It is not quite the chicken or the egg debate, but it is an age-old question when buying a home: Should you find a house or a real estate agent first?
While technically, you can go either way, many people find that searching for a real estate agent first makes the process of buying a new home much smoother. Here are some reasons why:
1. They can help you find a lender.
Most experts agree that you need to find a lender and get prequalified for a loan before you even think about searching for a house. A seasoned real estate agent has most likely worked with dozens of lenders and can help set you up with someone who is right for you. Using a lender who your agent is familiar with can actually help speed up the buying process.
2. Agents know the area.
If you are new to Atlanta or new to a particular Atlanta neighborhood, you may end up regretting your home choice because maybe you paid too much compared to the value of others homes in the area or maybe you thought you were in one school district, but you are in a completely different one. A real estate agent who works in that neighborhood often can help guide you so you do not make these mistakes.
3. They have more access.
Perhaps you think you found your dream home, but you had to give up a few features like that extra bedroom or the three-car garage. Little do you know, a house similar to the one you found but that does have those features just went up for sale two days ago. It may not be online yet, but your agent knows all about it and can guide you there before you sign on the dotted line. Agents know what homes are on the market, and when provided with a list of your needs and desires, they can guide you to something perfect.
4. Agents negotiate prices for you.
Maybe you found a house, but you give up on it because it is slightly out of your budget. What you may not realize is that it has been on the market for nine months, and the buyer really wants to sell it, so he or she might be willing to lower the price. Your agent would know this, however, and will work to negotiate that price down to something you can afford. He or she will also know what other homes in the neighborhood typically sell for and use that to alert you to a great or terrible deal.
5. It does not cost anything.
Finally, why not take free help when you can get it? When you buy a home, you only pay commission to the seller’s agent, not the buyer’s. Why would you want to turn that down? The paperwork involved in the home-buying process in Georgia can be inches thick and extremely complicated for many people to understand. Do not risk missing out on a great home, paying an inflated price or making a costly mistake with your contract when there is someone out there who will become your personal home-buying advisor for free.
If you are ready to buy a home, call 404.237.5000 to speak with a trusted real estate agent at Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International Realty.