Why use a Realtor to Buy a Home
The biggest reason why you should use a Realtor to help you buy a home is to make sure that during the buying process that you have a professional whose obligation it is to represent your best interests. If you purchase a home directly from the listing agent, that agent can't have you best interests in mind as their primary duty of loyalty lies with the seller. If you, as the buyer, tell anything to the listing agent, the listing agent is obligated to relay that information to the seller no matter how much it damages your negotiating position. If you use someone like myself to represent you in the transaction, I will act as the go between you and the seller's agent. Anything told to me including potential negotiating strategies must be held by me in the strictest confidence.
Best of all, my representation of you cost you nothing. All listing agents who belong to the multiple listing service agree to pay a portion of their commission to the buyer|s agent for bringing them a buyer. If you go directly to the agent, they will simply collect the entire commission for representing both sides and you will still not have an advocate who will protect your interests.
Additionally, negotiating the initial contract is just one of the many steps of negotiation in the home buying process and if you do not have a buyer|s agent, many things can happen that can increase the cost of purchasing a home.
If you would like to arrange a FREE home buying consulation with myself so that you can find out how I may help you, please contact me at 408-861-2440 or email me at brian.chew@cbnorcal.com.
