|
|
|
|
|
For those of you who think all a buyer's agent sets up a home search in the MLS, chases down lockbox codes, drives around town opening doors, writes a contract then sits back and collects a fat check at closing a few weeks later, I feel bad that's the impression you have based on a previous experience or what you've read online. As mentioned above, some agents are really terrible at their job (lazy) or the transaction went so smoothly, they made it seem effortless. Maybe it was a combination of both, but I hope you stick around to learn more. There's a lot of information below, so please don't get overwhelmed by any of it because we can meet up for coffee or a beer and talk through all of it in bite sized pieces. Knowledge is Power! Below is a massive amount of info to digest - some might even say its overkill and unnecessary. I'm 100% comfortable with that. Knowledge is Power! Everything on my website is AI (Anthony's Intelligence) and comes straight from 22 years experience in the field and comes straight from the heart - no ChatGPT here. Please bookmark this page and refer to it to remind yourself that real estate agents are not paid one single penny until they can successfully demonstrate their value and get you to the closing table - anything short of that we earn $0. We are self-employed small business owners who don't earn a salary; receive no benefits; no 401k plan; no medical, dental or vision insurance; no vacation days or PTO; no company reimbursement for vehicles, mileage, repairs or insurance. Nada. Additionally, we pay our respective brokerage firms 10-40% of everything we make until we hit a certain annual "CAP" (it comes right off the top). Real estate is a performance-based career, so if we cannot get you to the finish line, we do not get paid - even after months of work in many cases. So how are
real estate agents compensated
for representation? Buyers must pay close attention to the contracts because sellers, listing agents and builders offer a wide range of compensation to the buyer brokerage firm that may or may not cover all of your expenses. Do not sign anything until you fully understand what your financial obligations are because the stakes are too significant and potentially too costly. Work with a trusted REALTOR like Anthony who refuses to rush you through the process because the decision you make today may very well be the largest financial transaction you'll ever make. RE/MAX Agents have been consistently voted #1 Most Trusted Agents, so you can count on Anthony to patiently and walk you through everything and answer all of your questions - especially things you never knew were important. Take comfort knowing that I'll have you back every step of the way and well after the transaction closes!
YES and NO. If you are simply visiting an open house on your own or asking a real estate professional at an open house about the home or their services, you do not need to sign a written buyer agreement with them so you should never be pressured to do so! An agreement is only necessary when you decide to work with a broker. Until such time, please refrain from sharing any personal information, financial situation or anything that reveals anything that should otherwise be kept strictly confidential. Buyer Agreements spells out the length of the agreement and compensation due to them. One word of caution...if you attend an open house and speak to the listing agent or call the listing agent on the yard sign, it's critical for you to understand this agent must disclose their relationship with the sellers because if you decide to write an offer on this property, you will NOT have an Agency relationship in place to protect your interests. Be very, very careful what you tell this person because they were hired to protect the seller's best interests and anything you tell them can be used or leveraged against you. If you ever feel any pressure, please take a step back because it's a decision you may regret when it's too late. Is an agent who is hosting an open house required to enter
into written agreements with the potential buyers who attend the
open house? *Colorado has offered a Brokerage Disclosure to Buyer or Buyer Listing Contract for decades. Unlike many parts of the country, Colorado Law does NOT require buyers to a sign a agreement before touring homes. Therefore, any agent that refuses to show you a property unless you sign a document first is not being truthful and may be in violation of the law. Make sure you fully understand what the document says and if the agent passes it off as mandatory or something they are required to do by law, respectfully decline and understand that by signing, you may be locked you into a Buyer Broker Agreement that obligates you to work with that agent or company for a specified period of time (1-day to 1-year) AND compensation agreement detailing the amount of money (expressed as % or $) that you will be responsible for paying. Proceed with caution. If you ever feel like an agent is pressuring you to sign a document just to show a home that, I encourage you to please call the The Colorado Division of Real Estate at 303-894-2166
There's absolutely no requirement for a buyer to be represented in a real estate transaction. Just like a person is not required to visit the Emergency Room when they fall and split their head open. While stitches or surgery may likely be required for the best possible health outcome, this individual is free to take matters into their own hands and wrap their head in toilet paper & duct tape if that's what saving money means to them. While both options will stop the bleeding, it's obvious to most people that having an expert evaluate your situation and take appropriate action will not only save you from a more immediate issue, it also helps mitigate any future issues that may arise a week, month or years down the road when you can't understand why you have constant splitting headaches. It's no different in real estate because you really never know when something can go sideways before, during or after a contract is signed. For example, in Colorado the #1 complaint the Colorado Real Estate Commission fields annually is from buyers who unexpectedly discover months or years later that a seller failed to disclose a material fact during the transaction such as property line or survey disputes, foundation, sewer line or mold issues or even failing to disclose civil lawsuits between them and a neighbor regarding the existence and enforceability of Community Declarations - also knows as HOA/CIC or Covenants (CC&Rs) which govern the rules of the neighborhood (vehicle / RV parking, trash storage and a host of other things). It's safe to assume you might be a tad bit upset to find out a short time after moving into your new home & new neighborhood that you thought was not subject to an HOA or Covenants so you could run a business or park multiple vehicles, trailer or RV in a driveway and later found out you actually purchased in a Covenant-Protected community and now are forced into a courtroom because you "didn't know" or it simply wasn't disclosed.
