What is a buyer's agent?

Talking with a group of friends yesterday, the subject came up regarding agency relationships in a real estate transaction. I realized many people don't know exactly when they are truly represented and when they're not.  For those of us in the business, I think we often take for granted that our customers and clients understand the laws of agency when in fact, they have no idea.  I felt compelled to post an explanation of the buyer's agent.

When you are deciding to purchase a home, it is in your best interest to select one agent that you can work well with to help you. They should go over with your your needs and wants and find out exactly what you're looking for and when you plan to move. They should follow-up with you and communicate well with you.  There's alot more to being your agent than just unlocking the doors of the houses you want to see. This should be a relationship built on trust, respect, and mutual understanding.

The real key is that they Represent YOU!
Ever gone to a builder who encourages you not to use a Realtor? (maybe the house price is less without a Realtor on contract with you...). Here's why...if you write a contract with a builder and you have no Realtor on the contract, then you have no representation in the transaction. The contractors, sales professional, builders, and other builder employees work for the builder and represent that builders interest first...not yours!
The builder is not the only place you can have a transaction without representation. If you call the listing agent to show you a house and you decide to buy it. That agent becomes the "intermediary", meaning that they carry information back and forth from buyer to seller, and facilitate the transaction, but they are not truly representing your interest FIRST! The agent you have selected to represents you, can show you any house on the market.
Many agents in Texas operate as "sub-agents", meaning they do not have you on a buyer's representation agreement and they are sub agents of the seller.

What does all of these mean and how does it affect you?
You should work with one Realtor, who represents your interest first. By signing a buyer's representation agreement with a Realtor, you have in writing that she/he will put your interest first when showing, negotiating, or closing the transaction. This agency relationship will provide you with the security you need to know that anything you say in confidence stays in confidence, that you have someone looking out for your benefit, and that you have been given all facts to make a sound decision.

Here's a list (brief) of the things your Realtor will do when working as your buyer's agent:

1. Help you get preapproved with a lender
2. Show you any house on the market
3. Review your Good Faith Estimate with you
4. Provide you will comparable sales in the neighborhood before making an offer
5. Guide you through the negotiation process
6. Give you a list of steps to follow from contract to close
7. Support you through each step
8. Guide you through inspections and repairs (or re-negotiating if necessary)
9. Ensure that you have been given Residential Service Contract information on reputable companies
10. Go over your final settlement statement with you and compare it to your good faith
11. attend closing
12. Follow-up after closing

This is not a comprehensive list by any means. One additional thing you need to aware of, in almost every real estate transaction I've ever done, (even when I worked at the title company), there are always unforeseen changes and obstacles. Your agent should be prepared for these and make them as painless as possible for you.

If you'd like a more detailed report on how a buyer's agent can help you. Send me an email to holly@soldonlakeconroe.com and I'll deliver it to you.

Comments

[Alicia]

I have never been able to figure this out. You explained it so well!! Thanks!