If you are shopping for a home without a Buyer's Agent, remember that anyone you speak to is working on behalf of the seller, whether it's calling the number on the sign in the yard or visiting an open house. 

Real Estate agents often don't disclose the facts of agency.  Anyone but an exclusive Buyer's agent is actually negotiating on behalf of the seller.  The facts are clear why you should use an exclusive Buyer's Agent:

• Only an Exclusive Buyer Agent (EBA) can guarantee to represent you in your home purchase.
• Only an EBA can guarantee to negotiate on your behalf.
• An EBA provides the true facts as to value, market/neighborhood conditions, and obvious physical defects.
• An EBA will insist that the buyer utilize a qualified home inspector who will treat the buyer as their client, and not as a customer.
• Listing Agents (the ones with the sign in the front yard) and the company that they work for represent the seller, not the buyer. Their job is to get the seller the highest price on the best terms.
• An EBA`s job is to get the buyer the lowest price on the best terms.
• EBAs will do a better job for transferees that anyone else. They will give you the facts, good and bad. A listing agent cannot tell you about many things that would be detrimental for the buyer because they work for the seller.
• An EBA will help you with your financing alternatives. They may advise you to be pre-approved by a lender. Why? Because a fully approved loan makes you a cash buyer.
• EBA’s have a legal and ethical obligation to put your interests first!

The reasons are clear why a buyer's agent makes sense, but choosing the right one is key.  At Magellan we focus on your wants and needs; how long you plan to live in the home, future resale values, how you intend to use the home (entertaining, etc) your family's growth plans, hobbies, interests, schools, etc.  We also have excellent experience in working with builders and community builder teams to make sure you are properly represented in your building allowances.  We want your new home to be just that -- a home.

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For Sellers

When you're ready to think about buying or selling your property, you need to ask yourself the following questions: Do you have the time, energy, sources of information, and contacts to do the job yourself? If you were one of the 'do-it-yourself' people, would the results be as good or better than they would be if you had professional assistance? Would it have gone smoother? Would it have given you more personal time? Would you have sold for more if a real estate agent was involved? Read the following information and learn how a real estate agent can help you understand everything you need to know about a real estate transaction.

Pricing
This process generally begins with a determination of a reasonable asking price. Your real estate agent can give you up-to-date information on what is happening in the marketplace and the price, financing, terms, and condition of competing properties. These are key factors in getting your property sold at the best price, quickly and with minimum hassle.

Marketing
The next step is a marketing plan. Often, your agent can recommend repairs or cosmetic work that will significantly enhance the salability of the property. Marketing includes the exposure of your property to other real estate agents and the public. In many markets across the country, over 50% of real estate sales are cooperative sales; that is, a real estate agent other than yours brings in the buyer. Your agent acts as the marketing coordinator, disbursing information about your property to other real estate agents through a Multiple Listing Service or other cooperative marketing networks, open houses for agents, etc. The REALTOR® Code of Ethics requires REALTORS® to utilize these cooperative relationships when they benefit their clients.

Advertising is part of marketing. The choice of media and frequency of advertising depends a lot on the property and specific market. For example, in some areas, newspaper advertising generates phone calls to the real estate office but statistically has minimum effectiveness in selling a specific property. Overexposure of a property in any media may give a buyer the impression the property is distressed or the seller is desperate. Your real estate agent will know when, where and how to advertise your property.

There is a misconception that advertising sells real estate. The NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® studies show that 82% of real estate sales are the result of agent contacts through previous clients, referrals, friends and family, and personal contacts.

Security
When the property is marketed with the agent help, you do not have to allow strangers into your home. Agents will generally pre-screen and accompany qualified prospects through your property.

Negotiating
The negotiation process deals with much the same issues for both buyers and sellers, as noted above under the buying process. Your agent can help you objectively evaluate every buyer's proposal without compromising your marketing position. This initial agreement is only the beginning of a process of appraisals, inspections, and financing -- a lot of possible pitfalls. Your agent can help you write a legally binding, win-win agreement that will be more likely to make it through the process.

Monitoring, Renegotiating and Closing
Between the initial sales agreement and closing (or settlement), questions may arise. For example, unexpected repairs are required to obtain financing or a cloud in the title is discovered. The required paperwork alone is overwhelming for most sellers. Your agent is the best person to objectively help you resolve these issues and move the transaction to closing (or settlement).

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