Choosing An Agent

This article appeared in the September 1, 2007, issue of the Charlotte Observer. This is a well done piece with allot of useful information. In all instances a buyer should have their own agent, as it is crucial that someone advocate only for you. It is legal for the seller's agent to operate as a dual agent but, in my opinion it is not a good idea for a buyer to enter into this type of arrangement. Do your homework and find someone you like and trust to work as your buyer's agent.

The best agent for you
Ready to buy? Experts share tips on finding a real estate professional

KATHY HAIGHT
khaight@charlotteobserver.com

When you're in the market for a home, what's the best way to find a real estate agent to represent you?

We asked syndicated real estate columnist Robert Bruss for his advice. We also consulted columnist Ilyce Glink's book "100 Questions Every First-Time Home Buyer Should Ask" and talked with broker Michael Fournier of Helen Adams Realty. Here are some of their other suggestions:

• Ask friends and business associates to recommend buyer's agents.

Any agent can be a buyer's agent. The term just means the agent agrees to represent you in your home search, even though they may represent sellers in other transactions.

If you walk into a model home, the agent on duty represents the seller. You want someone to advocate for you -- and to point out the benefits and drawbacks of the home a seller's agent may be gushing about.

Some buyer's agents are called "exclusive" buyer's agents, which means they never represent sellers. Whichever you choose, make sure the agent has experience with homes in the neighborhoods and price range you're interested in.

• Don't assume you'll save money buying a house without an agent.

With all the home-buying advice available online and in books, you may be tempted to go it alone. It's a bad idea, say Bruss, Glink and Fournier.

You won't save money, and you'll miss out on the wealth of info a good buyer's agent can provide -- including facts about school districts, traffic, and other pros and cons of the house you want to buy.

Sellers usually figure a 5 to 6 percent commission into the price of a home. They're not going to reduce that, says Bruss, just because you don't have an agent. Even when homes are "for sale by owner," sellers usually agree to pay a commission to the buyer's agent.

Another thing a buyer's agent does is prepare a written comparative market analysis (CMA) when you're seriously considering making an offer on a home. This shows recent sales prices of similar homes nearby, which helps buyers avoid paying too much.