The Ummel Verdict Is In - Buyers Need to be Careful in Choosing Their 'Buyer Agent'

The Ummel Verdict Is In - Buyers Need to be Careful in Choosing Their 'Buyer Agent'

Good article. Exclusive Buyer Agents go way beyond analyzing comps (which is a given) - to looking at recent market trends and statistics, neighborhood information, city plans, community plans, and helping the buyer do Due Diligence on other things.

Interestingly - the general public and many Real Estate agents - don't even know that Exclusive Buyer Agents exist.

Exclusive Buyer Agents are experts at collecting information on the seller's situation - while keeping their buyer client's situation confidential.

Because Exclusive Buyer Agents are specialists - they a very good at what they do.
Since they are generalists - some "buyer agents" may spend 95% of their time listing property for sale and representing sellers - or may have dual agency conflicts of interest.

"The Nest" - Provides a Nice Page of Home Buying Tips...

The Nest Article -- Home Buying Tips -- They give good advice - stating that you should interview three agents if you can -- and remember there are real estate companies that work for just sellers, some that work for sellers or buyers, some that try to work for both at the same time, and others that just work for buyers.

"The latter companies are called Exclusive Buyer Agent Companies (EBA), and it is worth making sure one of your interviews is with an EBA. Visit NAEBA.org for more info."

We couldn't have stated it any better....

Link to Kiplinger's Personal Finance Article - In a Market Where Negotiation Counts.... Find an Exclusive Buyer Agent

Kiplinger's Personal Finance Article - In a Market Where Negotiation Counts.... Find an Exclusive Buyer Agent

The article states, "In a market in which negotiation counts, you'll do well to hire a buyer's agent to help you identify good prospects and to frame and negotiate your offer (to find an exclusive buyer's agent, go to www.naeba.org). Look for one who is knowledgeable about your area's new-home market -- its dynamics, values, builders and subdivisions."

The only problem with the paragraph is that they should have put the word "exclusive" in front of - buyers agent -- when stating -- "you'll do well to hire a buyer's agent."
As a buyers agent works for a company that lists property for sale and may represent the seller 99% of the time... whereas an exclusive buyer agent and their company never represent the seller.

The article mentions how builders can try to make the buyer use the financing partner of the builder..... Which again - relates to some of my posts below...about lender steering..

A good agent will help you compare the lender's offerings with those of another lender, analyzing the good-faith estimate. Instead of getting extra material things thrown in - see if you can have them NOT give you the material things - and get yourself an added price reduction instead...

The article also give you tips on how to select a good home builder.... All in all - it is one of the better written Real Estate articles I've seen in a long time - meaning - accurate facts.

This Realty Times Article Highlights Information That is Valuable to Home Buyers

This Realty Times Article Highlights Information That is Valuable to Home Buyers
Including a link to The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents

It talks about the disadvantages of "one stop shopping" (as I also mention in my my recent blog post) -- how agency disclosure is at very low levels, how the public really doesn't know the difference between a so-called buyer agent (who may list property 95% of their time - but only calling themselves a buyer agent when they are working with a buyer) - and an Exclusive Buyer Agent.

In fact - many traditional Real Estate agents haven't even heard of an Exclusive Buyer Agent - and have no clue what they are...

Check out the link - it's good reading....

We Warn Our Buyer Clients About "Staged Homes"

We warn our buyer clients about staged homes. It is easy to tell when a home is staged....and when I see one - I point it out to my client - and try to have them picture the home stripped bare of the decorations.

Here is an article talking about the member survey taken by NAEBA - The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents - the association that Relocation Advisors Group Inc. - the Exclusive Buyer Brokerage for Chicago - and Chicago's Northwest Suburbs belongs to.

Before I became an Exclusive Buyer Broker - I was personally trained by Barb Schwarz in California - in her most advanced home staging course, after her the initial designation. So I know what home staging is - and what Barb teaches - and what the drawbacks are to a buyer. We know how to warn our buyer clients what to look for.

In reference to her comment in that article - it is not true that homes are never staged to cover things up. I've seen it happen any number of times - from rugs put over discolored floors to things covering up holes in walls.

Barb was even noted on a national TV show during the past year - talking about spray painting dead grass in the yard with green paint. Now - if that isn't a cover up - what is?

We insure that our buyer client pay the "unstaged price" - not the "staged price." Typically staged homes can be overpriced. The seller is trying to get more than the home is really worth. That is their whole rational behind staging it in the first place...

The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA)

There is an association for Exclusive Buyer Agents - called The National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents (NAEBA)

Not all Exclusive Buyer Agents are members however. NAEBA has certain ethical guidelines that it enforces within it's ranks - so that the public can be assured that they are dealing with a true Exclusive Buyer Agent (versus the "fake" variety....someone naming themselves that - when they really aren't....for example - having had a few listings..)

You can read more about the benefits of Exclusive Buyer Agency representation on that web site.

Press About Exclusive Buyer Agents ./ National Association of Exclusive Buyer Agents

Once again some very reputable publications (in the past, Consumer Reports, the Wall Street Journal, Money, Smart Money, CNN Money etc.) are recommending that consumers use an Exclusive Buyer Agent when they purchase property.

Here is a new article from Kiplingers

Past NAEBA President Leo Berard was interviewed in an article just published in the Novato Advance.

The Nest

Canada.com