Peeling Back the Curtains: The Detailed Role of Real Estate Agents in Home Buying
Everyone has heard about a real estate agent’s commission, a topic that often makes headlines. However, there seems to be a huge misconception about what exactly we, as real estate agents, do, and how we earn our income. We’re here to debunk those myths, roll up our sleeves, and give you a complete walkthrough of the detailed, extensive, and often demanding process we undertake to ensure you find your dream home.
So, you’ve decided to buy a house. Congratulations! Now, what comes next? This is where we step in.
Beginning the Process
First, we prepare a comprehensive Buyer’s Guide that outlines the entire process. We meet with you to discuss your goals, financial options, and pre-approval letters you might already have in hand. We talk about your home needs and wants – style, size, location, you name it! Right from the start, we’re here to guide you through this journey.
Once we have a good understanding of your goals, we provide an overview of the current market conditions, explain the home inspection process, and delve into earnest money deposits. We’re here as your educators too, equipping you with knowledge about local neighborhoods and potential repair issues of properties.
Now comes the exciting part – we start showing you homes! This process involves various elements, including scheduling and organizing showings, providing insights about homes, and navigating you through multiple offer situations. Remember, we’re in this together, every step of the way.
Once you find that dream home, we shift gears and start preparing the sales contract. We discuss loan objection deadlines, review comps to determine value, explain home warranties, and handle all legal fees. We then negotiate your offer with the listing agent and execute the sales contract and necessary disclosures.
The Final Details
After we have a signed contract, our job is far from over. We coordinate inspections, confirm repairs have been made, and perform the final walk-through with you. We also attend the closing with you and celebrate when we hand over the keys to your new home!
And remember that whole commission thing? Our income covers an array of expenses such as office rent and utilities, broker splits and fees, website fees, insurance, assistant salaries, and continued real estate education – just to name a few.
Our goal is to facilitate your home-buying process. We are here not just to sell houses, but to build relationships, provide expertise, and guide you to make an informed decision. Our professional expertise and friendly approach ensure that you, as the buyer, can navigate this complex process with confidence and peace of mind.
Your Real Estate Agent is more than just an agent. We’re your guide, your educator, your negotiator, your advocate, and, sometimes, your therapist during stressful moments. We’re here because we love helping people find their dream homes – and we wouldn’t have it any other way.
