Buying a Home In Gwinnett or Metro Atlanta- You Need a Professional On Your Team

Are you in the market to find a new home in Gwinnett County or Metro Atlanta? You need a professional on your team.

Many people wonder whether they should hire a real estate professional to assist them in buying their home or if they should first try to do it on their own. The web has made it possible to do a lot of the legwork yourself, but there’s no substitute for an experienced professional. A professional who knows the market can save you time, money and heartache by helping you make the right offer—playing hardball when necessary—and staying on top of the process.

Don’t just call the agent on a sign in the yard of the home you like and sign up with him or her. That agent is working for the seller, who (naturally) is trying to get you to pay top dollar for their home. You need a “buyer’s agent,” who represents you exclusively, and works with your best interest in mind. In return for that exclusivity, you’ll likely have to sign a contract saying that you won’t work with any other broker for a specified period of time. Buyer’s agency is FREE to you as the buyer. The buyer’s agent commission comes out of the seller’s proceeds. Although the seller pays the commission the buyer’s agent has a fiduciary duty to you-the buyer. It’s like going to court and having the opposition pay for your attorney.

You may encounter what’s called “dual agency,” in which the agents representing both sides of the transaction work for the same brokerage; it could even be the same person. In most states, such an arrangement isn’t illegal, but it raises the potential for conflicts of interest or leaks of confidential information. The key here is transparency agents must disclose the situation in writing to both buyer and seller and get written approval.
Buying a home can be much like taking a flight. You may fly comfortably through the sky, but at some point you may experience some turbulence. You don’t feel so afraid when you have a flight crew that is providing excellent service and make you feel you can trust their abilities to get you to your destination safely. Your real estate agent is the captain of your crew and you should feel you can trust him or her to guide you through your home buying experience.

As your captain, the ideal agent will play 3 key roles in your home buying journey. He/she will act as your consultant, negotiator, and transaction manager.

Your Consultant

As your consultant a professional agent will layout a game plan for helping you to find your home while keeping in mind both your needs and wants. Your agent will consider what will work best for you and your family. Your agent should communicate with you regularly. Keep you focused on homes that satisfy your needs, while at the same time attempting to meet your wants. All while keeping you within your budget. Your agent should proficient in their knowledge of real estate and the home buying process and educate you along the way. Your agent should provide solutions to any obstacles you may encounter.

You Need a Skilled Negotiator

Once you have located a home and would like to make an offer, your real estate agent then needs to slip into the role of negotiator. In today’s market, a talented negotiator could save you thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of dollars. Each step of the way – from the original offer to the possible renegotiation of that offer after a home inspection, to the possible cancellation of the deal based on a troubled appraisal – you need someone who can keep the deal together until it closes. Your agent should be willing to treat your money as if it is their own.

Transaction Manager (Captain)

Most of your real estate agent’s work is done behind the scene.
Buying a home is not as simple as looking for a home and signing a contract. There are several moving parts working simultaneously to make the process happen. A typical real estate transaction will involve 12-15 people (sometimes more) and your real estate agent has to manage them all. Your real estate agent has to coordinate all parties and communications to ensure all disclosures, inspections, repairs, loan approvals, legal documentation, etc., are completed timely so that you meet your contractual obligation to close in a timely manner.

Bottom Line

Famous sayings become famous because they are true. You get what you pay for. Just like a good accountant or a good attorney, a good agent will save you money…not cost you money.

If you’d like to get started on your home buying journey. The professionals at Blisss Life Realty would like to guide you safely through the skies. Call an real estate professional now 678-820-6642.