Work With More Than One Real Estate Agent When Buying a Home
Many potential home buyers do not realize it, but it is perfectly legal and perfectly
acceptable to work with more than just one real estate agent when shopping for a home.
Working with more than one agent can have significant advantages, such as a greater
number of properties to choose from and greater real estate expertise.
It can sometimes be difficult, however, to make working with more than one
real estate agent work.
There are several important things to keep in mind if you plan to use more than one real
estate agent to find the home of your dreams.
For starters, it is important to be honest with each of the agents. Let each agent
know that you are working with another agent or agents. Remember that real estate
agents make their living from selling properties, and they have the right to know when
there is another agent involved.
If, on the other hand, one or both real estate agents expresses concern or resentment
about your working with more than one agent, you may want to reevaluate your choice
of agents. A good, experienced and competent real estate agent should not have a
problem with you working with another agent, so long as you are honest and forthright.
In many cases, letting each agent know that you are working with another agent may
spur both agents to work harder to find you a home.
It is essential, however, to keep the relationship with all the agents professional,
and never to talk about one agent with another. Doing so shows a lack of respect
for both agents, and it can come back to haunt you as the home buying process moves forward.
It is also vital to provide each of the agents with your goals and objectives for the
purchase of the home. In addition, let each real estate agent know your price range
for the purchase.
When working with more than one real estate agent, it is very important to return all
phone calls as soon as possible to keep the lines of communication open, and to avoid
having the same real estate agent call with information on the same property. Getting
the same information from two or three different agents can cause problems and make
the agents feel they are wasting their time. It is also a good idea to avoid going
to open houses on your own. Doing so can cause additional issues between you and your
agents.
After you have found a property on which you want to make an offer, it is time to
choose which real estate agent you want to represent you. This can be either one
of the agents you have been working with, or even the listing agent holding the open
house you attend.
Working with more than one agent can have its challenges, but as long as it is done
carefully it can have many advantages. It is important to honor the obligation to
the agent and the information he or she has provided. For this reason, if you do
find a home you are interested in buying, it should be purchased through the agent
who showed you the home or told you about it in the first place.
It is also important not to waste the time of either agent by asking him or her to
show you a property you have little interest in. Remember that these agents make
their living through selling property, and that their time is valuable as is yours.
The bottom line is that you should not feel guilty about using more than one real
estate agent to find a home. Using more than one agent can help you find a home
more quickly and within your price range. The best way to make this complicated
relationship work, however, is to be honest with all the parties involved, and to
be sure to reward the agents for their hard work on your behalf.
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