Buying a home is likely the single biggest purchase anyone will make in their lifetime. So when it comes time to purchase a house for yourself, you need to find a good real estate agent to help you navigate the purchase. Here are a few “did you know’s” that answer some questions you may not have even known you had. But they are good to know as you start in your process.

1. A real estate agent is FREE for you to use?
It’s true! Compensation for the agent assisting the buyer is typically paid by the seller of the property. So a buyer doesn’t need to budget in those costs when looking for a house. And if an agent is free, why would anyone choose to NOT use one?

MYTH BREAK! You can get a “better deal” on a house if you don’t use a buyer’s agent and buy the house through the listing agent. We hear this all of the time. There are some listing agents who will try to convince you that they will, “get you a better deal” if you don’t have a buyer’s agent involved. Don’t be fooled, those agents work for the seller, not you. The only people getting the better deal is the agent and their clients at your expense.

2. You need to have representation in the home buying process.
No matter what anyone says or does, you as a buyer need to have representation when buying a house. You need to have someone on your side to help guide you through the buying process. To make sure you don’t breach the contract in some way and lose the house. Or miss out on a key timeline step that could cause you to give up a right you might have had if you didn’t miss it, etc. There are many things with the purchase of house you need to be aware of and you need a good agent to help you along the way.

3. You only need to work with one agent to see any house you want.
Yes, your buyer’s agent has the ability to show you any house, listed by any company. No need for you to call on several agents just to see some houses. Find one you like and build a rapport with them, it will make the search so much easier and enjoyable.

TIP: Pick an agent BEFORE you even start looking at house. Have a consultation with them and lay out a good game plan for your search. You will be glad you did!

4. While visiting open houses is a great and convenient way to see what is out there, in some cases doing so without representation can preclude you from being able to have representation should you want to buy that house.
While rare, this can happen. It shouldn’t be this way, but in some instances the representation of the seller has made a decision to operate in this way. The best thing to do is seek your own real estate agent to assist you in the search and they can help you navigate viewing open houses. Back to the above tip-find your agent before any house hunting!

5. A Realtor can also assist you in buying a For Sale By Owner listing.
Just because the seller has chosen to go at things on their own, doesn’t mean you have to! In most cases, a For Sale By Owner seller has already offered compensation for a Realtor should they bring a buyer to their property. So utilize your agent for those listings as well and have all of the benefits of representation on your side.

6. A Realtor can even assist you in finding properties that are not currently on the market, but could be available to you.
Having trouble finding the right house? There are hundreds of houses out there at any point in time that may not be listed for sale, but could be coming soon! The right real estate agent can help you find them.

7. Picking the right real estate agent is important.
Not all agents are equal. The market is flooded with numerous agents with varying degrees of ability to help their clients. Make sure you pick the one that can work with your schedule and be available when you need them. Having a good agent that knows what you are looking for, and is easy to work with will make your home search easy and enjoyable!

As you probably gathered, having a real estate agent on your side as a buyer is extremely important. This is a huge purchase you are making and it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Agents have the experience and expertise to help you navigate the process and make sure that you do things right and don’t leave yourself open to any problems. So before you buy, talk to an expert and let them guide you to your purchase!