Buying a home is a significant financial and emotional undertaking. For many, it is one of the biggest purchases they’ll ever make. While some sellers or buyers think that they can save themselves money by handling the transaction alone, this decision is not ideal for most people and could end up being more costly in the long run.
In almost every case, prospective homebuyers could benefit greatly from the knowledge, guidance, and assistance of an experienced real estate agent. Here are some of the more complicated aspects of purchasing a house where a real estate agent is most helpful.
Negotiation
A real estate agent serves as a liaison between you and the seller or seller’s agent. They work for you, not the seller. It’s the realtor’s duty to get you the best possible price for the home or property you want. Agents are trained to negotiate to get the best possible deal for their clients, taking into account many factors (your budget, your family’s needs, and how much you’ll need to invest in the home to make it your own) and they’ll work hard to achieve the best possible outcome for you.
Perhaps most importantly, they have no emotional stake in the purchase that might cloud their judgment. This is crucial when making such a significant purchase. You have to be able to leave your emotions at the door when negotiating for a fair and final sales price.
Helping with the contracts and paperwork involved
When buying a home, you’ll have a home purchase agreement, which is a contract detailing the price and terms for the purchase of the home. This contract ensures that you are able to back out of the deal if certain conditions are not met.
For instance, if you plan to buy a home with a mortgage but fail to make financing one of the conditions, you could lose your deposit and could even be hit with a lawsuit from the seller for failing to fulfill your end of the deal. An experienced real estate agent deals with contracts like these regularly. Agents are familiar with which conditions should be used, when they can safely be taken out, and how to best use the contract to protect you when buying a home.
Buying a home comes with loads of paperwork. Purchase agreements are often over 10 pages long. Realtors deal with these contracts all the time, so they can walk you through the contract and answer any questions you may have. One little mistake when filling out paperwork could land you in court or cost you thousands of dollars.
Knowledge of property
Homebuyers typically have a good idea of the kind of home they want, whether it be the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, a two-car garage and a big backyard, or any number of other must-haves.
While you may feel comfortable looking at houses with a list of things you want in mind, a real estate agent will be there for issues that don’t come to mind. Examples include leaks, roofing problems, mold, and insect problems. An experienced agent will see the signs of these problems and know how to approach them. Their knowledge and insight can end up saving you a lot of money in repairs and maintenance down the road.
Doing the research
Real estate agents are well-versed in comparative market analyses. A realtor can provide for you up-to-date and reliable data regarding a neighborhood’s demographics, schools, crime rates, and other factors that come into play with your homebuying decision. That research can save you a lot of time, especially when you are not even sure where to start.
Contact Parker Group
Are you looking to buy a house in the Greenville, South Carolina area? The real estate professionals at Parker Group cared here to help you navigate the housing market. Parker Group is small enough to offer personalized service but big enough to deliver a wide range of targeted solutions for your home buying experience.
Our realtors have more than 40 years of combined experience and an impressive track record of success. If you choose to work with a real estate agent from Parker Group, you can count on us to be there for you every step of the way. Call us today at (864) 362-6233 or fill out our online contact form.
