Finding the right agent
The right buyer’s agent; how the heck do you know?
I suppose before you can know, you need to understand exactly what it is a buyer’s agent is supposed to do and how they are supposed to operate.
In North Carolina a real estate agent is required to work for someone. That someone can either be a buyer or a seller or sometimes both. Being a seller’s agent is traditional agency, the agent is working for the seller’s best interest. Being a buyer’s agent is just that, working for the buyer’s best interest. Being a dual agent is working for both parties best interests. Believe it or not with experience this is not tough to do.
So back to buyer agency; most if not all problems associated with a real estate transaction boil down to communication.
1. An agent doesn’t have the experience to know and understand where pitfalls may be within a specific transaction.
2. Through training or lack thereof, the pitfalls have not been communicated to the agent and the agent has not communicated to the buyer the pitfalls.
3. The buyer agent does not adequately communicate to the listing agent what it is the buyer wants or expects.
4. The listing agent doesn’t know about a particular deficiency in the property.
5. Through training or lack thereof, the seller agent has not explored the red flags that would uncover a deficiency.
6. The buyer agent doesn’t show the buyers what they want to see.
7. The buyer agent has not asked the proper questions to determine and vet out exactly what the buyer wants or can afford.
8. The buyer agent doesn’t know the market and cannot adequately inform or show the buyer what is available in the market.
It boils down to communication. As a consumer of real estate take your time, sit down with your potential buyer agent or seller’s agent and talk to them, interview them. One of the most important practices that I typically engage in with my clients is an interview. We sit down and before we look at one home, we talk for a half hour. I ask a million questions so that I can better assist my buyers in making a home buying decision.
There is more but a blog is not the venue to go into all of that. Call me, Michael Sullivan at 919-608-2372 for a free no obligation consultation where we will discuss whether I am the right agent for you. I have 17 years market experience in the Raleigh, Durham, Cary and Chapel Hill real estate market where I have helped thousands of families find their spot to call home. You may text to 919-608-2372 or email me at MSullivan@fmrealty.com. Learn more about Team Michael Sullivan at TeamMichaelSullivan.com