Why Do I Need a Full Time Real Estate Agent to Buy a House?

You are about to make a purchase that involves one of the biggest investment opportunities in life. You wouldn’t consider having a medical procedure done without a doctor. Why would you want to take a chance on buying a house without the help of a professional, full time real estate agent? Going through the home buying process without a real estate agent can cost you time and money. Let’s take a look at why you need a full-time real estate agent to buy a house.

Let’s place everything you know about the real estate market and compare that to the knowledge and experience that a full-time real estate agent brings to the table. Without one, you can run into legal complications and end up paying more than necessary for a home. A real estate agent is professionally trained. Since you aren’t paying for the commission, there’s no additional cost to you for having one represent you. They help you find homes that match your criteria, answer open house questions, and offer valuable insight when you’re placing an offer. They also help you with negotiations, required paperwork, and closing day paperwork.

A real estate agent is a licensed professional that focuses on real estate and the market in specific locations. Some real estate agents are licensed in multiple areas. Some real estate agents work with buyers, some work with sellers, and some work with both. Many real estate agents are members of the National Association of REALTORS®, which means they agree to follow a specific code of ethics. A full-time real estate agent doesn’t split their time between other business interests and is dedicated to serving their real estate clients completely.

Buyers do not pay the commission of the real estate agent that represents them during the home buying process. The seller of the property is the one responsible for the cost of the commission. Most of the time, the listing agent who represents the seller and your agent split the commission based on what agreement was made in the contract.

A real estate agent who works full-time is in a position to catch new listings that hit the market and set up showing times. This attention and time availability may give you the edge as a home buyer. They will keep information on file that includes your target price range and the things you need in a home when looking for properties they feel you need to see. This saves you an incredible amount of time and takes away the guess factor. In a real estate market where competition is strong when it comes to newly listed homes, you’ll want a real estate agent working on your behalf.

Most sellers set up specific days when potential buyers are invited to take a look around. These occasions are called open houses. A full-time real estate agent doesn’t have to worry about open house times that are outside of their work hours. Your agent will accompany you and be available to answer any questions you have about the property. Keep in mind that it’s best to field all questions through your agent instead of approaching the seller or their agent.

Once you’ve found a home that meets your needs, it’s time to consider placing an offer. Your real estate agent will work with you to produce an offer that makes sense in the current market and works within the boundaries of your budget. The real estate agent will deliver this offer to the seller’s agent and wait for a response. The seller will either accept the offer, decline the offer, or reply with a counteroffer. A full-time real estate agent can react and respond throughout the day in a timely manner.

If a counteroffer is received, your agent will meet with you to discuss the terms. If there is a need, your real estate agent will negotiate the terms with the seller’s agent. There is no need for you to deal directly with the seller when it comes to sale and contract terms. Your real estate agent will always speak with you and represent your interest. In the end, you have the final say on all matters. Because a full-time agent has connected with many seller’s agents during past negotiations, you may have an advantage due to them understanding the negotiating style of other agents.