but only when agreed upon in negotiations with the buyer, seller and agents. In this case, the buyer's agent either gets paid directly by the buyer or set up the transaction so that the seller provides a “credit” to the buyer for how much the real estate commission is. A maxim in real estate is, “No matter how it’s set up, the buyer still walks away with the house and the seller still walks away with, in this example, 97% of the purchase price.”
MORE ACCESS TO THE REAL ES O THE REAL ESTATE MARKE TE MARKET
A real estate agent will have better access to the market and special knowledge of local conditions. The agent is a liaison between sellers and buyers. An agent will have ready access to other properties listed by other agents. Buyers’ and sellers’ agents know how to put a real estate deal together. A real estate agent will track down homes that meet your criteria, contact sellers’ agents, and secure appointments for viewing the homes. On their own, buyers have a more difficult time with these things, and is even more so the case when a buyer is moving due to relocation or an employment opportunity and does not engage a buyer’s agent to handle matters.
NEGOTIATING IS HARDER ON YOUR OWN
A real estate agent will keep the transaction “at arm’s length,” such that personalities and emotions do not become involved. Price negotiations take a special skill and understanding of the psychology of offering and counter-offering. Agents keep the transaction dispassionate and rational. For example, a buyer (you) might like a home, but do not like, for example, that it is outdated with wood-paneled walls, shag carpet, and a lurid orange kitchen. When you work with an agent, you can express your opinions on the current owner’s
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