Why You Should Hire A Buyer's Agent In 2022
Whether you want to buy your own home or become an investor, buying property is a dream for many Australians. However, house-hunting and acquiring a property is easier said than done!
Buying property in Brisbane presents multiple challenges such as finding properties that suit your criteria, competing with other buyers, negotiating to get the right price, managing your strategy and other factors to make sure you maximise your situation (and avoid expensive mistakes).
But it doesn't have to be this way. To simplify the process and give yourself the upper hand, we recommend working with a buyers agent. They understand the market better than anyone, have a wealth of connections and will find you the perfect property sooner than you thought (and without all the common headaches!).
Here's how it works...
What Is a Buyer's Agent?
Buyer's agents are real estate professionals that represent the buyer (vs a sales agent that represents the seller). They help buyers find the right property and act on their behalf in every aspect of the purchase.
The buyer's agent has your interests in mind. Think of them as the opposite of your typical real estate agent who's trying to get the highest sale price for their client - a buyer's agent is trying to get you the best deal as the buyer. However, buyer's agents and real estate agents do often work together to find deals that work for everyone.
If there is something wrong with the home that could cause issues later, they'll inform you upfront and work hard for you to ensure that everything goes smoothly. A buyer's agent can also connect you with contractors and inspectors among other professionals that you may need after purchasing the property.
Why Hire a Buyer's Agent?
Whether you are after a new home or even an investment property, there are many benefits to hiring a buyer's agent. They help you save a lot of time, avoid mistakes, get access to deals that other buyers don't, negotiate a better purchase price, help you plan renovations to add value and more.
They Are Highly Experienced
Buyer's agents have been through the process hundreds of times and understand what's required to find, purchase and maximise a property. They know the best areas and what to look for in the Brisbane property market (as well as what to avoid). In real estate, the information may not be fully understood by everybody apart from those in the industry. So it's always recommend that buyers need to engage an experienced individual to clarify issues before committing to a house purchase.
Quick Access To Listings & off Markets
One major advantage of working with a Brisbane buyers agent is that they have access to houses not yet on the market. This gives their clients access first ahead of the general public. Once the house is listed, the buyer's agent will vet the listing and pick only the best. This makes your search for a Brisbane property simple, time efficient and stress free.
They also have connections with other real estate professionals. For example, if a real estate agent has a client who quickly needs to sell, they might reach out to a buyer's agent and ask if they are looking (and vice versa).
Save A LOT Of Time
Although you definitely can research properties on your own, it takes a lot of time to cover the whole Brisbane market (and that's before you have to sacrifice your weekends going to open homes).
A buyer's agent will research and do the legwork for you, saving you hours of searching in person and on the internet. Also, once they have found a some properties that they want to inspect they can skip the queue and quickly find out if it's a right fit, instead of you having to line up for open homes, get a brochure, slowly inspect it and so on, just to find a suitable property.
Help You Find a Fair Deal
Buyer's agents know the market, they know what you should pay to secure the ideal property for the ideal price. They know which areas are hot, which are overpriced and which you should avoid with a ten foot pole. In addition, a buyer's agent can help with connect you with finance providers, ensuring you find the best lenders with favourable terms.
Negotiation Support
Buyer's agents are experienced in negotiating, not just on price but also on the terms and conditions of a property purchase to put the home buyer in the best position possible for the purchase. They know when a potential property is overpriced and will help you settle on a fair price. Never underestimate the power of having a professional negotiator in your corner.
Assist You With Paperwork
The property buying process involves a lot of documents and paperwork and its great to have a trained eye to go over them for you. Whether you are a experienced with property investing or a first time homeowner, nobody enjoys paperwork. Your buyers agent will gladly assist you with every document and ensure all the details are correct. An agent will also be able to help you understand your rights and obligations, keeping you protected and informed.
How to Hire a Buyer's Agent
Finding the right buyer's agent is getting harder as their becomes more players in the market place; it's about finding a reliable agent who'll advise you throughout the entire purchasing process. Not all buyer's agents are equal, so here are a few tips for how to find a good one:
Search For Buyers' Agencies Online
Start with an old fashioned Google Search. When you're looking through options, have a look at their track record and property purchases. Everyone can say "we are the best" but they need to back it up with real facts.
At Hot Property we take pride in backing up our claims. We have generations of experience buying property in Brisbane and South East Queensland and have extensive market knowledge. We have your best interests at heart, unmatched customer service and an expansive network of professionals to ensure you'll be looked after every single step of the way.
Interview At Least Three Buyer's Agents
Make sure you talk to a couple of buyer's agents to get an understanding of where they differ, and how they will be of benefit to your specific needs. When interviewing, ask the buyer's agent how many clients they've worked with in that area for the past two years.
Do they have experience in the type of property you're looking for? Is the person you are talking to the one who will be finding the property or will it be sent to someone else? Where is there area of expertise, is it investment property, commercial property or primarily owner occupier? How many clients do they have and are they able to give you genuine personalised service?
All too often, we hear of clients struggling to contact their agents, or even feeling like they were being ignored. That's why we've made the decision to limit the number of clients we work with at any one time. This ensures that we are always able to deliver our famously high standard of service.
Another one of the key things to find out is if they are buying specialists, or just a buying department at a bigger real estate agency.
Watch out for any buyer's agencies that are reluctant to discuss this information or seem a bit cagey about sharing their results. Here at Hot Property, we are so proud of our work that we openly celebrate our recent purchases on our website (head here to read a few of our success stories).
Use Social Media Accounts
Stalk the buyers agent on social media to see if they are active. Professional agencies do a good job of creating quality content and staying active.Social media also a great way of getting to know more about the team you will be working with.
Are they knowledgeable? Are they passionate? Do they seem like a team you will click with? All of these are important to consider when looking for a buyer's agent, and social media presence can provide great insight. If you'd like to see an example of this, check out the Hot Property Instagram.
Look For Local Expertise
Real estate markets differ. The prices, neighbourhoods, and housing types also vary from suburb to suburb. Look for an agent who has experience working in an area you're interested in. In addition, check testimonials from past clients. You can also ask for references to call and be sure the agent is worth working with.
By working with Hot Property Buyer's Agency, you gain access to a multi generational team of Brisbane real estate experts. Our market knowledge and familiarity is second to none, and will prove priceless when finding and securing your dream property. Interested in hearing what past clients have had to say about Hot Property? Check out our reviews here.
Now What?
If you want top-tier assistance and advice when buying a house, contact Hot property Buyers Agency today. We are committed to making the house-buying process easier. Whether you are a property investor, overseas buyer, or home buyer, we help with every aspect of your purchase, from finding the listings and organising the inspections, to negotiating the price and finalising the deal.
We also offer property management, investment property advice and renovation consultation. Simply put, Hot Property Buyer's Agency is the one-stop shop for all your property purchasing needs in the Greater Brisbane area.