Why You Need A Real Estate Agent As A First Time Homebuyer

Posted on: 20 October 2015

Deciding to buy your first home is a major life decision that you've likely put a lot of thought into. That said, before you can actually buy that first home, you will likely have to make another just as important decision: hiring the right real estate agent. The right real estate agent can make your home buying experience go much more smoothly. Still, some people attempt to go it alone and contact homeowners with houses for sale directly. But here are 3 reasons why you definitely don't want to go it alone as a first time homebuyer.

Provide a Buffer Between You and The Seller's Agent

If you contact a homeowner with a house for sale directly, they may refer you to their own agent even if you are not using one. This means you will then be negotiating on the house with a skilled real estate professional. Real estate agents have access to more information than you about homes in your area and will likely be better at negotiating than you are. It's critical to have your own real estate agent at the table to ensure you are discussing the property on equal footing.

Get Valuable Information You Might Not Find Otherwise

When you have a real estate agent working for you, you will have someone who is skilled at finding information like pulling comparable sales from the local tax rolls. You will be able to easily obtain information on the local community including any ongoing trends that you would otherwise have to spend hours researching. 

Make the Best Offer Possible

When you have a real estate agent working for you, you will be able to use their knowledge and information to make the best possible offer on the home. A buyer's real estate agent will be able to tell if the seller's real estate agent or the homeowner is asking too much for the home. You can use your real estate agent to come up with the perfect pricing strategy when making a bid on the home. Using the right real estate agent might actually even save you money even after you pay the agent for the work provided.

If you are thinking about buying your first home, finding a great real estate agent should be your first priority. A real estate agent who works for the potential buyer will be able to stand up to the seller's agent on your behalf, help you find critical information about the home or neighborhood that you otherwise might not get, and can use their years of experience and market data to help create the best possible offer on your potential new home.

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