Why should I get a REALTOR to represent me when buying a home or property?

Very often, when people start the home buying process for the first time, they simply start calling the phone numbers on the FOR SALE signs they see on some of the homes on their way to work, to their child’s school or when they start driving around an area they like. Many people don’t realize that when they call the phone number on the sign that has been placed on the lawn of the house that’s for sale, that REALTOR has placed the sign informing the public that the owner has signed a “REPRESENTATION” agreement with them to sell their home. What this means is that the REALTOR is now looking out for the best interest of the home seller as their client and not necessarily looking out for the people interested in that particular home. Most people don’t have an idea what a REALTOR actually does. They just know that the real estate agent on the sign probably has the keys to the property and someone has to call them to open the house so they can see it from the inside. Okay, before you call a phone number on the lawn of a home for sale, you need to do some research and hire a professional REALTOR to represent you. A licensed REALTOR will guide you through the entire process and can show you any home that is for sale by any other agent and even some homes that may be for sale by their owner. There are many benefits of being "represented" as a home buyer by a REALTOR, but the number one reason to have a professional by your side as a home buyer is that YOU DON’T NEED TO PAY THEM. That’s right! The REALTOR you hire to represent you will work for you FOR FREE! How? Well, he gets paid by the real estate agent representing the home seller. Simply put, the agent representing the seller wants other real estate agents to bring a qualified buyer and he or she will share the commission the home seller has agreed to pay the REALTOR representing them. So before you start calling all the different phone numbers on the signs of REALTORS, do your research online, ask your friends, relatives or even your coworkers and hire a professional REALTOR that will use their knowledge and skills and is willing to put your interests above their own. I hope you have found this podcast useful. This is Gabino Ortiz, REALTOR with RE/MAX Elite out of Mission Texas down in the beautiful Rio Grande Valley. Until next time, Thank you for listening and may God Bless You!