Here’s why you should meet with a Realtor before you start looking at houses.
For some reason people tend to think the best way of going about buying their next home is by looking around online or in-person and then calling a real estate agent after finding the house they want. So why has that changed? Why should you meet with a Realtor before you start looking at homes? In our competitive market, the time it takes you to call and get an appointment with an agent could be the difference between getting the house of your dreams or or missing out on it.
You might be wondering what a meeting with a Realtor would involve if meeting before the home search process. While agents use the term “buyer consultation,” that’s a bit of real estate lingo; you better label it as an interview, a strategy session, or even just a “getting to know you” meeting. In this preliminary meeting, you’ll most likely talk about three main things:
1. The big picture. You’ll want your agent to bring you up to date on current market conditions and the steps to the purchase process – strategic steps to ensure you get your future offer accepted.
2. Your specific needs. What kind of home do you want, what price range can you afford, and do you have the best financing in place? A competent agent will only start showing homes once they know what your goals are and that together, you have a strategy in place for achieving them.
“Choose an agent that works for you and has your best interests in mind.”
3. Next steps. Lastly, your agent will take all the information and break it down into action steps. Some tasks will be yours as the purchaser and some will be theirs as the agent. The pace of the process will depend on you and your goals, your unique situation, and the current market conditions.
This first consultation with your agent establishes the relationship you’ll have as you work together throughout the whole process. It only makes sense to meet them ahead of time and make sure you get along! There’s a misconception that all Realtors are the same. In truth, every agent and every company does things a little differently. You need to make sure you choose an agent that works for you.
Plan on a meeting like this to be shorter if you are more experienced with buying homes and longer if you have more questions or concerns. Either way, the investment of time will most certainly give you the advantage in today’s market.
If you have any questions about how a buyer consultation might benefit you or any other real estate topics, feel free to give us a call. We’d love to help.