How to Buy a Home in California Part #1: Choosing the Right Agent.
Step 1: Choosing the Right Agent
"A skilled negotiator can save you time and thousands of dollars."Roy Kirkendoll, National Institute of Real Estate Sales Counselors
A buyer’s agent represents the buyer who buys property. It used to be before the buyer’s broker agreement that the buyer agent would contract with the listing agent and seller so that both agents were representing the seller by contract. This happens when you go out to look at homes with agents who have no signed buyer broker agreement with you. The buyer agent without a buyer broker agreement is therefore obligated to the seller and listing agent's terms on price and important negotiating points. The California exclusive buyer agent on the other hand represents the buyer exclusively, giving the maximum negotiation power and best deal to the buyer. That is why you always want to sign up for exclusive buyer representation when you decide to buy property.
Exclusive buyer agent JR Middlebrook has kept hundreds of buyers from making bad decisions. For example, one condo brought to me by my buyer was listed at $316,990 in Southern California. The listing agent said the lowest price the seller's would accept was $310,000 and my buyer might have offered that. Then I helped the buyer see that other condos in that same complex were only worth $300,000. I saved the buyer thousands of dollars because I was there to represent ONLY my buyer.
