Buying a home is more complex than many people believe. This is why many potential home buyers choose to work with an experienced Dallas real estate agent who can help make the process easier and less stressful. However, it’s important to understand that not all buyers (or agents, for that matter) are created equal. Agents aren’t generally paid for the time they spend helping a buyer find the perfect home, and some behaviors can be extremely stressful, making an agent’s job harder than it should be.
If you’re looking for a home in Dallas, here are a few behaviors you want to avoid as it will not only make your agent’s job more difficult, it could work against you as well!
Lowball offers that aren’t justified. Imagine the seller is asking $350,000 for the home and that number isn’t far off from the home’s worth based on the latest comparable sales. You decide you want to offer $280,000, and you’re not going to negotiate. If there is nothing wrong with the home that justifies slashing $70,000 and the home is reasonably priced, what’s up with that? You want a basement-bargain price, but it isn’t likely the seller is going to magically drop $70,000 off the asking price for no valid reason. Be realistic, and save yourself, the seller, and your agent a lot of wasted time and headache.
Demanding an agent’s time and attention when you’re nowhere near ready to buy. If it’s going to be a year or two before you’re ready to “pull the trigger,” it isn’t fair to demand an agent’s time in researching city permits or tax records. It’s important to keep in mind that real estate agents have clients who are actively looking to buy right now, so try not to make too many demands that keep agents from being their most effective for current clients.
Making a full afternoon of a showing – and bringing a van load of people along. Of course you want to tour a home you’re interested in during an open house, or perhaps even look at it a couple more times with a private showing. When you’re thinking of making the biggest investment of your life, you want to be 100% sure. However, spending a full afternoon at a home and taking measurements of each room while an architect, contractor, or a few friends tag along simply isn’t advised. Doing this at several homes and never making an offer can leave your agent really frustrated – and in the end, it’s usually a huge waste of time for everyone involved.
The relationship between a buyer and an agent is important, especially when you’re ready to buy and actively looking for the perfect home. Your agent can add incredible value when the time is right; weeding out the homes that don’t meet your criteria and finding those that do. Keep the above suggestions in mind, and the entire buying process will be easier and more pleasant for both you and your agent!
Count on the Dallas real estate professionals, Team Nelson, to deliver beyond your expectations when you’re ready to find the home of your dreams.