Selecting a Buyer's Agent

Your first step as a homebuyer is to select the right real estate professional to work with!

A truly professional Buyer's Agent will guide you through the entire home purchasing process. This includes makeing all parties are aware of the steps required, making sure each step is completed on time, and seeing that the buyer's purchasing experence is a pleasant one.

Below is a list of the services Lynn and I would perform as your Buyer's Agent.

Step 1 • Being available for you:
You need a full-time agent that will be available when you need them to show you homes, go over contracts and documents, meet with inspectors, and to answer your questions. A part-time agent may not be able to show you homes during the day, receive calls, or answer emails at their full-time job. Limit your selection to full-time real estate agents.

Step 2 • Finding the homes that are right for you:
A good Buyer's Agent will first talk with you to find out the features, the area(s), and price range you are looking for in your new home. The agent will then quickly research and show you the homes that match with your search criteria. Buyers should expect to hear from their Realtor (by phone or auto-email sender) whenever a home matching their search criteria appears on the market.

Step 3 • Provide informing on the area:
A good Buyer's Agent is there to represent your best interest regarding all aspects of the sale. To that end, the agent will supply you with information regarding area neighborhood, including conveniences, restrictions, property taxes, zoning, etc. The agent should also provide you with a report regarding the quality of area schools.

Step 4 • Provide un-biased market information:
A good Buyer's Agent will prepare a detailed market report regarding recently area home sales. The report should include the average number of days area homes were on market, list price vs. sold price, the amount of closing cost paid by the seller, average price per square foot, along with other factors you need for making an informed decision before telling your agent to submit your offer.

Step 5 • Provide proven negotiating skills:
A good Buyer's Agent will provide you with a report showing his/her track record for performing the duties of a Buyer's Agent. The report should include a list of the homes sold, along with details relating to the negotiations accomplished for each, i.e., price (list price vs. sold price), closing costs paid by the seller, repair work negotiated, etc. Experience is the key here!

Step 6 • Provide help in finding professional services:
A good Buyer's Agent is able to supply you with a list of area home inspectors, termite inspectors, mortgage companies, surveyors, title companies, closing attorneys, moving companies, and other professional required in closing the sale, if you so desire.

Step 7 • Coordinate all aspects of the closing:
A good Buyer's Agent should guide through all of the above, answering any questions and acting on any concerns you may have along the way. The agent should work closely with your loan offer and closing attorney in coordinating the closing. The agent should be with you at the closing to ensure any questions you may have are answered, and to see that all the situations stated in the contract are carried out.

I am sure you notice the words “A good Buyer's Agent.” The fact is, as with any profession there are good salespersons and brokers and there are bad salespersons and brokers.

To improve your odds of selecting the right agent or broker, here are additional questions you should ask:

1) Are you an active member of the National Association of Realtors? Realtors adhere to a Code of Ethics, which are guide
     lines designed to signify competency, fairness, and integrity resulting from a devotion to moral conduct in business
     relations.

2) Are you licensed as a Salesperson or as a Broker? A licensed Salesperson has successfully completed the required 75-
     hour Salesperson Prelicense Course approved by the Georgia Real Estate Commission. A licensed Broker has a
     successfully completed the 75-hour Salesperson Prelicense Course in addition to successfully completing the required
     60-hour Broker's Prelicense Course (135 hours total + 50 hours of post CE courses = 185 hours). A Broker is
     considered to be an expert in the real estate industry.

3) Are you an active member of the State Association of Realtors and have you ever has any disciplinary actions taken
     against you? To check in GA, ask for the agent's license number and click this link: Georgia Real Estate Commission

4) Will you be representing me in the transaction? A Listing Agent (the agent who's name is on the yard sign) is paid by the
     Seller to represent the “Seller's” best interest. And, depending on local MLS rules or board bylaws, the agent
     representing you may be a subagent for the seller (not what you want as a Buyer). A Buyer Brokerage is the only way an
     agent can truly represent the Buyers, not the Seller's, best interest. For more information on "who represents whom,"
     click this link: ABC's of Agency

If you are searching for a home, Lynn and I would like to offer our services as your Buyer's Agents. We do all of the things stated in the above steps to closing, and will be glad to speak with you and/or email you information regarding our proven success as Buyer's Agents.
• Our services are free of charge.
• We can supply you with client testimonials along with phone numbers.
• We can show you the homes we have sold and provide detail information on each.