I’m sure some of you are thinking, ‘who needs an agent, I can find a home online just as easy.’ While you can find homes on the internet, you won’t find every listing and might be missing out on some great properties. Yes, you can save a few bucks, but you can’t rely on the web for every step of the process. Even about.com says buying a home on the “Internet is almost impossible.” That website gives the pros and cons of house hunting online.
ADVANTAGES
You get to see a huge number of homes up for sale at once. You can read about details and the asking price and narrow down your search. Online sites usually give details of who’s handling the sale so you can easily follow-up.
DISADVANTAGES
While you can look at a large number of homes on the market, it can be overwhelming. A real estate agent can quickly help you narrow your search and should be able to tell you info about a particular neighborhood/community, including homes near schools, parks, etc.
Agents also have access to info that’s not posted online. about.com gives an example of a 3 bedroom home up for sale in a neighborhood with mostly 2 bedroom homes. An agent can quickly research and determine, for example, that a third bedroom used to be a garage or maybe a room addition.
An agent might also have inside info about if the price of a home is about to drop and should know what other comparable homes are selling for. This inside knowledge can make the difference between paying too much or paying just the right price.
And keep in mind, by hiring an agent, that person represents you — not the seller. So the agent should be willing to do everything they can to find the perfect home for you.
Also, hiring an agent to buy a home doesn’t cost you any more than going directly to the listing agent yourself (without an agent).