Do you need to hire an agent to help you find your Intown Atlanta home?

We can help. We specialize in Intown Atlanta neighborhoods including: Virginia-Highland, Midtown, Grant Park, Kirkwood, Inman Park, Candler Park, Midtown West and many more!

What is a Buyer’s Agent?
A real estate agent who is employed by and represents only the buyer is a “buyer’s agent”. Until a few years ago, home buyers had no one to represent their interests in the buying process.  In the past all residential real estate agents represented the seller in the real estate transaction. That was true of the “listing agent” who listed the home for sale as well as the agent who brought the buyer to the transaction. That agent who helped the buyer find the right home actually worked for the seller as a “sub-agent” of the listing agent. Today buyers can choose to have individual, confidential representation by choosing to work with a buyer’s agent.

Why Should I Use an Agent?
Without a buyer’s agent, you are really on your own in one of the biggest financial decisions you will every make. Since the listing agent legally represents the seller, they cannot truly represent your best interest.  The seller’s agent can offer some services to you including  helping you find a home, an explanation of available financing, calculations of monthly payments, estimation of settlement charges and presenting your offer to buy. The seller’s agent cannot, however, disclose information not in the best interest of the seller such as opinion of the home’s real value or what price and terms the seller would accept. By law, the seller’s agent must negotiate on behalf of the seller.

What will my Buyer’s Agent do for me?
Your buyer’s agent will represent your best interest and is bound by state law, the Realtors Code of Ethics and General Principals of agency law to provide you with:

• Loyalty
• Diligence
• Confidentiality
• Disclosure
• Accountability
• Reasonable Care

The buyer’s agent will show available homes, point out the features of the home, provide financing information and submit the offer for purchase. But that is not all. As your representative, the buyer’s agent can share valuable and essential information that the seller’s agent may not want to share such as:

• How long the property has been on the market
• Weaknesses as well as strengths of the property
• The seller’s motivation if know, such as timetable or reason for selling
• A market evaluation of what has sold that is comparable
• A copy of the tax records which usually show how much the seller paid for the property and how long they have owned it

You can ask the buyer’s agent for advice and assistance in setting you offering price and structuring the other terms of your offer. You will have an advocate working on your behalf to help you buy the home you want at the right price.

Who pays the Buyer’s Agent?
In almost all home purchases, the agents are paid by the seller.  The seller pays the same commission for the sale whether the buyer has an agent or not.