If you are thinking of buying a home in Daphne, Fairhope, Spanish Fort AL or anywhere in Baldwin County, you may have questions, lots of them, but don't quite know where to start. It seems like a huge undertaking. Do you put the cart (house) before the horse (loan), or vice-versa? You need help and that decision alone may seem difficult. I would like to offer a little clarity that may help you in choosing a Buyer's Agent.
First of all, not everyone should buy a house. There are some qualifiers that should be considered, which you should definitely discuss with your agent. A good buyer's agent does not want you to buy a house if you cannot afford it, or are not a candidate. Helping someone set themselves up to fail has terrible consequences. Well great, but how do I choose this great agent? Obviously you can ask friends or family, but maybe you should consider an Accredited Buyer's Agent (ABR). There are many great agents and REALTORS who do not have an ABR designation, but those that do have demonstrated a level of skill and pursued education specific to assisting buyers.
Consider this, in Baldwin County we have approximately 1200* real estate board members. Of those, only 38 have an ABR Designation. It is an exclusive group of professionals who have gone that extra step to be the best buyer's agent they can be, and that is news you can use.
Once upon a time...buyers did not have their own representation. While an agent may have been assisting you, they were actually a sub-agent to the seller. Things have changed and that is good news for you. You can choose to have your own agent, and in almost every case, the seller pays their commission, so you are not coming out of pocket for those fees. Note, there are some markets where this differs.
What should you expect from a Buyer's Agent? Well that depends if you are a buyer-customer or a buyer-client. Services will vary, depending on your agency status.
If you are a CUSTOMER, no agency relationship exists, however, if you are a CLIENT (agency relationship), your agent will:
- Pay full attention to your needs
- Tell you all that they know about the seller
- Keep information about you confidential
- Focus on choices that satisfy your needs
- Provide material facts as well as professional advice
- Provide price counseling based on comparable properties and their professional insights
- Negotiate on your behalf
- Attempt to solve problems to your advantage and satisfaction
There are many advantages to having your own Buyer's Representation. If you want to take advantage of our Buyer's Services, we can offer you a complete one-of-a-kind Home Buyer's Guide and Free One-Hour Consultation, which may include a lender consultation if you desire.
*Approximate obtained from BCAR. REBAC also used as resource.
The Tia Stanley Team - RE/MAX BY THE BAY
"Simply the best home marketing you can get!"
