Why You Should Use a Licensed REALTOR® When Purchasing a Home

Answering Common Excuses for Not Using a REALTOR®

Are you in the market to buy your first home? If so, I'm sure that you have heard many reasons that you should not use a REALTOR®, but I am here to debunk those home buying myths and give you some very valid reasons why using a licensed REALTOR® is in your best interests.

Test your knowledge below - Truth or Myth?

If I go straight to the listing agent, I'll get a better deal.
Myth. The real estate agent who has a home listed has a contractual obligation to the seller, not to you. That agent is duty-bound to work in the seller's best interests. By negotiating with the listing agent, without having your own agent for representation, you are denying yourself the opportunity to have a licensed professional work on your behalf.

Look at it this way: Would you, for example, want to be defended in court by the prosecuting attorney? My guess would be, no. So you probably should not rely on the listing agent to represent you. Why would you want to be represented by the agent who also represents the seller and has had a relationship with them for longer and cannot, legally, work solely in your best interests?

It will cost me too much money to work with a real estate agent.
Myth. Many consumers do not realize that, in most cases, the seller pays all of the real estate commissions, to both the listing agent and the buyers' agent. When a seller lists their home, they sign a listing agreement with the listing agent, in which they agree to the total commission to be paid on the sale of the home. This includes the commission that will be paid to the agent that represents you, the buyer. In most cases, the total commission is between 6% and 7% of the purchase price, which the listing agent splits with the agent representing the buyer.

So in short, it costs you nothing to have a licensed REALTOR® represent you in the purchase of a home.

I can find out everything I need to know to buy a home myself on the Internet.
Part Truth, Part Myth. The Internet is a valuable resource for homebuyers, especially now. Many really reputable REALTORS® have websites and blogs that provide a plethora of information that can be extremely helpful and educational for homebuyers.

However, the amount of information available can also be extremely overwhelming. Every site and article has links to other sites and articles, and the amount of information is virtually infinite. Do you have the time to read through seemingly endless articles and websites to get the information you need?

Also, almost anyone can publish articles and information to the Internet. How can you be sure that what you are reading is substantiated by fact? How can you be sure that the person who wrote that material is knowledgeable enough in the field to be qualified to give you this advice? How do you know that person is even a licensed REALTOR®?

Unlike a faceless author on the Internet, a licensed REALTOR® has a license number, and you can check the status of their license with their state real estate commission. You can interview that REALTOR® in person to see if you "click" with them and think you would enjoy working with them and trust them with your transaction. You can also ask for a list of past clients as references so that you can call and ask that person what their experience was working with that REALTOR®.

Additionally, a licensed REALTOR® has had considerable training both pre-license and post-license in all aspects of representing a buyer - don't waste your time trying to learn everything that an agent already knows. Spend your time finding the right agent, and then rely on them to do their job.

Buying a home is the American dream. A home is a great investment, but it is a huge financial commitment - for some people, it's the largest financial investment they will ever make. Shouldn't it be a priority to make sure that you have a licensed REALTOR® working in your best interests for the biggest financial investment of your life?

Copyright © 2007 Maura C. Gebhardt. All Content. All Rights Reserved.