Should Buyers use a Real Estate Professional?
By Cheryl Miller
Prudential Family Realty, Brokerage
By Cheryl Miller
Prudential Family Realty, Brokerage
Think of it this way, when you go to an unfamiliar place, sure you could do a self-guided tour. However, your tour is much more rewarding and enriching when you have someone who is familiar with the location to guide you along because he or she has inside knowledge on the history, culture and stories that you may not have otherwise received.
The same can be said about sales professionals. Their role is more than someone to drive you around from property to property. They can be a great resource, especially to homebuyers relocating from other communities. He or she knows the local area including home values, taxes, utility costs, and school data, and may even be knowledgeable about resources pertaining to your special interests or needs. For instance, should you require help relocating an aging parent with you, your real estate professional may be able to direct you to local services or organizations for the elderly.
A sales professional can familiarize you with the processes involved in buying a home, alert you to potential risks, help you determine how much house you can afford, explain alternative financing strategies, as well as provide tremendous moral support.
Another benefit is having a strong advocate during the negotiating process. Sales professionals can help you objectively evaluate an offer then work to negotiate a favorable contract. During the process, he or she will review the contract and obligations before you sign, explain how contingencies and release clauses work, and so on.
And something easy to overlook is our familiarity with the complexity and risks inherent in the process. In the years I have been practicing I have been continually amazed at how quickly a seemingly simple transaction can grow legally complex and risky. When complex questions arise, a sales professional can help you quickly locate an attorney or other licensed professionals whose services you may require, such as home inspectors, engineers, surveyors and lenders.
As your single point of contact, a sales professional can manage the entire transaction including coordinating inspections, keeping in touch with the other real estate professionals, managing the documentation for the loan process, monitoring deadlines associated with contingencies, providing applicable paperwork, estimating closing costs, and helping prepare for a smooth and uneventful closing.
Cheryl Miller can be reached at (519) (433-2323). Prudential Family Realty, Brokerage is an independently owned and operated member of Prudential Real Estate Affiliates, Inc., a Prudential Financial company. Equal Housing Opportunity.
August 13th, 2008 at 1:32 pm
I found your blog on MSN Search. Nice writing. I will check back to read more.
Eric Hundin
August 15th, 2008 at 9:06 am
Blogger , I agree with this article, just sometimes I read so fast everything and I miss things that after read them again, I can understand it better.. ;). Your Should Buyers use a Real Estate Professional? Blog Stumbled up and Bookmarked, so I keep updated on every article you write from now now on realty.
December 18th, 2008 at 8:22 am
I couldn?t understand some parts of this article Should Buyers use a Real Estate Professional?, but I guess I just need to check some more resources regarding this, because it sounds interesting.
April 11th, 2009 at 12:36 am
worthington real estate…
I liked your post…