Here are some questions to consider when you are interviewing buyer agents. (Consumer advocates recommend interviewing at least three potential buyer agents before choosing one in competitive markets like Michigan’s Plymouth and Canton Areas.)
Buying a home in Plymouth or Canton means navigating a vibrant real estate market with a wide mix of home styles, neighborhoods, and price points. The right buyer’s agent should be able to answer these questions clearly and comfortably.
Even if you don’t ask all these questions, it is worth reviewing them to understand what kind of guidance is available from full-time professional buyer agents.
About Their Experience
- How long have you been working as a real estate agent covering the Plymouth and Canton area?
- About how many home buyers have you helped in the past year?
- Do you primarily represent buyers, or do you also work with sellers?
- Are you especially familiar with the types of homes common in Plymouth and Canton, such as older subdivisions, newer developments, condos, or fixer-uppers?
About Local Market Knowledge
- How well do you know the different neighborhoods and subdivisions in Plymouth and Canton?
- Can you share an example of helping a buyer succeed in a competitive situation in this area?
- How do you help buyers decide what to offer when homes receive multiple offers?
- How often do you write an offer below the asking price?
About Evaluating Homes
- What kind of differences will we see between most Plymouth homes and most Canton homes?
- Are you able to point out potential concerns during a showing, such as foundation movement, roof age, drainage issues, or aging HVAC systems?
- What negatively impacts market value on the south side of Canton that doesn’t exist on the south side of Plymouth?
About Home Inspections
- Do you attend home inspections with your buyers?
- How do you help buyers understand which inspection findings are normal for homes in this area and which ones deserve closer attention?
- What are the four ways you have resolved inspection problems, and what are the upsides or downsides to each?
- Can you share examples of helping buyers walk away from a home that wasn’t a good fit?
About Communication
- What happens if you aren’t available to show me homes on a particular day, what additional contract terms will I need to agree to and how will I know the person helping me will be loyal to me?
- How do you help buyers compare homes and evaluate offers in a fast-moving market?
- Will you take the time to explain the local purchase contract forms before I sign anything?
About Problem-Solving
- Has your company ever had transactions where the buyers lost their earnest money deposit, and if so, how did that happen?
- What happens if an appraisal comes in lower than the purchase price?
- How do you help if financing or underwriting issues arise?
About Loyalty
- Does your company have an affiliated title company to generate additional profits, and if so, how do you protect me from high settlement fees?
- Does your company have an affiliated mortgage lender to generate additional profits?
- Do you or your company receive additional compensation by recommending home warranties, security systems, insurance, or any other vendors involved in my purchase?
- How do you and your company focus on my needs if your company generates higher profits by me buying one of your company’s listings?
- Do you recommend inspectors who are quick at the expense of being complete?
- If one of the other agents in your office knows about hidden problems in a home I’m interested in, is that hidden from me or disclosed to me?
- What if it is you that knows about a hidden problem in a home? Is that hidden from me or disclosed to me?
About Added Value
- What does your broker, or supervisor do to improve your skills with property evaluation, negotiation, and other tasks you perform?
- Of the six areas a buyer agent can save a buyer money, which ones would you focus on for me in the Plymouth and Canton market?
- How do you help buyers feel confident they’re making a sound long-term decision?
- What do you do to help me choose a mortgage lender?
If you want to talk to real experts in buyer agency, call us at 734-662-6240 or drop us a note.
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