The Voice Of Baton Rouge Real Estate

Now that you’ve decided to purchase a home you are probably highly aware of “for sale” signs all around you. Maybe you’ve decided to find your home by driving around and scouting for these signs or maybe you’ve been receiving emails with listings for months and then you drive by the listings of interest. How ever you came to be sitting in your car in front of that sign dying to know more about the house or just wanting to take a look inside don’t give in to the urge to call the number on the sign!

I know you are probably thinking, why? That sounds crazy! I’ll tell you why it’s crazier to call the number than most people realize. The agent on the sign represents the seller. They have been hired by the seller to represent their best interests and to get the best price for their home. The moment you call and make an appointment or perhaps make an offer you become this agent’s client as well. In Louisiana this is perfectly legal, however, in many states it is not. It is called dual agency and it’s pretty tricky to legally represent both parties equally. I’m sure you’d think twice about a lawyer that represented you and the party you were suing. Obviously there are differences, but a home is usually the largest investment you will make and you should want to be represented fairly.

Currently 80% of buyers start their home search online. Most often this happens 6 months to 1 year before making a purchase. Take this time to meet with several Realtors and hire someone to represent you. You can be sure you feel comfortable with this person and that they understand exactly what you are looking for. Now you have someone in your corner that will tell you the problems with a potential home as opposed to highlighting only the positives to get a house sold. Just think about having your Realtor on speed dial and driving by a sign or two or ten. With just one phone call you can schedule to see all of those homes or ask questions about each. You won’t have to worry about getting a stranger on the phone each time trying to talk you in to scheduling a showing. You’ll be able to comfortably say no and move on to the next house. The best part is YOUR Realtor is going to be paid from the commission the seller is paying in most cases, so what do you have to lose?