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What Is a Buyer’s Agent and What Makes a Good Buyer’s Agent?

Millions of homes sell each year, but if you haven’t found the home you want, it can be frustrating. You’re looking for the perfect fit, but it seems like it is hiding.

Finding a good buyer’s agent can make things a lot easier for you. Instead of having to search and go it on your own, you’ll be able to have a professional on your side, making sure you get what you want.

If you aren’t sure what exactly a buyer’s agent is or what they do, we’re here to help. Continue reading this article to learn what a real estate buyer’s agent is and what makes a good one.

What Is a Buyer’s Agent?

A buyer’s agent is a real estate agent that guides you through the process of buying your home. When you work with a buyer’s agent, their legal obligation is to protect your interests and not the interests of the seller.

They need to work to make sure you get a good deal on the property, and they often help you find properties that might not be marketed as well as they could be.

Keep in mind that while there might be real estate agents that specialize in helping buyers find homes, technically, any real estate agent can act as either a buyer’s agent or a listing agent.

A listing agent is an agent that lists the home for sale. Usually, on any real estate transaction, there is both a buyer’s agent and a listing agent involved. The buyer’s agent protects your interest, and the listing agent protects the seller’s interests.

Some buyers decide to find their own property without a buyer’s agent, but that doesn’t always go well. Unless you know real estate well, you might end up getting the short end of the stick during the process.

In fact, this situation leads to conflicts of interest many times, so using a buyer’s agent is a good idea.

The Function of a Buyer’s Agent

When you’re looking for house buying tips, speaking to your real estate agent is a good idea. They’ve likely done hundreds or even thousands of transactions, and their experience will help you as you’re making your decision.

Beyond giving you tips for buying your home, the agent has other things they have to do if they want to fall under the umbrella of a good agent.

Finding Appealing Property Listings

It can be challenging to find a listing that you love on your own, but when you work with a real estate professional that knows the area, they can take you right to the perfect listing.

Finding listings that are going to work for you is one of the top things a good agent is going to do.

Scheduling Showings

Once you know the homes that you’re interested in learning more about, your agent will contact the listing agent and set up a showing. You’ll be able to go and look through the home and see if it is how you envisioned it.

They will also look for any open houses that might fit the bill for what you’re looking for.

Consulting on Important Matters

If you have questions about something real estate related, you can talk to them and get their insight on the matter.

When you’re touring the homes for showings or at open houses, they will be present to answer any questions you have about the property. If they don’t know something, they will contact the listing agent and find out for you.

Not only that, but they may know questions to ask the listing agent that you didn’t even think of. This could save you a lot of time and effort when you’re trying to find your perfect home.

Giving Information on Home Pricing

When you find a house you’re interested in, it can be challenging to know how much you should pay for it. You see the listing price, but you don’t want to pay that much if you don’t have to.

Speaking with your agent will help you understand where the market is right now, what’s reasonable and what you can get away with on the deal. Having them advise you on the price can help you get the home you want faster.

Negotiating the Terms of the Deal

After you’ve made an offer on a home, it’s likely the seller will come back with a counteroffer.

When you get the counteroffer, you can ask your agent what their thoughts on it are, and they may recommend you take the offer. On the other hand, if it isn’t fair, they might need to write up another counteroffer until you get a fair deal and can come to an agreement with the sellers.

Recommending Other Professionals

Another benefit of working with a buyer’s agent is that they will have connections in the real estate community. They can tell you who a good home inspector is, who you should talk to about pest control, and more.

If you want to know what to do with your new home, it’s a good idea to listen to your real estate agent because it’s likely they know who can help you.

Finding Success With a Great Buyer’s Agent

Now you know more about what a buyer’s agent is, what they do, and how to find one that is going to do a good job. Picking the right buyer’s agent makes a big difference in how likely it is that you’re going to find the perfect house and get the deal that you want.

Do you feel like you need more help with real estate and other key topics? Continue reading through our blog posts to get the information you need.