Buying A Home?? Realtor or No Realtor is the question! (Morristown: sales, attorney)

[Niceguynj]

When buying a home should you use a buyers agent realtor? Or Go it alone?

Here are some pros vs cons.

NOT using a realtor

Pros
you can craigslist all you want
you can meet listing agent asfter listing agent
you can feel like you are in control

Cons
Listing agents will be against you the buyer
Sales centers will be against you
waiting for each listing agent to actually show up
googling your eyes out
Less money saved most good buyers agents are top negotiators

[NatasNJ]

Originally Posted by Niceguynj

When buying a home should you use a buyers agent realtor? Or Go it alone?

Here are some pros vs cons.

NOT using a realtor

Pros
you can craigslist all you want
you can meet listing agent asfter listing agent
you can feel like you are in control

Cons
Listing agents will be against you the buyer
Sales centers will be against you
waiting for each listing agent to actually show up
googling your eyes out
Less money saved most good buyers agents are top negotiators

Only reason I would forgo a realtor as a BUYER is if you thought you can save some of the typical 3% fee they take for showing you the homes, etc... But since that is impossible unless you yourself are an agent it is pointless to try. So get an agent and let the SELLER pay their fees.

[tallguylehigh]

I think you summed up the points pretty clearly, but let me throw some of my points in the mix as well.

The first home I bought was only using the listing agent, and that was a big mistake for the reasons that you already listed (agent is only looking out for sellers).

My advice is this- if you know the area you are interested in, go to an office, or try to search online to find the shrewdest negotiator that you can. THAT is where I have seen realtor's show their worth. Finding the house for you? Not so much. My realtor started out showing us a stack of houses that we found ones we liked and looked at. One that wave was over though, it quickly devolved to "here is whats new on the market," not "here is what I think you would like." In this day and age when you have access to sites like realtor.com, gsmls.com, etc you have access to 95% of the information the realtors do and you will know what you want in a house much better than the best realtors, because its your house! Both of my houses I found myself, and it wasn't because my realtors were lazy, but rather my search adapted and morphed in ways they cant anticipate. Once you have found the house you think you want, consult the realtor if it is in their area of expertise. A realtor from Hackettstown is not going to know the details about the Morristown market- and that info can go a long way in negotiating. Perhaps ask for a referral.

This is not a slight on all realtors in any way, shape or form. This is merely pointing out my experiences.

[Jillian Mason]

I say go for it! A realtors job is to help you and they are paid by the sellers. Find an agent you feel comfortable with or ask your family, friends, and coworkers to refer you to an agent they liked.

[lisadutka]

You cannot save money by going to the sellers agent or even worse a sales center rep .the risk is just too great anyway.

Finding the home is the easy part but who will balance the equation out.
when...

its time for negotiation......

writing the contract..........

inspection points,...........

appraisal points..........

The listing agent??? The agent in new construction sales center??......

They represent the SELLER. Dual disclosed Agency is a joke that like somebody suing you, then asking......Hey would you use my attorney??

Can you say Conflict Of Interest????

[lorit_nj]

So with all this in mind, is there a list, or a way, to find real people recommending their hard working realtors and why? Or could that be a conflict of interest on this site?

This has been a terrific forum, by the way...a great help when I sold my house last summer (dual agent, but its done) and now, while I look for a new place (in spite of the economy). But finding someone who will work for me....it's been tough. How does one sift through all the offerings to find the "right" one?

[lisadutka]

By the way the seller pays the commission not the buyer.

So No Worries :-)

[JamesBoyer]

Originally Posted by lorit_nj

So with all this in mind, is there a list, or a way, to find real people recommending their hard working realtors and why? Or could that be a conflict of interest on this site?

This has been a terrific forum, by the way...a great help when I sold my house last summer (dual agent, but its done) and now, while I look for a new place (in spite of the economy). But finding someone who will work for me....it's been tough. How does one sift through all the offerings to find the "right" one?

Quality is in the eye of the beholder in many cases. Ether get a referal from someone you trust, not Realtors who are family members or a cousin of a friend.

Moderator cut: nice veiled try



Jim

[Marc Paolella]

Just to amplify: The comments posted here on dual agency are correct. AVOID IT AT ALL COSTS. It should be illegal, like it is in several states. However it is not.

You do have to consent to it in writing however. So just don't consent. If you are working with an agent and you happen to fall in love with one of their listings, it is time to find a different agent from another company and make the offer with your own independent representation.

If a buyer's agent cannot be an advocate, there is no point in having one.

-Marc

[JamesBoyer]

Who knows what county this person may be looking in. What am I supposed to say, call your local weich, or CB office and take the first person who has a hart beat answering the phone?? I am sure you will get some real quality representation that way.

Try googling somerset county or what ever if that is the county your looking in. In almost any county in any state in the country you are more likely to find a savvy Realtor the way I suggested, than many of the other ways of finding a Realtor. Of course oakman will disagree with that as well, since he knows it all.