Before You Hire a Real Estate Broker to Help You Buy a Home, Read This

Are You Hiring Someone to Open Doors—or Someone to Help You Buy a Home?

Let’s talk about something buyers don’t always think about.

When you’re choosing a real estate professional, it’s easy to choose based on convenience.

“My friend is a Realtor.”

“My cousin does real estate.”

“My neighbor just got her license.”

“My friend’s husband does it.”

And there’s nothing wrong with working with someone you know.

But before you make that decision, ask yourself one important question:

What exactly am I expecting this person to do for me?

Because buying a home isn’t just about finding houses and getting the door unlocked.

You’re making a major financial decision.

The person representing you should bring more to the table than access to a lockbox.

Did They Help You Figure Out What You Can Actually Afford?

Did they ask about your budget?

Did they encourage you to talk with a qualified lender?

Did they explain the difference between what you qualify for and what you’re actually comfortable spending?

Did they talk to you about the costs of owning a home beyond the mortgage payment?

Property taxes.

Insurance.

HOA fees.

Maintenance.

Utilities.

Unexpected repairs.

Being approved for a certain amount doesn’t mean you need to spend that amount.

You should have someone helping you think about the whole picture.

Did They Help You Figure Out What You Actually Need?

Before you start looking at houses, did they ask:

What do you actually need?

Not just:

“How many bedrooms do you want?”

Did they ask about your lifestyle?

Your commute?

Your future plans?

Your priorities?

What you absolutely cannot compromise on?

What you’re willing to compromise on?

What would make you regret buying the house six months later?

A good buyer conversation should go deeper than a list of bedrooms and bathrooms.

Did They Help You Separate Wants From Needs?

This one matters.

Granite countertops might be a want.

A first-floor bedroom might be a need.

A huge backyard might be a want.

A specific location might be a need.

A finished basement might be a want.

A manageable monthly payment might be a need.

Those aren’t the same thing.

You want someone who will help you think through the difference—not simply send you every house with the biggest kitchen.

Did They Help You Understand the Market?

When you’re looking at homes, do you understand what you’re seeing?

Do you know whether a price is reasonable based on available market information?

Do you understand what comparable homes are selling for?

Do you know how quickly homes are moving?

Do you understand what might make one property more competitive than another?

You don’t need to become a real estate expert.

That’s part of what you’re hiring a professional for.

When You Walk Into a House, Are They Looking With You?

This is a big one.

It’s easy to get distracted by the beautiful kitchen.

The fireplace.

The gorgeous bathroom.

The furniture.

The staging.

The smell of freshly baked cookies.

But what about the things that aren’t as pretty?

Did your broker encourage you to look at:

• Condition
• Layout
• Age of major components
• Signs of deferred maintenance
• Water or moisture concerns
• Windows
• Roof information when available
• Basement conditions
• Mechanical systems
• Neighborhood surroundings
• Traffic and noise
• Anything else that may deserve further investigation

Your broker isn’t a home inspector.

But they should be helping you pay attention.

Did They Ever Tell You, “Slow Down”?

This might be one of the most valuable things a buyer’s agent can do.

Sometimes the right answer is:

“Let’s think about this.”

If you’re excited, that’s okay.

If you’re nervous about losing the house, that’s understandable.

But fear of missing out shouldn’t be the reason you make a financial commitment.

You want someone who can help you step back and look at the facts.

Did They Help You Evaluate the House—Not Just Sell You the House?

There’s a difference.

A salesperson might say:

“This is a great house!”

A good professional should be willing to say:

“Here’s what I like. Here’s what concerns me. Here’s what we need to investigate.”

You deserve the second conversation.

Did They Explain What Happens Before You Make an Offer?

Before you sign an offer, do you understand:

• The price you’re considering
• Comparable sales and market information
• Your financing
• Earnest money
• Inspection provisions
• Appraisal considerations
• Closing costs
• Closing date
• Possession
• Seller concessions, if applicable
• Other important terms

You shouldn’t be sitting at a computer being told:

“Just sign here.”

You should understand what you’re signing.

