Virginia Beach Home Buyer Advice – Why Having A Buyer Agent On Your Side Is Critical

You’re all set to start your search for a home in Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads….you’re looking online at different listings…you find a few you like…who do you call for more information? If you’re not already aware of the advantages of using a licensed Buyer Agent, you might call the listing agent – the agent hired by the seller to market their property and sell it.

There’s a BIG problem with doing it this way. When you talk to the agent that listed the home, you’re speaking to an agent who is obligated by law to get their client the best deal and look out for their interests. Why is this an issue? They represent the seller…NOT YOU. Anything you say to them about your financial situation, your motivation for buying, your timeframe, etc…are things that the listing agent should and will use to get their client the best deal….against you!

Let me be clear on this – the seller’s agent is not inherently doing anything wrong or dishonest in this situation, as long as they’ve made it clear to everyone involved who they’re representing. The real problem lies with a lack of representation on your side, the buyer.

How do you solve this problem and get someone on your side that’s obligated by law to look after your interests? Find an agent that you trust and has experience, and hire them as your Buyer Agent. In the majority of transactions, the seller pays the Buyer Agent’s (YOUR agent’s) commission, so you rarely have to come out of pocket with your own money. What’s better than having someone on your side? Having someone on your side that you don’t have to pay.

Here are some benefits to using a Buyer Agent:

• They’ll be able direct you to the best websites to use during your search, and also set you up to receive listings by email that match your requirements. Typically these listings will be sent to you as soon as they come onto the market.
• A Buyer Agent will arrange in-person showings on your behalf for as many homes as you have an interest in seeing.
• Once you’ve found a property in which you’re interested, your Buyer Agent will determine if the property is overpriced or priced correctly, and find any additional information that you need to be aware of before making an informed purchase offer.
• Your buyer agent will know what information to reveal to the seller side and when, in order to get you the best deal. In other words – they know how to negotiate.
• A Buyer Agent will be able to explain your options every step of the way, and the consequences and possible outcomes of any decisions you make.
• A Buyer Agent will be able to recommend third party individuals and business that can work for you during the buying process, including home inspectors, termite and moisture specialists, real estate attorneys, mortgage specialists and more.

As I outlined above, the real advantage to using an experienced Buyer Agent comes AFTER you’ve found a home to buy, and AFTER an offer has been accepted. Buying a house is not an event, it’s a process, and sometimes it can be an extremely complex undertaking. This is especially the case with complex foreclosure and short sale transactions.

Don’t go it alone….find an agent you’re with whom your comfortable, make sure they’re experienced, and hire them. You’ll be glad you did.

If you’re interested in buying a home in Virginia Beach or Hampton Roads, please contact us here or call us 24/7 at 757-802-3004. We provide experienced and efficient buyer representation for all of Hampton Roads. Get your free, no obligation Hampton Roads Home Buyer Consultation to find out exactly how we can help you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jody Cowdrey is the Marketing Sales Director for the top producing Brian Duncan Group Real Estate Team of Keller Williams Realty, serving the entire Hampton Roads region of Virginia. He can be reached at Jody@JodyCowdrey.com and by phone at 757-802-3004. For complete Virginia Beach MLS listings, visit BuyVB.com or Virginia Beach Foreclosure info at JodyCowdrey.com