/experience level – but preferably higher – as the agent herself.
Niche Knowledge/Expertise
You want to get the best deal when you are buying a house. If you truly want to find a buyer’s agent that is right for you in Shoreline, WA, you don’t want to settle for a generalist. Your buyer’s agent needs to have specialized niche knowledge and experience, demonstrating that she fully understands the particular market and area you’re interested in. For example, an agent who concentrates on investment properties would not be the best agent for you if you’re looking for a home to live in the rest of your life. Further, if the agent has this kind of niche knowledge and experience, she will be a much more effective negotiator and thus able to get you a better deal.
Capable of Translating and Explaining
As you’re probably aware, real estate documents – all those forms and contracts – are filled with jargon and technical financial terms that are inaccessible and impenetrable to the layman – you. So, in your efforts to find a buyer’s agent that is right for you in Shoreline, WA, make sure the agent possesses the ability and willingness to explain and translate those documents. You need to know exactly what’s going on and what you are getting into. Remember: buying a house is the largest financial transaction of your life, and the implications are enormous and long-lasting.
Find A Buyer’s Agent Who Is A Good Fit for You
Let them sell themselves! Most agents will have a pitch. Finally, in order to find a buyer’s agent that is right for you in Shoreline, WA, you need to keep in mind that a business relationship is effective and flourishes only when there is a good fit between the parties involved. You have to be striving for the same ends, and there must be compatibility between the personalities.
Buying a house can be a lengthy process from beginning to end, sometimes as long as several months or a year. So you don’t want to be locked into a business relationship with someone (the buyer’s agent) whom you don’t see eye to eye with or can barely tolerate. So carefully check out each prospective agent’s reputation and personality, investigating websites, online revues, social media interactions, and so on. And then you will want to schedule a face-to-face meeting, much like a job interview, to get a feel for whether you can work together successfully.
When you find a buyer’s agent that is right for you in Shoreline, WA, you’ve cleared a major hurdle in getting the house you want at the price you want. Wouldn’t it be great, though, if you could expedite the process even more and make it still more efficient?
