Many people tentatively commence their house hunting by picking up a local newspaper, searching through various web sites and randomly attending open houses. This “on my own” methodology can become frustrating once folks realize they’ve been wasting their valuable time viewing homes that may not fully meet their needs or fit their budget. Furthermore, open houses are managed by a real estate agent who, by law, represents only the seller’s best interests. The question is: who best represents the buyer?
Before you go house hunting in earnest, choose a Realtor® with an ABR® designation next to his or her name. This highly qualified real estate professional is specifically trained to represent you, the buyer. Since buying a home is probably the single most expensive and significant purchase you will make throughout your lifetime, it’s essential to have a top guide who will be your “project manager” to handle the many behind-the-scenes details through the closing process and beyond.
Working with an ABR gives a buyer a second set of very objective eyes. A buyer can easily fall in love with a property and unwittingly become blind-sided to its shortcomings. However, when an ABR takes a buyer out for private showings, he or she uncovers the not so obvious pros and cons of each property by posing a series of focused questions to the listing agent. Knowing the right questions to ask gives the buyer important information that can make the difference between buying the right home – versus making a significant, regrettable mistake.
An ABR’s services also include researching the prices of comparable properties to determine whether a home is overpriced for current market conditions – which have been rapidly changing rapidly throughout the past few years – month by month! An ABR then negotiates a purchase price in your favor, coordinates a thorough home inspection (sometimes leading to additional negotiations), assists in finding an attorney, facilitates financing through a reputable lender, and handles every last detail to ensure that all goes smoothly toward a successful, on-time closing. Success is carefully planned!
Bottom line: you wouldn’t think of going on a safari without a guide. The same holds true for house hunting. Because it’s often the “unseen things” that cause the biggest problems, it’s smart to have a great guide who knows what to look for every step of the way.
Keith Munsell 
Great post Mark, It reads like my mission statement. the consumers continue to be ignorant regarding Buyers Agency and its advantages because there are so few who do Buyers Agency well it makes us all look bad.