Why You Need to Tour Homes with an Agent
85% of buyers use a real estate pro to help them navigate the purchase of a new home. And why not? After all, buyers don’t have to pay to work with an agent. 100% of buyers should use a real estate agent. Am I saying this because I am a real estate agent? Yes. But I’m also saying it because it’s true.
According to a Zillow survey, the three services a real estate agent provides that homebuyers love most are 1) organizing and submitting all the paperwork, 2) taking them on private home tours, and 3) leading contract negotiations. But there’s plenty more to love.
Always a winner: Save money
Determine value
When you’re ready to make an offer, your agent will perform a comparative market analysis to help you decide the right amount. They’ll also help you effectively adjust your offer to account for any glaring defects.
Spot the signs
Not exactly looking for a fixer upper? Agents tour a lot of homes and participate in a bunch of inspections. We generally know the warning signs for expensive issues like failing roofs, sketchy foundations and water situations. This knowledge can help you deal with inspection issues early on in the process.
Negotiate offer
Your agent knows the local market and will let you know when it’s reasonable to push for a better deal. Just because you’re in a seller’s market doesn’t mean you won’t be able to negotiate. A skilled agent can also get some useful info from the listing agent to help you fine tune your offer.
Stay on track
There are a lot of deadlines to keep track of in a home purchase. More than you’d think. Your agent will make sure you’re doing what you said you’d do, when you said you’d do it.
Beat everybody else to the punch
Agent-to-agent network
In a hot market, who knows how many homes get sold between agents before ever making it to the MLS. And lots of times, an agent knows a home is coming on the MLS months before it actually does. The more access you have to all this knowledge, the better.
Best search tech
The MLS has even more filters than what you’ll find on real estate sites and the info on the MLS is updated in real time—something no other website can do. If you’re looking for a very specific home, you have better odds of finding it (faster) when you work with an agent.
Don’t sweat the details
Even experienced buyers struggle to keep up with all the details. Having an fabulous agent by your side is a big plus, especially with so much money on the line. Let them spend time negotiating, scheduling, calling, advocating, and generally overseeing the process. Beyond that, real estate agents have a legal and ethical obligation to serve your needs, which can include:
Working for your interests in the transaction
Providing disclosures
Offering guidance
Keeping certain information confidential
Get pro-grade negotiation
According to the AMA, physicians should not treat themselves or members of their own families. And for the same reason, buyers should not negotiate their own home purchases. Buying a house is too stressful and exciting. You need an objective professional weighing in. Agents know how to frame requests in a way that makes sellers more likely to oblige. They’re trained to do all the negotiating while maintaining a good rapport with all the players. This can come in handy if issues come up later in the deal.
All that paperwork
Contracts are 10 pages long or more, and can include multiple contingencies. Your agent will help you collect the disclosures you’ll need, like documentation on mold, lead paint and radon. Also, most agents use digital signatures. You won’t have to worry about running back and forth to various places to sign documents over the 30-45 day escrow period. You might even be able to complete your closing without ever leaving the house!
