There are 268 open houses this weekend
within 20 mile radius of Atlanta. Open
houses are just that, open to the public. Although it has become general practice for buyers to attend open houses
unrepresented, I strongly encourage you contact a buyer’s agent beforehand, and
meet your agent there. Some of you may
think that you do not need a buyer’s agent since an agent is already present at
each open house. Remember, that agent
works for the seller, not you. They are
trying to get the best possible price for their client, the seller, not
you. You need an agent representing you
who truly has your best interest in the deal.
Having an agent working for you
protects you from the rose covered homebuyer goggles many of us wear as we tour
a home. As you are thinking about what
color to paint the walls, or where your sofa will go, your agent is looking for
red flags such as cracks in foundation, roof issues or mildew deposits. Your agent also has instant access to
information, most of it readily available on their smartphone that would take the average buyer hours
or longer to compile. Information such
as number of previous homeowners, purchase price with mortgage history, HOA
restrictions that may affect your overall use with regards to renting or
parking an RV, whether or not the property is located in a flood zone, etc.
Bringing a buyer’s agent also provides
a degree of separation in terms of negotiating. Some homebuyers wear their enthusiasm on their face when touring a
house. Letting the agent negotiate for
you takes out the emotional connection the buyer may have with that house when dealing with
the listing agent. Not to mention, your
agent will run a comparative market analysis on the home and look at neighborhood
trends to advise you in an offer price rather than accept the list price at
face value.
So if you plan to tour one of the 268
open houses this weekend, give one of our agents a call, and let us assist you in
your home buying process.