House Buying 101: 4 Services Your Real Estate Agent Should Offer

Posted on: 31 October 2017

Now that you're ready to buy your dream home, you'll need a reliable real estate agent to work with throughout the process. Here are four services the real estate agent you decide to hire should offer:

Inspection Checklist Creation

One important service your real estate agent should offer is a customized inspection checklist for any prospective homes you are interested in buying based on their age, price, condition, and past maintenance records. While some homes may need several inspections to ensure a good investment, others may require just a foundation or electrical inspection. Your real estate agent should have the knowledge and experience required to understand what inspections the seller or buyer should pay for, when those inspections should be done, and whether any of the inspections will play a major role in the overall decision making process when deciding if you want to make an offer on a home.

Open House Representation

Another service that should be offered by your real estate agent is representation at open houses during the first phase of your home shopping experience. You shouldn't have to spend valuable time on touring homes that you're not even sure will meet your needs and expectations in the end. Having your real estate agent tour prospective homes for you first will help you weed out the less desirable options so you can spend your time touring the ones that make it on your short list.

Investment Negotiations

When it comes time to make an offer on a home you want to purchase, your real estate agent should be able and willing to negotiate the price for you and ensure that you get the best deal possible. They'll use all aspects of the home's condition and age to negotiate a price that reflects any work that you may need to do to the property in the future. For example, if the home's HVAC system is a decade old and has never been professionally maintained, your real estate agent may be able to get you a better price on the home so you can afford to upgrade the heater and air conditioner in the near future.

Escrow Support

After an offer you make on the home you want to buy is accepted, you'll work with the escrow company to transfer funds and to officially record the sale. The process can get confusing, and if any paperwork is improperly filled out or overlooked, escrow could be put on hold and you'll have to wait longer before you can move into the home. With an experienced real estate agent by your side, you can rest assured that the escrow process moves smoothly so you can get the keys to your new place as soon as possible.  

For more information on how a real estate agent can help you buy a home, contact local real estate companies in your area today.

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