the Cost of Buyer's Real Estate Agents

When we decided to shop for and purchase a second property, we worked with a buyer's real estate agent who knew the area of town very well and was highly recommended by some of our friends. We initially met with her at her office and talked about what we were looking for in a house, price, location, etc., and then she emailed us a list of about 30 possibilities and we chose a few to visit. Ultimately, she emailed us 100 properties over the next few months and drove us to see about 20 total. When we found the right one, she communicated our offer, helped to negotiate the final deal, coordinated some aspects of the closing, and received $6000 for her work.

I am the type of person who doesn't like to pay someone else to do something that I am able to do, but in the case of a buyer's agent, it really is worthwhile to hire someone to review all of the listings and narrow down the options for you. We were generally pleased with our agent and, even though we saw more properties than more buyers before making our decision, the agent was patient and helpful throughout the process. Her fee was the standard rate, so we were satisfied with the cost, and she did a pretty good job of only taking us to see houses that met most of our criteria.

If your agent doesn't really understand what you want in a property and the houses you see in emails and in person are not what you are looking for, don't be afraid to change agents. There are so many agents available that you should not waste your time with one who can't deliver exactly what you want. Also, you should always ask for a lower fee, even if the rate is "standard" or "customary" - it's your money and you should try to make the best deal possible.