Buyer's Representation
By : Luke Bouman

Buying a home is a big investment and one of the most important things you can do in life. Because of this, you will want someone who is looking after your best interests with no possible conflict of interest. This is the job of a buyer’s agent. A buyer’s agent represents the home buyer and has no other outside interests, unlike a realtor. They have no listings of their own and will show you homes that fit your needs and budget including those homes that are for sale by owner and new construction homes. Their job is to show you homes that will suit you and negotiate the best possible price for you.

There are multiple advantages to hiring a buyer’s agent when looking to purchase a home. Of primary importance is the fact that the buyer’s agent works solely for you and has no other obligation to the seller or concern about the commission. Their responsibility is to find a home that is within your budget and to negotiate the best possible deal for you. Because there is no conflict of interest between the buyer’s agent and the seller, you can be assured your best interests are being considered and not what will be the best commission price for the realtor.

A buyer’s agent has access to many more home listings than a realtor does. Most realtors will only show you homes listed in the MLS or Multiple Listing Service. However, a buyer’s agent has no such restrictions. They will even show you homes that are for sale by owner, corporate or bank owned and expired. This gives you a much wider array of homes from which to choose.

There are additional services a buyer’s agent can also provide at no additional charge to you. Research and market analysis of the home you are considering and the homes in the area are quite valuable services and can prove to be highly beneficial when determining a fair market value for a home. The negotiation skills a buyer’s agent possesses will assist in making the best possible offer on a home so the buyer gets the best deal. When an offer is countered, you can be assured the advice given is in your best interests whether that means that raising your offer will still be lucrative or it is best to walk away from a particular deal.

The buyer’s agent works for you and has your best interests at heart. They have an obligation to divulge to you any pertinent information about the seller and an additional obligation to keep your information confidential. This course can be highly beneficial when it comes to purchasing a home. Buying a home is an important step and one that takes a lot of time effort and money. You should have someone in your corner during this process to make sure you get the best possible value for your money.