Should I Use a Real Estate Agent...

Or should I try to go it alone?

You Know You Need Some Help...
But is an agent for you?

You want to buy a new home. You know you need some help so, like a smart consumer, you have turned to the Internet to find out what you need to know. You are controlling your own destiny. Perhaps you've been through this process before and think you can save some money in the long run by doing it on your own. Perhaps you are new to this and know you need some guidance. Your problem is whether or not you should use a Real Estate agent when purchasing a home?

Chances are you should use someone to represent you.

Examining Your Position
How prepared are you to do it alone?

You have to ask yourself if you really have the time and resources to do the job yourself. Even with the help of the Internet, you may have a rough time of it alone. Don't get ahead of yourself. Buying a home is a lengthy and involved process and a big financial step. You are doing the right thing to learn (and remember) everything you can about the process, but a professional, experienced Real Estate Agent can help you avoid the mistakes that are not obvious. Plus things change. They may be a little different than the last time you bought a home. An agent can help you understand some of the more confusing things that you will have to go through in the process of becoming a homeowner, such as:

• Guiding you through the buying process
  
  As you know the first step in the buying process is finding out how much you can buy. An agent can help you determine this. They also have contacts with a variety of lenders who can help pre-approve you for a loan.
  
  
• Finding the house
  
  An agent has access to homes-far more than you can find on your own driving through neighborhoods or looking on the Internet. A professional agent will know what houses are available in your area. They will have access to the MLS (multiple listing service), a local listing of all of the houses that are for sale (and listed by other agents) and how much the owners are asking for their homes. In most cases, they will have visited many of the homes and will know if it suits your needs without another trip. This can save you a lot of time.
  
  
• Selecting the right house
  
  This is an agent's forte. They can assist you by providing objective information about the house that you may not have thought about on your own. This includes things like when the roof was last replaced and the age of the furnace. It could also include little amenities you would miss on your quick run through. It is easy to get distracted by fancy wallpaper and miss the big picture. An agent can help keep you on track.
  
  
• Negotiating
  
  Real estate deals are full of negotiating factors. You can try to negotiate for points, price, and even curtains. An agent knows what is up for negotiation and what is not. Your agent can help you include clauses in the purchase agreement that make the sale contingent upon passing certain inspections and investigations of the property. Your agent can help guide you to the right inspections, which can save you money.
  
  
• Closing
  
  When it is time to settle on the property, you will want someone to represent you. The way closings work varies around the country, but agents will always be familiar with the process and be able to help you so it moves smoothly.

Need More Facts?

Move on...we have more details to help you make an informed decision.

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