Being a buyer’s agent is more than just looking at our local MLS and Zillow. I have years of education, licensing, expertise and market experience to provide my buyers with the best possible home buying experience.
From mortgage pre-approval to house hunting to closing, the home buying process may not always be entirely straightforward. Often times it can be overwhelming and a little bit scary. Whatever your home buying experience, having someone on your side to help you navigate the ins and outs of buying a home is a must! The best person for this job is an experienced buyer’s agent – like me! I will educate you on every aspect of purchasing a home so you can make fully informed decisions.
Having me as your real estate buyer’s expert on your side to answer your questions and help lead you through the process can lower any stress you as the buyer might feel.
What Is A Buyer’s Agent?
A buyer’s agent is a licensed real estate professional who represents the buyer during the home buying process. As a REALTOR® I am legally obligated to protect the best interests of my clients. I will exhaust every effort to find homes for you to view, submit offers to listing agents and negotiate the most favorable purchase contracts.
See What You Qualify For
How Is A Buyer’s Agent Different From A Listing Agent?
While both are real estate professionals who are heavily involved in completing real estate transactions, a buyer’s agent represents the buyer and their best interests while the listing agent represents the seller and their best interests. A listing agent works to minimize contingencies and maximize the seller’s profit from the sale, while the buyer’s agent negotiates the best deal on the home and ensures that the contract contains protections for the buyer.
How Can I, as Your Buyer’s Agent, Help You In The Home Buying Process?
When you enlist my help as your buyer’s agent, you can expect I will assist you with and provide my expertise on several aspects of your home buying process. Such as:
Find Properties To View
I will talk with you and ask questions to get a good sense of what you’re looking for. We will also discuss whether or not you will need financing and pre-approval. I can refer you to several mortgage brokers that can help you find the best financing for your needs and let you know how much home you can qualify for. Once we have these details, I can then can access our MLS database which has all the properties listed for sale on Kauai and help direct you to properties that may be a good fit for your needs. (If you haven’t already, you can sign up our website too (www.residekauai.com/nancy to access our MLS yourself.)
Schedule Viewings
Once we’ve found potential homes/properties for you I will schedule viewings with different listing agents. If you are not on island, I can arrange to face time with you or take a video recording of the property. On Kauai, many condos and homes are vacation rentals. I will work with the listing agent to find an available time between vacation rental guests.
Submit Offers
When you’ve found a property you want to purchase, I will help by writing and submitting offers on your behalf. This step in the home buying process involves a lot of paperwork (The Hawaii purchase contract is 14 pages long!) and legal jargon, so having an experienced professional on your side is a plus. We will discuss the offer strategy, earnest money deposits, contingencies, etc. and write the best possible offer for you.
Negotiate With The Listing Agent
Oftentimes, an offer from a buyer is met with a counteroffer from the seller. In this case, I will help negotiate the sales price and any contingencies or other terms in the contract that the seller counters. You can count on me to have your best interest in mind and give you my honest advice and expertise on your offer and any counteroffers you receive.
Manage Your Home Purchase Process
You’ll need to manage some important documents when you’re buying a home. I will stay on top of your paperwork so nothing important gets overlooked. This paperwork an include your:
Assist with mortgage application and pre-approval letter as needed, with your lender
Purchase agreement / offer
Opening escrow and introducing you to escrow officers and what to expect
·Creating and sharing timeline of all critical dates
Providing a “Transaction Coordinator” that assists with all documents and appointments and provides a back up to insure that nothing falls between the cracks
Make referrals to other professionals such as home, termite, mold inspectors, movers, vacation rental managers, handymen and more.
Arranging Home inspection reports, termite inspections, reviewing Seller’s Disclosure with you
Attend Final walkthrough of property
I can help spot potential issues and help clear them up before they become big problems.
How Do Real Estate Buyer’s Agents Get Paid?
My commission as a buyer’s agent is typically paid by the seller from the proceeds from the home sale. All commissions are negotiable.