Why do I need a buyer's agent?

I recently reposted an article about why a seller should consider me to help get his home sold. This article is about how I can help you as a buyer.

Learning about houses for sale is easy. You don't need me for that. Frankly, it helps me when clients send me links to homes they've found online. Sometimes they send me links to homes I might have ruled out based on other things they've told me. Sometimes they send me links to homes that are not on my MLS.  This happened more frequently when I was in New York. In North Carolina, not so much, but it does happen.

Finding the property and coming to an agreement on selling price are only the beginning. What happens next? Do you know where to go for financing or inspections? I can give you a list of referrals. Do you have a real estate attorney? I know people. What if inspections reveal issues? Who negotiates with the seller to rectify those issues? If you need a mortgage to purchase the property, there will be appraisals. If you are using a government program like VA or FHA, there will be more stringent requirements than conventional financing.  Who helps you manage all of these hurdles?

Let's be clear: Unless you have a Buyer Agency Agreement, everybody is working for the seller.  Even the agent who drove you around and showed you houses every weekend for months and bought you lunch every time. Without such an agreement, you are unrepresented.

There is a common misconception that going directly to the listing agent saves you money. That is possible, but think about it this way:  The listing agent is working for the seller. The listing agent wants to sell the house. The listing agent won't concede anything on pricing negotiations you wouldn't have been able to achieve with a friend in common, a computer program, or a trained monkey.

If an agent presents you with a Buyer Agency Agreement do not flinch. He is doing this because he truly wants to help you, and without it his hands might be tied. He wants you to get the best deal. He wants to help you navigate the dangerous lands between contract and closing. He wants to negotiate on your behalf. He wants you to be happy with your home purchase.  

I hope I've clarified things and not made them more confusing. Please contact me if you have any questions. As always, if I can help you in any way, please don't hesitate to reach out to me. My phone no. is 910-208-6186 and my Facebook page is @David Browning, NC Realtor.