Why Use a Real Estate Agent?

All real estate licensees are not the same. Real Estate Agent are committed to treat all parties to a transaction honestly. Real Estate Agent subscribe to a strict code of ethics and are expected to maintain a higher level of knowledge of the process of buying and selling real estate. An independent survey reports that 84% of home buyers would use the same Real Estate Agent again.

What Is a Real Estate Agent?

A real estate agent is a Real Estate Agent when he or she is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, The Voice for Real Estate — the world’s largest professional association.

The term Real Estate Agent is a registered collective membership mark that identifies a real estate professional who is a member of the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION and subscribes to its strict Code of Ethics.

Founded in 1908, NAR has grown from its original nucleus of 120 to today’s 720,000 members. NAR is composed of residential and commercial Real Estate Agent, who are brokers, salespeople, property managers, appraisers, counselors and others engaged in all aspects of the real estate industry. Members belong to one or more of some 1,700 local associations/boards and 54 state and territory associations of Real Estate Agent. They can join one of our many institutes, societies and councils. Additionally, NAR offers members the opportunity to be active in our appraisal and international real estate specialty sections.

Real Estate Agent are pledged to a strict Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice. Working for America’s property owners, the National Association provides a facility for professional development, research and exchange of information among its members and to the public and government for the purpose of preserving the free enterprise system and the right to own real property.

But if you’re still not convinced of the value of a Real Estate Agent, here are a dozen more reasons to use one:

1. Your Real Estate Agent can help you determine your buying power — that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity. If you give a Real Estate Agent some basic information about your available savings, income and current debt, he or she can refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Most lenders — banks and mortgage companies — offer limited choices.

2. Your Real Estate Agent has many resources to assist you in your home search. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market, and it will take some investigation by your agent to find all available properties.

3. Your Real Estate Agent can assist you in the selection process by providing objective information about each property. Agents who are Real Estate Agent have access to a variety of informational resources. Real Estate Agent can provide local community information on utilities, zoning. schools, etc. There are two things you’ll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home or investment? Second, will the property have resale value when I am ready to sell?

4. Your Real Estate Agent can help you negotiate. There are myriad negotiating factors, including but not limited to price, financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. Your agent can advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

5. Your Real Estate Agent provides due diligence during the evaluation of the property. Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. Your Real Estate Agent can assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports. You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates ownership of property and can be mired in confusing status of past owners or rights of access. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. Your Real Estate Agent, title company or attorney can help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.

6. Your Real Estate Agent can help you in understanding different financing options and in identifying qualified lenders.

7. Your Real Estate Agent can guide you through the closing process and make sure everything flows together smoothly.

8. When selling your home, your Real Estate Agent can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.

9. Your Real Estate Agent markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. Often, your Real Estate Agent can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of your property. Your Real Estate Agent markets your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your Real Estate Agent acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The Real Estate Agent Code of Ethics requires Real Estate Agent to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.

10. Your Real Estate Agent will know when, where and how to advertise your property. There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF Real Estate Agent studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends, family and personal contacts. When a property is marketed with the help of your Real Estate Agent, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Your Real Estate Agent will generally prescreen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

11. Your Real Estate Agent can help you objectively evaluate every buyer’s proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections and financing — a lot of possible pitfalls. Your Real Estate Agent can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.

12. Your Real Estate Agent can help close the sale of your home. Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your Real Estate Agent is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).

New Agency

The topic of agency is important to you because it answers the most basic and fundamental question that can be asked of any real estate professional: Who represents you in this transaction?

1. Make sure that the agent you are working with has agreed, in writing, to represent you as a “Buyer’s Agent.” This will mean signing a buyer brokerage agreement in which you promise to work only with that particular agent for a specific period of time, often 120 days. It also means that you promise not to buy from anybody else, even FSBOs, without involving your buyer’s agent. In almost every case, the commission will still come from the seller, but your agent must present the offer.

2. Never say anything to anybody unless you would be willing to have that information repeated into a seller’s ear. Assume that everybody, and I mean everybody, is working for a seller unless you have specifically hired them to work for you. And even then, be discreet. During the second world war, the military promoted a phrase designed to stop idle gossip: Loose lips sink ships! You would do well to adopt that philosophy in your home-buying as well.