You just bought the perfect home for you and your family. Right down the street, there’s a park, perfect for the kiddos and it’s only a 15 min drive from their school, which is ranked one of the best within the county. The neighborhood is quiet with a community pool and gym and only minutes away from a variety of romantic restaurants and a mall, ideal for shopping or date nights. And the best part was that you didn’t go over budget! All thanks to having an amazing realtor by your side!
Welcome back to a Taste of Real Estate!
Buying a new home is exciting! But before you can begin hanging those family photos, there were a lot of details that happened behind the scenes before you were actually able to call yourself an homeowner. In our last article, we spoke about the benefits of using a real estate professional when selling your home, in this segment we will chat about the advantages of using a realtor to purchase a home or property. Or more specifically, using a buyer’s agent.
Buyer’s agents usually get paid by the seller,(commissions are usually worked into the closing costs of a property) so it is a HUGE win/win for buyers, who can utilize the expertise and experience of a realtor at no cost to them.
Here are some of the benefits of using a realtor versus going it alone:
-Ability to utilize MLS (Multiple Listing Service) while doing all of the legwork and research in order to find you a home that fits your budget and familial needs,all within the desired location of your choice.
-Realtors are able to dig up information about the advantages/disadvantages of living within a neighborhood or living in the home itself for example;hidden water damage,if the building was poorly built, outstanding bills that the seller might have, zoning laws or restrictions, noisy neighbors etc by asking the right questions. Sellers may sometimes“conveniently” withhold information like this that could make a difference to a sale which an inexperienced buyer might not think to ask.
– A realtor is trained to negotiate or counter potential offers to get you, the buyer,to get you the best deal possible and help you avoid making any mistakes with the financial or legal aspects of the paperwork. Some buyers are uncomfortable bargaining or are completely unfamiliar navigating contracts,disclosures etc so it pays to have guidance in situations like these. A realtor will work together with you to ensure that you understand what you are agreeing to and why. This can often make a difference between a good investment or a bad one
– Because of the advantage of having access to the MLS database, realtors are able to evaluate properties properly and accurately by comparing houses currently on the market with homes that have sold or pending sales to ascertain whether or not a seller’s asking prices align with market values. There are cases where clients end up paying more for the property than its actually worth when dealing directly with the seller.
These are just some of the pros of using a trusted realtor like myself by your side, guiding you every step of the way when buying that home you’ve always dreamed of. If you or someone you know is searching for a home to buy here in Lakeland,and would like to find out more about the homebuying or selling process, please feel to have them reach out to me at [email protected] Id love to chat about what options are available for you and your family and help make the process of finding your dream home as easy as possible. Together,we can make your dream, a reality.
I’m also very excited to invite you to check out my Youtube Channel at @ExperienceLakelandFl where I feature some of the rich history and culture of this beautiful city of ours as well as some fun family activities and entertainment right here in Downtown Lakeland.
As always, Thank you for reading and I look forward to having you back again here for A Taste of Real Estate.