In the age of Google and recent emergence of artificial
intelligence (AI), many would-be buyers and sellers question how
complicated real estate really is. Truth is, I can train any monkey
to set up client searches in the MLS or drive around town opening
doors (which is what many people thing that's all we do), but do you really know
"how the
sausage is made"? If you believe you can successfully navigate Title
companies, Home Inspection companies, Lenders, Appraisers, HOAs/CC&Rs,
Non-warrantable units, Metro Districts, Local municipality rules &
regulations, Solar Leases, Water & Mineral Rights, Insurance
companies, Structural Engineers plus dealing with inspection-related issues? Do you have
expertise in assessing property values and negotiating the right
price and terms? Do you have knowledge to effectively execute a
Listing Contract or Contract to Buy & Sell? By simply checking
the wrong box (or failing to) and/or using legal
clauses in the additional provisions section that can mitigate
any potential ambiguities which may otherwise cost you tens of
thousands of dollars (or more) in a future lawsuit? If the answer is
yes, then by all means you are probably skilled enough to pursue
this journey unrepresented. But if you're not 100% certain about what
it takes to avoid future litigation, then you might want to consider
hiring a trusted (full-time) real estate professional. If not me,
chose someone who comes highly recommended by family or friends
and/or has a stellar reputation on
realtor.com. If honesty, integrity and an agent's reputation are important factors to you when deciding to purchase a home - Anthony Rael is the real estate agent for you. As a professional buyer's agent, I am knowledgeable about local market conditions and will help you find the right house, negotiate sales terms and price and more importantly, look out for your best interests every step of the way. I have extensive knowledge of the purchase process and my responsiveness to your needs will be first-class. My real estate services are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee! My personal belief is that everyone deserves Nordstrom-level service...it's just the way I've always conducted my business. When your friends & relatives need honest, responsive and professional real estate advice - please have them call Anthony Rael at (303) 520-3179. Rest assured, I will do everything humanly possible to ensure a stress-free transaction. Your friends & family will appreciate the referral. Anthony Rael, RE/MAX Alliance offers professional & trustworthy real estate services to buyers & sellers throughout the Denver metro area including Arvada, Aurora, Brighton, Broomfield, Denver, Golden, Highlands Ranch, Lakewood, Littleton, Louisville, Longmont, Thornton, Westminster, Wheat Ridge, Adams County, Denver County & Jefferson County Colorado. Find out why Denver is rated one of the Best Places to Live! I offer homebuyers & sellers a 100% Performance Guarantee that will exceed your expectations and set a new standard of service excellence. Anthony is a Certified Negotiation Expert (CNE) so rest-assured, he will advocate aggressively and effectively to protect your best interests and ensure we negotiate the best price and terms as possible. Leverage my life-long knowledge of the Denver Metro area - from homes, condos, lofts or investment properties, new homes builders, schools & local amenities to reliable & trustworthy business partners like mortgage brokers & home contractors to maximize your investment, secure your future and realize the home of your dreams.
   
|
