How can a real estate agent help you in when buying a home? There are many benefits of hiring a real estate agent; it’s not just that they know the property market in the area. There’s the fact that they are knowledgeable about local laws that concern housing and can advise on what you can or can’t do. There’s also their ability to help you negotiate a better price for your home. Although some do buy homes without using a real estate agent, you’re generally better off if you have the help of a property agent.
Expert knowledge
You probably already have some idea of what you’re looking for, but you’ll waste valuable time if you sift through a mountain of real estate listings by yourself. A better strategy is to hire an expert agent who will do the work for you. Just give the agent your budget and specific needs, then they’ll get back to you with a shortlist of homes that fit your specifications. Good agents will know which homes are available on the market, and which one will suit you. Expect them to be experts on the housing market, so you can ask their advice on things like mortgage interest rates.
Your agent will let you know whether it’s a buyer’s and seller’s market, as well as the median and average sales prices of the neighborhoods where you’d like to live. You can also ask your agent which neighborhoods have the best schools.
Invaluable price feedback
Unsure about whether or not the homes you’re interested in are worth their price? Again, turn to your agent. They can come up with a comparative market analysis for the homes that you’re looking at. This will help you compare your prospects to other houses based on variables like price per square foot, number of bedrooms, and garage space.
Agents will know what specific homes are worth based on their in-depth knowledge of their own listings and sales. They can guide you in making the right offer for your dream house.
Negotiation help
It’s hard to negotiate directly with a seller if you aren’t used to it. You may end up on the raw end of a bad deal. This is less likely if you have an agent, almost unthinkable if you have a good one. They have years of negotiating experience, so they’ll be able to get you the best possible price for the home that you want to buy.
A good agent can also help you negotiate contingencies. You may be happy to waive the inspection, or you may have a specific date for when you need to close a sale. Your agent will keep all of these things in mind and negotiate accordingly.
An extensive network
If you’re buying a house, you’ll need to work with a host of professionals, including appraisers, inspectors, mortgage professionals, and real estate lawyers. A good agent will have a readymade network filled with experts in their respective real estate fields, so you can easily reach out to these people, instead of doing hours of painstaking research.
Agents can alert you to problems
An agent’s keen and experienced eye will spot or uncover any potential problems. You may not be aware that the home that you’re looking at has furnace issues and leaks, but a good agent will apprise you of these problems so that you can ask the seller to fix these before closing a deal. If a house has roofing problems, or mold and insect issues, your agent can use these problems to bring the asking price down. Or you may just choose to look at another property. Either way, you’ll be informed.
Looking for a San Francisco real estate agent to help you buy your home? Look no further than Compass agents, San Francisco. You need a top real estate agent in San Francisco to help you find the best deal. Contact me, Amir Hardy, at 415.602.0570 or send an email to amir(dotted)hardy(at)compass(dotted)com.