While Realtor’s make the home buying process look easy, it’s because we have spent years in the industry. We know the ins and outs, market trends, negotiation tactics.

Think you can go it alone and come out on top?

Let’s take a quick quiz:

1. True or False: I can see all houses online.

Answer: False! Without MLS access, your search is crippled. You’ll miss out on many homes, including ones that could be perfect for you.

Sure, you can see a LOT on Zillow and Realtor.com; but did you know that it takes time for houses to hit these sites? Sometimes it happens quickly, within a couple of hours, sometimes much longer.

So what’s the benefit of working with an agent? Four words: Private market and instant notifications (fine, that was five, but you get my point).

2. True or False: It can’t be that difficult to buy a house on my own.

Answer: False (unless you are a licensed Realtor©) Realtors live and breath real estate, you might like it, but would you trust your limited knowledge with one of the biggest investments of your life?

• Do you know what red flags to look for, quickly, in the 15-30 minutes you will be in the house?
• How familiar are you with knowing that to say, and what NOT to say to the listing agent (because that’s who you will be dealing with if you call them directly).
• Do you know that if you call the listing agent directly, they are legally obligated to work for the seller? And NOT you, which means if you don’t know the questions to ask, you will likey miss out on information you need.
• Do you know what legal paperwork you need to complete?
• Are you familiar with contract?
• Do you have access to ALL recent homes purchase and know how to compare them to make sure you are getting the right price?
• Do you know who to call for inspections? Or when they need to be done?
• Is a seller required to fix issues they find? Or are they even required to allow inspections at all?
• Do you know how you can get your earnest money back? Or how you could lose it?
• What is a normal closing timeline? And can you get all your mortgage items done during that time?
• Do you think you could compete in a multiple offer situation? What would you add to or take away from your offer?
• What happens if the house appraises low?
• Who will calm you down when the process gets overwhelming?

3. True or False: I’ll get a better deal if I don’t use a Realtor and the seller doesn’t have to pay a Buyers Representation Fee (Buyers Agent).

Answer: Likely False. Sure, it makes logical sense. If the seller doesn’t have to cover your buyer fee, they net more money right? Not necessarily. It could be that in their contract they already agreed to pay a certain percentage. And if there isn’t a Buyer’s Agent to pay, many times the listing agent (the one working for the seller), will keep that additional amount.

Which means, you STILL have an expert negotiating against you, but you are all on your own. Sure, the Listing Agent might seem nice, but remember, they are trying to get the best price and terms for their SELLER, at your expense.

4. True or False: I don’t need a Realtor, I’ll just use an attorney; they do the same thing.

Answer: False! Attorneys know the legal ins and outs.

They wont:

• Suggest expert local lenders.
• Help you find a house.
• Advise on purchase price.
• Negotiate purchase price.
• Advise on inspections.
• Schedule inspections.
• Advise on negotiations for home repairs.
• Watch and follow up on deadlines.
• Communicate with lender.
• Schedule closing.
  

5. True or False: Working with the RIGHT Buyers Agent will make the process easier.

Answer: True! The key word in the above question is “right”. Let’s be honest, within your circle, someone is a Realtor, or knows a Realtor, or has a family member that is a Realtor… that doesn’t mean we are all the same.

I’m not saying I’m the one for you (but I might be!), everyone is different. We all have different likes and dislikes, different personalities, different sense of humor, you need to find the right fit.

This is my best advice when looking for a Realtor (either to help you purchase, or sell):

• Ask your friends and family, but do NOT take their word as gold.
• Find a few names, and check them out; look at their social media pages, what do they post about, what are they involved in, can you identify with their style or family?
• Look at agents on sites like Zillow or Realtor, they have profiles, is theirs unique? Or does it seem canned and robotic?
• How many sales has this person had? Or how long have they been in the business (just because someone hasn’t been doing it for YEARS, doesn’t necessarily mean they aren’t amazing. Conversely, just because someone HAS been a Realtor for years, doesn’t mean they are still on top of their game.
• Check out reviews, but again, take these with a grain of salt. How often do you review people or businesses? Most people don’t do this often… typically when they are SUPER happy with something (and have time to report it), or when they are really upset about something.
• Does this person look like someone you could spend a LOT of time with, because likely you will.
• After researching, select one or two and reach out to them. Are they responsive? Do they sound like they know what they are talking about? Are they passionate about their career, or do you feel like you get a “salesey” feeling from them? These are very important things to notice.
• Most important, trust your gut. I have yet to go wrong when I follow my gut.

How did you do? Did it go worse than anticipated? If so, reach out to me with any questions; you are under no obligation, I just want to help people and make sure they have the information to do what is best for them, even if it means NOT working with me.

Did you do better than you thought? Nice! Reach out to me and I can help you get started in your own Real estate career!

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In Conclusion

Buying a house on your own might sound like a great idea, but clearly, it’s tougher than it looks. From navigating complicated contracts to negotiating with experienced agents who are working for the seller, it’s easy to get in over your head. A good buyer’s agent catches red flags, handles the paperwork, and helps you get the best deal.

While skipping an agent might seem like it saves money, but it could cost you more in the long run. Why risk it when you can have an expert in your corner, and likely the seller already has an expert in their corner?

Let’s talk about how I can make the process easier for you!