listing agent will point out all the features of a home; a good buyer’s agent will point to the faults—or advise when they can be overlooked. Competent buyer’s agents can help veterans think clearly as the home-buying process unfolds. For example, if a house is a good buy, a buyer’s agent might suggest looking past the dated bathroom and kitchen and look at the space above the garage that will make the perfect art studio you desire. Likewise, a cute house with all the amenities but with knob-and-tube wiring or a 40-year-old roof might not be worth the asking price. According to the San Francisco Chronicle’s Home Guide, if you decide to buy with the intention of building an addition, or making modifications to accommodate a veteran who uses a wheelchair, or has another type of disability, the agent should advise you to check the zoning before making an offer. Agree to sign a buyer’s agreement after you have met with an agent, and discuss the terms for payment, whether that's a negotiated commission structure or a direct payment from buyer to the buyer's agent. A buyer’s agent is legally required to maintain your confidentiality, disclose material facts to you, including the potential for direct compensation, and maintain loyalty to you.
LOOK FOR PROPER CREDENTIALS
You wouldn’t trust a doctor who didn’t have the proper credentials and licensing. Don’t trust a real estate agent who doesn’t present theirs or doesn’t have them at all. It’s easy to find real estate agents who can take the job, but finding agents with special credentials—like those who have gone that extra step to take additional classes in certain specialties of real estate sales and have worked with veterans using their VA benefits to buy a home—is worth looking into.
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