State Licensing Information.

What Buyers Want From Agents Although many homebuyers have chosen to fly solo on their purchases in the last few years, most buyers still seek the help of a buyer’s agent when purchasing their first home. And for good reason! A buyer’s agent is typically the greatest ally a buyer can expect in the search for their dream home. For agents, that can be a huge responsibility. When working with buyers – especially first-time homebuyers – it is vital to understand what a buyer is looking for when they choose a real estate agent. Of course they want help finding a home, but they’re also looking for a trusted partner.

State Licensing Information.

1. Help Finding the Right Home While some buyers may have an idea of features they’d like in a home, they may not truly understand how to find those features in a house. As a real estate agent, your first step should be to identify the “must-haves” for your buyers. Then, you should encourage your buyer to get pre-approved for a mortgage with a reputable lender like New American Funding. Pre-approval brings a host of benefits to your buyer, including a dose of reality regarding what they can afford. A Buying Guide Pre-approval is vital, especially for first-time homebuyers. As an agent, pre-approval helps you manage expectations and helps narrow your search to homes that meet your buyer’s important features, but also meets their budget.

State Licensing Information.

2. Many Good-Looking Listings At the end of the day, buyers are looking for a knowledgeable agent who can show them a lot of listings with detailed images or videos. Pictures on your site should be well-shot and well-lit. Videos should be stable and show neighborhoods at their best (not you passing by quickly). In addition to your listings, you should be able to educate buyers on the pros and cons of each neighborhood. If you can provide suggestions based on the buyer’s family and needs, that’s even better. Tip: Get Tech On Your Side Technology can be a great ally for a real estate agent. From keeping yourself organized to giving buyers photos, tech can supercharge your efforts. Check out our presentation The Top Tech Tools for Real Estate Agents.

State Licensing Information.

3. Help Managing Fears Most homebuyers probably won’t admit it, but you know that buying a first home is a nerve-wracking experience. The shadow of the housing market collapse is still fresh in most buyers’ minds, and let’s face it: there is a ton of money on the line. If they don’t have financing lined up, you should recommend the first-time homebuyer programs available to buyers, and then help them get the best deal possible on their new home. As a real estate agent, there are a few ways to ease a buyer’s fears. • Be available and responsive. Buyers get nervous when they don’t hear from

their agent. • Work on your negotiation skills. Buyers rely on their agents to always come out

on top in a negotiation. Make sure you know the market and use resources like the REALTOR University to brush up on your skills.

State Licensing Information.

4. Help Navigating the Sale Unless you have a particularly savvy buyer, they’re going to need a lot of guidance throughout the home-buying process. Most buyers won’t know how to ask for disclosures or which contingencies are should be included in an offer. Help the buyer understand that it is your fiduciary responsibility to protect their interests. Show the buyer that you will fight for the price and conditions that will match what they’re looking for. Tip: Introduce the Team Buying a home is a crowded process. In fact, Many homebuyers are surprised by how many people are involved. Ease their concerns and introduce them to the team. The People Involved in the Mortgage Process

State Licensing Information.

5. An Honest Partner Ultimately, buyers want to feel like they have someone in their corner. Simply being around to help them through the hard parts of purchasing a home can go a long way. • Assist with the paperwork. You know that buyers are inundated with

paperwork through negotiation and at closing. Explain what buyers should expect and be prepared to assist them gathering documents.

• Keep an eye out for problems. Some buyers may have rented a home before, but they’ll rely on your expertise and experience to help spot potential problems in a home before they place an offer. Plus, pointing out serious problems will make the minor annoyances like the color of the walls less important down the road.

• Just be available. Even if there isn’t anything important for you to do, make sure you reach out during the process. If you’re only present when they make an offer and at closing, you’re not really helping your buyer very much.

State Licensing Information.

5 Things Homebuyers Want from Real Estate Agents

Learn more about first-time homebuyer programs at

www.NewAmericanFunding.com

State Licensing Information.