Searching for Your Home
With all the websites out there you can do the bulk of your search from the comfort of your home. Websites such as Zillow, and HouseHunt.com have more listings (homes for sale) than you could ever dream of. These sites are able to filter and hone your search with a high degree of specificity.
A drawback to these websites is that they can be one-dimensional and don’t always give you the entire picture. A real estate agent well versed in the area can provide an opinion on whether the home is overpriced and the general price trend of the homes in the area. You must remember that your home is an investment. Should you decide to sell at some point in the future, wouldn’t it be nice to make a little money on the side? Or at least break even?
A good agent will also be able to supply comprehensive advice and ensure that you and your new home are a true match. An agent will help you search for a home, give neighborhood, legal and home disclosure advice when needed and can even arrange a private showing. They will guide you through the growing mountains of paperwork required to complete your purchase, and negotiate on your behalf to find you the very best price.
Another positive that hiring a real estate agent brings to the table is that you gain all of the agent’s connections. This means finding competent and reliable people to go through your prospective home and ensure that everything is truly as good (or as bad) as it sounds. The last thing you want when buying a home are surprises.
Now is a good time to remind you that as a buyer, using a real estate agent is completely free! Do yourself a favor and find an agent that you trust.
