Spring is just around the corner, and that means home buying season will soon be upon us! If you are planning to buy a home in Central Ohio, you may have already begun looking at Metro Columbus homes for sale. You might be stopping by an open house or two.
This type of casual exploration is like strolling around a car dealership. Soon you’ll find yourself interacting with a salesperson who will ask you these questions:
- What are you looking for?
- How soon do you want to buy?
- How much are you looking to spend?
You’ll probably answer, even if you’re “just looking.” Thinking, perhaps, that the salesperson will leave you alone if you throw a few crumbs!
But that salesperson will proceed to gather your name, your contact info, employment information, financial standing and more. Immediately, you are at a strategic disadvantage.
And what did you get, in return? In most cases – absolutely nothing! Because the sales agent does not represent you. He or she represents the home seller.
All agents and brokers serve the home seller, unless they are Exclusive Buyer’s Agents or Exclusive Buyer’s Brokers. (Others may work under a “dual agency” or “designated agency” structure that is no benefit to you.)
This is why the word Exclusive is a critical distinction. An Exclusive Buyer’s Agency serves buyers only, with no exceptions, and no conflicts of interest.
Here are 10 important reasons why you need an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker when buying a Columbus home:
1. We protect your best interests at all times. Our fiduciary duties to you include loyalty, obedience, confidentiality, accounting, reasonable skill and care, and full disclosure.
2. We keep your motives confidential. Meanwhile, if the seller’s motives are discovered, we will pass that information on to you.
3. We educate you about current market conditions and the home buying process, making sure you have the information you need to make sound decisions.
4. We search and show all available homes that meet your criteria – including homes on the Multiple Listing Service, new construction, and homes that are “For Sale by Owner.” We are not limited to agent inventories!
5. We perform market price comparisons to ensure that you do not overpay for your home. This can literally save you thousands of dollars!
6. We negotiate exclusively on your behalf, to obtain the best price and terms to serve your interests.
7. We use a custom buyer’s purchase contact that protects you, the buyer. The “standard” real estate purchase contracts are written with the seller’s position in mind.
8. We require home inspectors to “tell it like it is!” No glossing things over to “save the deal,” which would be the objective of the seller’s agent.
9. We have unique contract addendums to address home inspection repairs and issues. These are much more protective, because we include stipulations saying that only qualified, licensed, bonded and insured contractors are permitted to do the repairs. We ensure that at all repair receipts are given to you prior to closing, and that all repair warranties and guarantees transfer to you at closing.
10. Our services are available to you at no extra cost!
As your Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we serve your best interests at all times. Unlike real estate agents and brokerages who represent sellers, as an Exclusive Buyer’s Broker, we only represent you, the buyer, getting you the best price and terms with no conflict of interest at all times.
Understanding this distinction could literally save you thousands of dollars not only on the purchase price and terms, but also on seller concessions and home inspection issues, whether you are a first-time homebuyer or an experienced homeowner!
Contact us with your home buying questions! Remember, we are with you every step of the way…all the way home!
Andrew Show
Broker, CEBA, CEBA-M, CNE, CSP, ABR-M, e-PRO, GREEN
Buyer’s Resource Realty Services
Serving Metro Columbus, Ohio with Exclusive Buyer’s Agents
7100 North High Street, Suite 204, Worthington, Ohio 43085
614-888-4110 | 888-888-4110 Toll Free | 614-839-4110 Fax
