What are the reasons you should use a buyer’s agent?

With more resources available on the Internet, you may be considering buying a home without using the services of a professional real estate agent. After reviewing these 50 services an agent would typically perform for their clients, you may want to reconsider! Remember, agents don’t get paid until the home purchase is complete. It is their job to do the best they can to help you through a smooth experience, save you money and achieve your goal of buying a home.

Here are some of the many reasons to use a buyer’s agent:

1. Analysis of your real estate needs and determine what housing areas and options might work best
2. Research properties.  As an expert in the area, the right buyer’s agent can get you detailed information about properties you’re interested in.  Having a realtor that understands the differences between El Camino Village, Bodger Park and the surrounding areas of Hawthorne, Gardena and Lawndale can make a big difference.
3. Send you listings that match your needs – the right agent understands what you’re looking for in a home and can send you custom email alerts whenever a new home in El Camino Village or Bodger Park, or other areas hits the market.
4. Provide information pertaining to your move or relocation and short-term stay options
5. Educate you about home buying processes.  Buying a home has a lot of moving pieces…adding to an already stressful emotional and financial process.  A good agent can guide you through the process
6. Provide information on market conditions, schools, communities, employment, and more
7. Discuss your financing needs and options
8. Recommend qualified mortgage brokers
9. Make appointments and show properties that works around your schedule.  Open houses are great, but not every listing has them and sometimes a private tour is more beneficial
10. Provide timely and professional disclosure and research on homes, markets and neighborhoods
11. Home tour review: pros & cons of each property
12. Point out important items while showing that buyer’s may overlook
13. Follow up of loan application with your selected mortgage broker
14. Help cleaning up your credit if needed
15. Analyze purchasing timeline and needs once property is located
16. Free Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) of a property in order to make an educated offer
17. Call listing agent to get updates on property including interest, offers, etc.
18. Create and send draft of the offer and prepare paperwork
19. Research tax and title records
20. Explain all paperwork before signing
21. Collect proof of funds from buyer, preapproval letter, personal letter to seller(if warranted)
22. Generate estimate of closing costs
23. Write offer, send out for electronic signatures, provide verification to listing agent
24. Review and explain final contract
25. Submit contract and follow up with listing agent to confirm receipt and follow up questions
26. Negotiate contract until mutually agreeable.  Working with and expert negotiator can make all the difference
27. Set deadlines for final acceptance by all parties
28. Send the escrow company the executed contract and help get escrow opened upon acceptance
29. Schedule and attend the home inspection
30. Schedule and attend the termite inspection
31. Recommend insurance agents to you
32. Verify loan process has begun
33. Obtain all seller and listing agent disclosures and explain documents to buyers
34. Perform agent “visual” inspection of property
35. Review home inspection findings with you.  A home inspection (and the results!) can be scary especially for first time home buyers.  A good agent can walk you through the report and explain the differences between thinks that need to be repaired or addressed, and updates and upgrades that buyer’s might like, but sellers may not consider
36. Negotiate repairs if needed
37. Help order an appraisal
38. Assist to meet finance deadline
39. Monitor and manage contingencies and contingency periods – financing, home inspection, appraisal, etc.
40. Check on homeowners insurance
41. Verify that the title agency has all necessary documents
42. Follow up with the lender on all aspects of closing process
43. Get information on utilities
44. Schedule closing: time and place
45. Review escrow and lender closing statement
46. Arrange and attend a final walk-through
47. Ensure that escrow has determined the funds to be brought to closing
48. Coordinate between lenders and title company to determine amount needed
49. Explain everything that happens at closing
50. Arrange closing and access
51. Give you the keys to your new home!
52. Follow up after closing – homestead info and insuring that everything is going well in your new home and that you’re a happy homeowner!