It’s no secret that the real estate industry has evolved in numerous ways over the last decade. Smart phones, apps, and a variety of internet sites are taking the market by storm, and many looking to buy a home have unprecedented access to property information at their fingertips, without depending on a real estate agent.
There is one problem with this, many of these sites are outdated. Information that is said to be current is actually not, and misleading many homebuyers looking to buy in Ashevile. Our office receives many calls to ask about a certain properties found on Zillow or other sites, and more often than not, the property has already sold and is no longer available.
The internet is a good resource to get familiar and get started, however have a good buyer’s agent is key to finding the right Asheville home. What is a buyer’s agent? A buyer’s agent is there to protect the home buyers interest — tasks that reach far beyond the property search function. Here is a condensed list of the essential tasks that should be handled by a qualified buyer’s agent:
- Walk you through the buying process, at no cost to you. They will be able to be the giver of advice, schedule appointments, explain to you about neighborhoods and properties. They will negotiate on your behalf and write up contracts for you.
- Educate buyer’s on current market conditions
- Research homes in the area and sort through active listings to make suggestions after cross-referencing buyer’s needs (i.e. Which homes are located in areas that have retained home values? Which homes are located inside good school districts? Lower taxed areas? Easy work commutes? etc.)
- Help buyers achieve their lifestyle needs with a different set of features than originally anticipated (this is particularly useful when dealing with financial constraints)
- Aid buyers in narrowing their search until they have identified their top choices
- Handle the ins and outs of the negotiation process including the preparation of all necessary forms when making an offer and/or counteroffer
- Provide oversight and follow up for any inspections deemed necessary
- Counsel buyers on how to handle any repairs needed on the property
- Be present at closing to ensure that all the buyer’s interests are protected
Buyer’s agents are no longer the gatekeepers of property information, but understanding, evaluating, and presenting that property information to home buyers remains an integral part of an agent’s job. If done properly, everyone benefits; if ignored or executed inadequately, everyone suffers.
Search for an Asheville buyer’s agent now.
Source: Realtor.com | Forbes | North Carolina Association of REALTORS®
Connect