Home Buying Myth Busting
Today’s home buying myth buster is based on a true story. The names have been changed to protect the uninformed.
Betty Buyer is in the market for a new home. She’s used to online shopping (hello, Amazon), so she visited a bunch of different New Orleans real estate websites and registered on each and every one of them so she could save properties and share her favorites with friends and family.
When her search brought her to our website, she did the same thing. Only this time, one of our great agents actually got in touch with her to talk about what she needs in her next home and find out if there were other properties she wanted to add to her list to see.
Betty’s response?
“I’m talking to several agents, and whoever finds me a house will get the deal.”
Myth Busting Time
We hate to break it to the Betty Buyers out there, but there are a couple of things wrong with this reasoning.
- Agents work WITH customers and FOR clients. Betty is setting herself up to be nothing more than a customer, while the people who commit to one agent get all of the benefits of being a true client. That includes our fiduciary duty to protect their interests above our own.
- We’re all working from the same database of properties – the Multiple Listing Service (MLS) – which means Betty will have several agents all sending her the same properties.
- When agents know that buyers are working with multiple agents, they are less likely to make time in their day for that buyer, which means Betty may actually see fewer properties and have less opportunity to make a timely offer when she finds “the one”.
- Working with lots of agents is also a big red flag that Betty might not be serious about purchasing a home, so many agents may not be willing to work with her.
What should Betty do instead?
Interview agents, just like home sellers do.
Check out their websites. Google them. Read their reviews. Ask them lots of questions about the home buying process, because when you commit to working with an agent, it should always be someone you like and trust.
Once you’ve found an agent you’re comfortable with, be loyal to them and they’ll be loyal and hard working for you.
Need more home buying advice? We’d be happy to help you succeed. Call us anytime at 504-327-5303.
