The Role of The Buyers Agent

Today we want to talk about the role of a buyers agent in the real estate transaction. At the bottom of this article is a video from Santa Barbara Group member Joe Parker with his words and thoughts about how a buyers agent helps both first time and seasoned home buyers in the Santa Barbara area.

What Does a Buyers Agent Do?

When you are buying a home in the Santa Barbara area, your buyer’s agent acts as your representative. His role is divided into two parts.

Finding the right property.
Orchestrate the purchase transaction.

Finding the Perfect Property

Seasoned agents, like Joe and Garrett, have helped hundreds of people find the ideal property for their needs and budget. It is no easy task as there are many variables.

Joe and Garrett sit down with their clients and ask lots of questions. The goal is to learn as much as possible about the wishes and goals of their client. Below are a few questions they ask.

Are schools important to you? What grade levels are your kids attending? What would the right neighborhood feel like? Do you want a walkable area? Is solitude essential? Do you want an area with lots of other families? Is proximity to the beach or ocean views a must?
What would the right neighborhood feel like? Do you want a walkable area? Is solitude essential? Do you want an area with lots of other families? Is proximity to the beach or ocean views a must?
What qualities do you want in a home? How many bedrooms and bathrooms? Do you need a home office? Is a gas range critical? Do you want a home that is move-in ready or one you can fix up a bit?
What price point is right for you? If you are going to need a home loan, they will help you find a quality lender who will give guidelines on what loan amount and property type you will qualify.Joe and Garrett’s goal is to show you homes that best match your wants and needs.

Joe and Garrett’s goal is to show you homes that best match your wants and needs.

Searching For Homes

Next up is scouring the market for homes that are the best match. Some think this is simply a search of the MLS. In addition to MLS searches, Joe and Garrett are connected to other agents who do not publish their listings. In the real estate industry, we call these “Pocket Listings.”

There are times when a particular area is essential. A great buyers agent will contact homeowners in the area to see if any are thinking about selling. You never know, and the right home may be a phone call or letter away.

When we find the right place, the Santa Barbara Group will help assess the home’s value and negotiate an offer.

Orchestrating the transaction

Once the right place has been found and a contract accepted, Joe or Garrett will help with the many inspections and variables that make the sale possible. As they like to say,

“The orchestrating of the transaction is where our knowledge and experience kick in. We have gone through the process hundreds of times during our nearly 20 years and know how to juggle all the pieces.”

Joe goes into more detail about the transaction process in the video below. The bottom line is, a passionate buyers agent can make the home buying process a good experience by knowing the right questions to ask and applying years of experience to ensure things keep on track.

If you have questions or are ready to start finding your perfect place, Joe Parker and Garrett McCaw are here for you. Contact them today and let’s work together to make your dreams come true.