Buy a Home in McLean, VA
When preparing to buy a home in Washington, DC, it is important to enlist the services of a good buyer's agent who is familiar with the Washington, DC area and its Northern Virginia and Maryland suburbs. Good buyer's agents view themselves and act as advisors, not sales people. And the best part is that their services come at no cost to the buyer.
» Did you know that a home sale is regulated by numerous state and federal laws?
» Did you know there are at least 15 things that can go wrong during a transaction?
Finding a Washington, DC area Buyer's Agent:
The most important step is to find an agent that will work with you as your buyer's agent. Most state laws say that if you do not have an agreement with an agent to work with you as a buyer's agent, that agent has a duty to represent the seller.
Today, most agents will be willing to work with you as buyer agents. When entering into a buyer agency agreement with an agent, ask them to include as one of the terms, that if you are not happy with their services you can terminate the agreement by providing 48 hours notice. Discuss the buyer agency option at your first meeting and surprise the agent with your knowledge!
The most common complain consumers have is that their agent is not very responsive. Therefore, finding a buyer's agent that will return your calls promptly and will be available for your questions is important. An agent's responsiveness should be evident pretty quickly. Test it!
Another good trait you should look for in a buyer's agent is attention to detail. Since something seemingly unimportant as a checkmark or an initial, can make a big difference in an offer, a methodical and careful agent is a big plus!
Given that the likelihood of competing with several other buyers for a property is high, it will make a big difference if your agent has good negotiation skills and formal training in negotiating. Good negotiators build consensus. Avoid working with a buyer's agent that gets angry and argues with the listing agents.
Finally, remember that even though by law an agent's responsibilities end when your new home is under contract, most agents will assist you all the way until settlement. Make sure that your agent will be by your side until settlement and even after.
In Washington, DC as well as Northern Virginia and Maryland most agents will not only assist you in finding a home but will help you with obtaining financing via referring you to a lender, and will attend your closing. Don't settle for anything less than the best agents the Washington area has to offer!
