buying process without an agent, and successfully, then this is the part when you’ll wish you’d have taken the time to find an agent to work on your behalf. Negotiating is a skill — an important skill in real estate — and not everyone has this skill. Real estate agents are trained in negotiating, and, with years of experience under their belt, only get better with time. A fresh-to-the-market real estate agent might not be any more skilled at negotiating than you are. DON’T NEGOTIATE ALONE. If you enter the negotiating process without a good buyer’s agent to work on your behalf and to back you up, then you could be asking for trouble. You could be taken advantage of by the listing agent, who wants his or her commission as well as to get a great deal for the seller — not for you. The listing agent and the seller want to sell the home for as much as they can (within reason), but you want to purchase the home at an amount you can afford, and maybe lower (within reason). Don’t navigate this important aspect of home buying by your lonesome; hire
a good agent to help you! DO PREPARE FINANCIALLY. It’s important that you take care in ensuring you
knowyour financial status before you ever get to the negotiationprocess.This basicallymeans 1) finding out howmuch you can afford—for a down payment and for monthly mortgage payments, as well as other expenses that come with homeownership — and then 2) getting pre-approved for a home loan fromyour bank or other reputable mortgage-lending company.
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