Hank Miller Team Real Estate Blog - buyer agents

"I Effed Up" - Mr. X Regrets Not Using an Agent

I didn’t expect the answer Mr. X gave me, nor how fast he said, “I effed up, didn't use an agent”. At least he was honest in telling me; “I didn’t know what I didn’t know”. And I was honest in telling him; “now you do”. He described how a friend called and said a home in their community was coming on the market. They were told that the seller "already had interest and wasn't even going to list". This was one of the spots Mr. X wanted badly, so they jumped on it. Without a second thought, without contingencies, and without an agent. As he said, they now realize that a purchase of this magnitude should never be rushed or taken lightly. These are tough conversations and unfortunately, they happen often.

The Anti Agent Push

As the real estate market…

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Skilled Buyer Agents are Critical

Skilled buyer agents are critical to a successful home purchase. Recent changes to real estate law regarding buyer agent compensation are prompting a new batch of "disruptive" and "innovative" ideas. Simply put, there is no substitute for the guidance provided by an experienced buyer's agent. The internet is ripe with "do it alone" advocates; that advice is straight stupid. Buying a home is a rather significant purchase, most buyers are not savvy to the process.  What could go wrong? Well...consider an inquiry that I received.

"After several missed opportunities a listing appeared in XXXX for an unoccupied home as an estate sale and the asking price was in line with market rates, so we made an offer of asking price. We engaged an inspector, but…

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How Will Home Buyers Pay Agents After the Commission Lawsuits

The multiple commission lawsuits impacting the real estate industry will change how home buyers, home sellers and real estate agents interact. If a home seller opts not to offer a co-op compensation, how will home buyers pay agents after the commission lawsuits? That’s a question rippling through the agent ranks and one that home buyers might also want to consider. While the legal wrangling over commission questions may take years to sort out, the impact will be felt regardless of how the appeals play out. There will be unintended consequences and the hit will likely be to those least able to afford it both financially and in terms of home buying experience.

Home Buyers Will Not Use an Agent

Affordability is the single biggest obstacle to…

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Don't Agree to Dual Agency When Buying or Selling a Home in Georgia

Some intelligent and otherwise very successful people do epically dumb things when it comes to buying and/or selling real estate. Failing to completely understand dual agency in Georgia and permitting it is at or near the top of the list. Simply put, dual agency is allowing the same agent to represent both buyer and seller in a real estate transaction. The agent or broker has a client relationship with all parties to the transaction without acting in a designated agency capacity. In these situations, neither party is exclusively represented by a designated real estate agent. Buyers want to pay as little as possible, sellers want the most possible. Consider the easy questions; how are appraisal and inspection issues resolved? How can one agent be an…

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