Information for Buyers

Buying a Home.

Every day you read the paper, drive through town, go to the grocery store or rent a video, you'll see the advertisements of real estate agents who want to represent you. But how do you decide who's a good agent and who's not? Deciding who will represent you is one of the biggest decisions in buying a new home. The person you choose will be the one negotiating your contract, advising you on the properties you see and answering your questions. This is a big responsibility and you need to be able to trust that person to look out for your best interests, not the biggest commission. There are a few things you need to understand about real estate agents to make a good decision:

1. Not every real estate agent is a Realtor®. A Realtor is a licensed professional who adheres to the strict code of ethics of the National Board of Realtors. These ethics cover topics from how to treat and represent your client to the treatment of other Realtors and the negotiation of contracts. Be sure the person who represents you is a Realtor.

2. Realtors work on commission and they only make money when a transaction is completed. This is really something to think about. The Realtor you choose should be someone who puts the clients' needs above the commission. A good guide is to look at the number of transactions completed each year. The agent who only closes a few homes per year may try to just get the deal done and not try to get the best value for you. A good guide is to make sure your Realtor closes at least 30 transactions per year.

3. Not every Realtor is a full time agent. There are many agents who work part-time and it is important to know if your agent is going to be around every time that you need them. A full time agent is more likely to have a better grasp on the market and contacts to help find the right home. Not to mention a full time Realtor has twice as much experience as a part-timer.

It can be very beneficial to do your homework before buying or selling a home, please feel free to call us at Brown Realty so we can help advise you in your search for a new home. Here are some helpful links to help in your search:

 

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