STOP! Don’t call that number on the sign

You drive by a gorgeous house.  It looks like exactly what you want and you see a sign in the yard.  FOR SALE.  Like many signs it has a picture of the real estate agent and their phone number.

Stop right there.   Hold your horses.  Don’t move.

In your excitement to find out more about the house, you are about to do something which can cause you great pain in your pocketbook – call the agent listed on the sign.  You see, that agent represents the seller – not you.  You could say something which could damage your ability to negotiate the best deal for you.  If you call the listing agent, they would be acting as a DUAL AGENT.  Search on that term to see what others say, but generally you want to have someone on your side.

Instead, you should call your buyer’s agent.  Don’t have one?  Get one.  Use us, we happen to think we do as good or better job than any brokerage, but simply get someone to represent YOU not the seller.

The Buyer’s Agent will schedule an appointment with the listing agent for you to see the home privately.  When you look at the house with a Buyer’s agent, they will advocate for you.  They should point out any areas which might be items you have inspected.  The Buyer’s agent can work with you as you get your financing together.  Should you decide to make an offer, you will want to have a Pre-Qualification letter from a lender indicating your ability to actually purchase the home.

Negotiation.  Having a buyer’s agent means you have someone on your side in the negotiations.  The buyer’s agent can coach you on how to offer, how to counter-offer and get an offer accepted.

Once an offer is accepted, there is still a lot of work to accomplish.  Getting the loan approved, scheduling and completing inspections, title search and closing – the list goes on.  The buyer’s agent is your advocate through the entire process – make sure you have one.  We’d like it to be us.