HOW TO CHOOSE THE BEST AGENT FOR YOUR NEEDS UR NEEDS
As with any professional, there are degrees of professionalism, dedication, and experience. A good buyer’s agent will want to meet with and listen carefully to you. The agent will want to know what you are looking for in a house and the state of your finances. By law, the agent must clearly explain her understanding of agency relationships and obligations to you. The agent must show you all listings or properties on the market that meet your requirements, and not only listings that are handled in-house. Buyer’s agents have the legal duty to put the buyer’s needs ahead of their own. A good buyer’s agent will provide a home-buying education taking into consideration both the features and faults of the home. Competent buyer’s agents help their buyers to 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. If you decide to buy with the intention of building an addition, the agent should verify the zoning permissions and advise you before making an offer. A buyers agent is legally required to maintain your confidentiality, disclose material facts to you, and maintain loyalty to you. These are fiduciary duties. 7
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