Should I use a realtor? NO! You should not use "A" realtor, you should however use a good and well qualified one. I work mainly in the new construction side of the industry and I meet and do business with numerous realtors. Some are great and other are well not so hot. If you've read any of my other articles you know I like to quote the 80/20 rule which is 20% of the realtors do 80% of the business and the other 20% of the business is done by the other 80% of the realtors. Needless to say choose someone who is in the first 20% as they obviously are doing something right as people listen, take in their advice, and make purchasing decisions with them.
A good realtor is invaluable. As purchasing a home will be one of the largest purchases you'll ever make. I know this not because I wish to will it to be true, but because I've seen it in my experience. Some people think that not having a realtor represent them, they will be able to get 3% less than what they would if they used a realtor. I assure you this is not the case and most instances it is the opposite. Why you might ask? In the majority of cases, a listing agreement signed at 6%. Some offices may allow their agents flexibility to cut their commissions to help you deal. However many offices will not. If they do most of the time it's only 1% perhaps said max 1 %. That's still something right! Well from my experience in new construction buyers who do not use realtor as a rule of thumb pay more. The buyers who have gotten the best deals in the communities that I worked in have had a realtor. I also hear this from many other agents.
Why is that I'm an intelligent individual, right? You might be a doctor, a lawyer, or rocket scientist, and may be heads and tails above your realtor on IQ. You can look up many houses online and get all the facts that they can. So why can't you make just as good of decisions as they do? It's really simple. They have more experience than you and they've seen many, many more houses than you have. And although you may be able to pull up the same facts that they can, there are just some things that you can't get from a piece of paper. You may not know the builders construction process as well or perhaps how a community has developed or how it might develop in the future. Seriously, even you are one of the most intelligent people around if you're not a doctor yourself would you really walk in to the emergency room and ask to perform the operation yourself. Now know that sounds comical, but the principles are the same. What of the two most important things in your life other than your religious beliefs and your family? Likely your health and your assets, right? Protect them both by using a qualified and experienced professional.
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