Why You Need A Buyer’s Agent – Like Me!
Many buyers ask me, ” Why do I need a buyer’s agent? Can’t I just find a house by myself and write the offer with the listing agent?” Well…there are many reasons why this is wrong.
First of all – This is the most important financial decision of your life, right? Well, you need your own representation then! You wouldn’t walk into a court room without a lawyer and ask if you could borrow the opposing side’s counsel, would you? Well, it’s the same in real estate transactions. The listing agent’s priority is to get the seller the most money as possible – that agent’s loyalty is to the seller, NOT you. Have you ever met a listing agent at an open house that DIDN’T say they had a great house? The listing agent will tell you that’s it’s an outstanding house, well-priced, in perfect condition etc. etc., but how will you know for sure? That’s why you need me.
My loyalty is to YOU and you only. I will tell you whether a house is over-priced for the area, because I will have seen dozens of other homes in the same area, and I will be able to objectively tell you how it compares to other homes. Also, I will negotiate for credits and repairs during the escrow; and most importantly, make sure you never lose your deposit check in case you decide to not buy the house. In other words, I’ll be able to get you the lowest price on the property, and I will also be able to negotiate on your behalf to try to get as much money back as possible for necessary repairs, which we will find out after the physical inspection – another step in the process I will help you with.
Again, the listing agent does NOT want the seller to lose money, so they won’t be able to objectively negotiate on your behalf. And another reason to use a buyer’s agent…it’s free! MY salary is paid out of the commission from the seller, so you don’t have to pay a dime more for the house for my service.
I am almost exclusively a buyer’s agent. Very few agents work almost exclusively with first-time buyers like I do. I get great satisfaction when I help a renter become a first-time home buyer – it’s the most rewarding feeling for me. Usually first-time buyers are scared and they don’t know the process of buying a home, or what they do know (from books or friends) is usually out-dated or incorrect. I help my buyers find a great mortgage broker, and a great physical inspector for the home too. I search all of the potential areas and new listings within their price range; and once we get the offer accepted, I guide them through the escrow process from the beginning to the end. Even after the escrow closes, I’m always available for advice. I’m a no-pressure agent (I hate them too!), so whether it takes you a week or a year to find the right place, I’ll be with you every step of the way.
The areas in which I work offer great values for first-time buyers.
Take Hollywood, for example: It’s going through an amazing gentrification process that started ten years ago with the Hollywood and Highland shopping complex. Many areas of the city are still vastly undervalued compared with other areas such as West Hollywood. Hollywood is the true center of Los Angeles nightlife and you can still buy here relatively cheaply compared with areas west of La Brea. Hollywood Blvd. has new restaurants and stores opening almost daily – it’s truly AMAZING what is occurring in this once neglected area.
Another area that is great for first-time buyers is the Highland Park/Mt. Washington area. Highland Park started gentrifying about five years ago and is considered the “new Silver Lake” now. Along York Blvd., for example, new coffee houses, galleries, restaurants, are opening almost monthly. Yet, compared to Silver Lake, houses over here are about half the price. There are great values here!
Wherever you decide to buy, I will make sure you get the very best value for your money. That’s a promise.