Why it Kills Me When a Buyer Doesn’t Hire Agent
Okay, I get it. I’m an Agent so obviously I’m going to say this. But really, honestly, truly…I believe it.
Our house was my first transaction back in 2017. Crazy right? I represented myself and to be real with you, I had NO IDEA what I was doing (sorry, Tom). I really wish I had a savvy Agent in my corner to guide me.
There is so much that goes into buying or selling a home. Realtors should not be salespeople. We should be matchmakers. Advocates. Real Estate experts that bring a ton of value to folks that are not IN IT every day. After serving more than 100 Clients, there is endless knowledge we (should) bring to the table.
Think foregoing a Buyer’s Agent makes your offer stronger in a competitive Seller’s Market? FALSE!
When I am working as a Listing Agent and a Buyer comes to a property without an Agent, here are my first thoughts:
They are less motivated. They don’t have an expert guiding them which means there is a greater likelihood of the deal falling apart for my Sellers. It is going to be more work to see it through because they don’t know what they’re doing. There is more liability. It’s going to be messy.
We don’t see dollar signs. We see more risk. When selling a house for my clients the mission is - selling for the most amount of money, in the least amount of time, and minimal risk and hassle. A good Buyer’s Agent on the other side of the transaction supports these goals.
Think all you have to do is offer the highest price? WRONG!
Many times, I have seen Buyers win offers because of their Buyer Agent. They advocated for them in a way only a REALTOR would know how. They understood the market. They knew what the Seller wanted to hear. They made strategic moves that won their Buyer the offer. They also knew how to protect their Client while doing so.
For example: I had Sellers recently that needed to find a house before they could sell. They accepted a lower offer with terms providing more flexibility. The Terms also protected the Buyers. The Buyer’s Agent and I negotiated a plan that was a fair arrangement for all parties. We worked together for a little give and take on both sides.
Think you know EVERYTHING you should look for in a for-sale listing? PROBABLY NOT!
When a Buyer sends me a house they are interested in, I don’t even open the photos. I’m sure my Clients have combed through those - looking at the rooms, flooring, cabinets, yard, colors, and room sizes. You don’t need my thoughts on that stuff. You hire me for the things you don’t see or the questions you don’t know to ask…
The age and type of major systems - heating, roof, septic, well, electric, plumbing, foundation.
The home’s history - when was it last sold and for how much etc.?
When was the home last assessed? Could it be coming up for reassessment, increasing taxes?
Are there easements, restrictions, covenants?
Is it in a flood zone?
Estimated costs for things like water mitigation, radon mitigation.
Maintenance items you can expect soon - windows, doors, wood rot upkeep.
You hire someone that has been to over 100 home inspections, walked through infinite properties, read hundreds upon hundreds of Deeds and Property Disclosures.
So, yaaa. It kills me a little when I see a Buyer trying to do it all themselves. Especially when I can usually negotiate the Seller to cover the Buyer’s Agent fee!
Have questions about the home buying process? You may find my BUYER 101 PAGE helpful as a starting point!
