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Video Three
Do I Really Need a Real Estate Agent?

In this video, we ask the question “Do I really need a real estate agent?” To help us answer this question, we welcome Regional Manager, Chris Dickson, who tells us all about the role of a professional real estate agent and what we can expect during the home buying process.

 

KRISTIE: Hi everyone, I’m Kristie Forsman with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty and you’re watching our video series all about buying your first home.

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In this video, we ask the question “Do I really need a real estate agent?” To help us answer this question, we welcome Regional Manager, Chris Dickson, who tells us all about the role of a professional real estate agent and what we can expect during the home buying process.

 

KRISTIE: Hi everyone, I’m Kristie Forsman with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty and you’re watching our video series all about buying your first home. So, in today’s world it’s so easy to access information about real estate. We can search for homes online. We can virtually tour a house. We can even apply for a mortgage directly from our cellphones. So with all of this in mind, it really poses the question, “Do we even need a real estate agent?” Well the answer is yes and here to tell us why is one of our Regional Managers, Chris Dickson.

CHRIS: Hi everybody.

KRISTIE: Welcome to the show.

CHRIS: Thank you very much.

KRISTIE: So Chris, the real estate industry has really changed over the past five, ten years, hasn’t it?

CHRIS: Absolutely. You know, you mentioned, the biggest change is the accessibility of information. Buyers have access to every single property there is on the market.

KRISTIE: Right.

CHRIS: Through the major markets they have access to community information and school information and even property estimates. Of course there’s another thing that’s changed, the complexity of the real estate transaction.

KRISTIE: Okay.

CHRIS: Between contracts to inspection process to disclosures and even the mortgage process. So in some ways it’s changed to make it easier for buyers and in some ways… more challenging.

KRISTIE: Yeah, that’s a good point. So I bet that’s even changed the relationship between the real estate agent and the homebuyer.

CHRIS: In many ways it has. Buyers are coming to us more educated because of the information available to them. They’ve seen the properties online that they want us to show them most of the time. How we communicate has changed. The technology we use to deliver information… to even get signatures has changed.

KRISTIE: Okay. So with all this information at our fingertips, why do first time homebuyers need to use a real estate agent?

CHRIS: Well first and foremost, they need to know that they have somebody that they can trust to represent their best interest. They need someone who can educate them and guide them through the very complex process… that can help them understand contracts, understand the process of inspections. Understand the value of the property. They need someone who will really protect their interest. You know, for most buyers it’s actually a very emotional experience… to buy their first home.

KRISTIE: Yeah, it is.

CHRIS: So, they need someone who can be objective. Who really cares about them to help them make the right decisions. And they need someone who can negotiate strong for them.

KRISTIE: Absolutely.

CHRIS: That can get them the best price and terms.

KRISTIE: That’s such a good point. You know, the process of buying your first home is very confusing so if you’ve never been through the home buying process before, you might get a little lost. So it’s great to know that a real estate agent’s actually going to have your back and work with you every step of the way.

KRISTIE: So Chris, how much does it cost for a homebuyer to use a real estate agent?

CHRIS: Well, here’s the thing, for all the things I just suggested…

KRISTIE: Yeah.

CHRIS: That buyer needs from a real estate agent… they don’t pay it.

KRISTIE: Seriously?

CHRIS: The seller does.

KRISTIE: Wow! I don’t think a lot of homebuyers know that.

CHRIS: I don’t think they do.

KRISTIE: That’s amazing.

CHRIS: Absolutely.

KRISTIE: So, how should first time homebuyers go about finding a real estate agent?

CHRIS: Well, one way is just to ask someone you know for a referral. Find someone that’s recently bought a home and has had a good experience with an agent.

KRISTIE: Yeah.

CHRIS: You can also research a ton online.

CHRIS: You can go to company websites, to agent websites, to agent profile pages and even read reviews and testimonials.

KRISTIE: Absolutely. We actually have an agent compatibility quiz on our website and you can find that on our website at thepreferredrealty.com. All you need to do is go on there, fill out a couple questions, and we’ll actually match you with a real estate agent that best fits your needs.

KRISTIE: All right Chris, so we always end the show with a piece of advice for first time homebuyers. What would that be from you?

CHRIS: First, go out and find your local Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices The Preferred Realty agent. Hey, we have a great company. We have great agents. What else am I going to say? Do your research online. I would go into the process first, understanding not just the perspective of what you want to buy but who’s going to represent you well when you find the home you want to buy. So, do your homework. Research properties. Research agents, companies, certainly get preapproved. Our company has a fantastic mortgage company that can support our buyers with that.  I would recommend using a company that has that one-stop shopping experience.

CHRIS: And expertise. Find a good agent, listen to them, let them guide you.

KRISTIE: Great advice.

KRISTIE: If you’re thinking about buying your first home, now is a perfect time to start talking with a professional real estate agent. We actually have 18 local offices and hundreds of real estate agents are ready to talk to you. So you can get more information on our website at thepreferredrealty.com. Thanks again, Chris, for being on the show today and thanks for everyone who was watching. We hope you stay tuned for our next episode.

 

 

 



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