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Looking
out for your best interests:
By asking a Realtor to act on your behalf during the purchase of a
home, you create an Agency
Relationship and become the Realtor's client. REALTORS always
owe their clients full fiduciary duties, such as loyalty, obedience,
confidentiality, accountability, duty of care, and full disclosure
of all pertinent facts.
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Getting
the best deal - Know
the Market:
What have similar properties sold for in the immediate area? How
long were they on the market? How does this one compare? Is it
over-priced, under-priced, or fair value? What type of market is it
- is it a Seller's, Buyer's or a Balanced market? By having this
information at your fingertips, you are in a position to negotiate
the best price and take advantage of any opportunities that may show
up.
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Negotiation
expertise:
While a Realtor does many things, one of his or her most important
functions is to negotiate on behalf of their clients. When you
purchase a home, you want the best deal possible. Your Realtor's job
is to facilitate this by drawing up legally binding contracts,
assisting in negotiating offers, offering advice and perspective
and, if needed, acting as a mediator during any potential disputes
between the you and the seller.
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Finding
the right home and neighborhood
for you:
REALTORS spend a lot of time and energy making sure they know their
local market inside and out. They are familiar with the current
market values of properties in the areas you are looking and are
your best resource for finding the right home.
- Professional
experience:
A Realtor brings to the table all of his or her knowledge, training
and negotiation skills, and will explain exactly what you can expect
from the buying/selling process. He or she will be able to explain
your rights and obligations, help organize and strategize, and even
discuss financing options.
All REALTORS are members of
the National Association of Realtors (NAR). This organization
requires all of its members to adhere to a strict Code
of Ethics and Standard of Business Practice. The Code and
Standards are very important because they assure that all REALTORS
offer the highest level of service, honesty and integrity possible.
All REALTORS are subject to constant professional monitoring that
keeps them directly accountable to the individual consumers they
serve. NAR also ensures that all of its members are knowledgeable
and highly trained in order to better serve the public, and offers
ongoing education courses so that REALTORS continue to meet the
highest professional standards in a constantly changing industry.
- Determining your
"wish list":
What is it that you want from your new home? A particular style,
design, lot type? Proximity to schools, services, work? A pool? A
two-car garage? A specific price range? A Realtor will help identify
exactly what it is you are looking for and ensure that you get to
see all the homes that meet your criteria.
- Assist with
financing needs:
REALTORS are familiar with all of the complexities involved in the
pre-qualification, approval and negotiation of mortgage rates. Like
many industries, banks are experiencing quite a bit of competition
and are often willing to flex from their quoted rates. Experienced
REALTORS can often assist in finding the most competitive rates and
terms available.
- Access to Multiple
Listing Services:
REALTORS have exclusive access to the Multiple Listing Service
(MLS). The MLS system also allows a Realtor to examine all
properties for sale and short-list the ones that are right for you.
This not only offers more choices but also saves you valuable time
and effort.
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