Do They Know How to Negotiate?

This is one of the biggest reasons you should carefully consider who represents you.

Negotiation isn’t simply:

“Let’s offer $10,000 less.”

There are many pieces to a transaction.

Price.

Terms.

Timing.

Contingencies.

Inspection issues.

Appraisal issues.

Seller circumstances.

Financing.

And sometimes the best negotiation is knowing when not to push.

Ask your prospective broker:

“How do you approach negotiations?”

You should get an answer that goes beyond:

“I’m a really good negotiator.”

Did They Help You Through the Inspection Process?

Once you have an accepted offer, the excitement can quickly turn into:

“Oh my gosh. What does this inspection report mean?”

A good real estate professional should help you understand the process and communicate appropriately with the other parties.

They aren’t your inspector.

They shouldn’t diagnose structural, electrical or mechanical problems for you.

But they should help you understand what happens next and when you may need to bring in the appropriate professional.

Did They Stay Involved After You Found the House?

This is important.

Finding the house is not the finish line.

You may still have:

• Inspection
• Attorney or contract review
• Title work
• Appraisal
• Financing
• Insurance
• Loan conditions
• Required documents
• Final walkthrough
• Closing
• Last-minute issues

Ask:

“What happens after my offer is accepted?”

You should have a clear answer.

Did They Give You a System?

This is one of the things I think buyers overlook.

Buying a home has a lot of moving parts.

You should know:

Where am I?

What’s happening now?

What do I need to do?

What’s next?

If your real estate professional has a system for keeping you informed and organized, that’s worth something.

Because buying a home shouldn’t feel like you’re constantly wondering:

“What am I supposed to be doing?”

Here’s the Part About Saving Money

Maybe the person you know offers to reduce their fee.

Maybe they’re willing to give you a discount.

Maybe you feel like you’re getting a deal.

That’s worth considering.

But ask yourself:

What could poor advice or weak negotiation potentially cost me?

A mistake involving a home purchase can be far more expensive than the difference between one commission structure and another.

That doesn’t mean an experienced broker will magically save you thousands.

Nobody can guarantee that.

It means the skills, experience, market knowledge, attention to detail and negotiation ability of the professional you choose can have real financial consequences.

You’re buying a home.

This isn’t the time to choose purely on price.

And No—You Don’t Owe Your Friend the Business

If your friend is an excellent real estate professional and you believe they’re the right person for you, great.

Hire them.

But don’t hire someone simply because you feel guilty saying no.

You can love your friend.

You can respect your cousin.

You can like your neighbor.

And you can still interview other professionals.

This is your home.

Your money.

Your decision.

Interview Them.

Ask questions.

Ask how they work.

Ask how they communicate.

Ask how they handle negotiations.

Ask what they do when a problem comes up.

Ask what happens after your offer is accepted.

Ask what they will actually do for you.

And then listen to the answers.

Here’s the Question I Really Want You to Ask

Before you hire the person you already know, ask yourself:

“If I didn’t know this person personally, and I interviewed them based only on their experience, knowledge, negotiation skills, communication and the services they provide, would I still choose them?”

If the answer is yes—

fantastic.

You’ve made an informed decision.

If the answer is no—

keep interviewing.

Because choosing a real estate professional shouldn’t be about who you feel obligated to.

It should be about who you trust to help you navigate one of the biggest financial decisions you’ll make.

You Deserve More Than Someone Who Opens the Door

You deserve someone who will help you understand what you’re buying.

Someone who will tell you when something deserves a closer look.

Someone who will answer the uncomfortable questions.

Someone who will help you think before you act.

Someone who understands the transaction—not just the showing.

And someone who will still be there after the excitement of finding the house wears off and the real work begins.

Choose your real estate professional based on the job you need them to do.

Not simply because they’re the person you happen to know.

Have a Question?

Buying a home comes with a lot of questions. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own.

Have a question about something you read here? Want to talk through your situation? Or just not sure what your next step should be?

I’m happy to help.

Schedule a Time to Talk With Karyn

No pressure. No obligation. Just straight answers.

Prefer to just send me a question?