What is a buyers agent?
A buyer’s agent is a licensed professional within the real estate industry who assists buyers secure their next home or investment. You can engage the services of a buyer’s agent to help with part or all of the buying process. A buyer’s agent can find you the right property, negotiate on your behalf, bid at the auction, arrange inspections and building reports as well as provide expert property advice. Unlike a selling agent who has the best interests of the vendor in mind, the buyer’s agent works on behalf of and represents the best interests of the buyer.
A buyer’s agent can not only help you save time, money and take the hassle out of dealing with selling agents, and they also have access to off-market property listings which are not always made available to the general public.
What is a strata inspection report and why do I need one?
A strata inspection report, also known as an Owners Corporation Records Inspection, or Strata Search, is a report that outlines almost all of the important details you need to know about a property before you consider purchasing it. This type of report only relates to property which is strata titled, company titled or community titled and can refer to both residential and commercial real estate.
This report will outline the history of the building, the levies that are currently paid by the owners and if works are currently underway on the property or planned for the near future. If there is any disharmony between neighbours, this will also often be outlined within the report. Other pieces of information will be included such as any legal matters, special levies and whether or not animals are permitted.
Knowing how your next home or investment is currently managed will ensure you make the right decision as to whether or not it is the right fit for you.
What is a vendor’s advocate?
A vendor’s advocate brings to the table their experience as a buyer’s agent to ensure you have expert advice and support when selling your property. Right from the start, a vendor agent can help with everything from arranging an independent property evaluation to interviewing real estate agents on your behalf to make sure you have the right team in place to sell your property for the best price. A vendor’s advocate will work alongside your real estate agent and offer useful input and ideas to ensure a successful marketing campaign. They can provide importance advice on how to go about selling your property, helping you decide whether or not an auction or sale by private treaty will secure the best dividends. A vendor’s advocate ultimately sees their role as looking after your best interests at all times.
A vendor’s advocate has no connection with the sales agent and is 100% independent. Our service is complimentary to every seller. We do however, work with the sales agent you select to ensure the best result. We find the two biggest mistakes a vendor can make, is selecting an agent based on their fee, and suggested asking price, which can be seriously inflated.
How to choose a buyer’s agent?
It’s easy to call yourself a buyers agent. It only takes six weeks to get the qualifications to call yourself one. Make sure you choose wisely & ask the right questions before signing on the dotted line. There are many around that have never worked in real estate.
- Has the buyer’s agent worked in all facets of real estate or did they just do a six-week course?
- Have they completed ongoing negotiation training for many years?
- Have they worked in real estate sales?
- Do they understand the sales process from the buyer & seller’s perspective?
- What achievements have they accomplished through real estate?
This is just a few questions you can ask a prospective buyer’s agent. Many people do a six-week licensing course after being an interior decorator, or they have purchased a couple of properties & give themselves the title of Buyer’s Agent.
You need a highly skilled negotiator on your side that understands the entire process of real estate transacting. Choose wisely.
We have over two decades of real estate experience & have spent $1,000’s of dollars on ongoing training.