Do you really need a Buyer's agent when looking for your home?

Believe it or not, you need a Buyer's agent!
Home buyers often set themselves up for a stressful situation: They don’t really know what they want. They might think they know, but until they get out there and look at the homes on the market, their criteria may be too broad or too narrow. There are hundreds of homes on the Park City, Utah real estate market. As a REALTOR® in the Park City and Deer Valley area, I have had a number of buyers approach me with some very loose home selection criteria. One buyer said “I want a screaming deal on a condo with a ski resort view.” Which ski resort? Deer Valley, Park City or the Canyons? At what price level? What level of finishes?



The problem here is that with this type of open-mindedness, homebuyers could have literally dozens of homes available to choose from. While this might sound like a good thing, when faced with a plethora of choices, the amount of homes will be overwhelming to the buyer. A “screaming deal” means something different to every person, and what good is a screaming deal if it really does not meet your family’s needs?


According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development website, the average buyer sees 15 homes before writing an offer on a home. In my experience this is a fairly accurate estimate. Most buyers begin to tire of the whole process after seeing a dozen homes. All of the homes start to look alike and become a jumble in their mind.


Think of it like this – as a woman, how many pairs of pants do you try on before you get frustrated or tired of it and leave the store, never to buy those pants? As a man, well we already know how many you try on before tiring of the process! Homes are no different.




A few hints:
1. Write down what you must have. A fireplace and hardwood floors? Can't live without a full finished basement? Would die without central air conditioning? Write down those must haves and weed out the homes that don't fit.


2. Select a neighborhood, area or school district. If you must be within walking distance to the lifts, close to the freeway or near the middle school, use this parameter to define your search area.


3. Work with a knowledgeable agent. By working with an experienced agent, my clients are able to get that list of homes down to a manageable level in short order. Although many internet searches have become very detailed, they are still not as detailed as the ones used by licensed agents..

It doesn't cost buyers anything to work with an agent. Our fees are traditionally paid for by the seller. But a REALTOR®'s service can be invaluable by saving the homebuyer time and frustration. Not to mention the fact that we are on your side – working in your best interest.


Working with a buyer is a listening and watching exercise. The first day a good Buyer’s agent should begin to understand the most important criteria to the buyer in buying their Park City or Deer Valley property. By understanding the specific criteria and using my expertise as an experienced agent, the number of homes quickly became a manageable amount. The buyer remains focused and was is able to define their concept of an ideal home, and ultimately find the right home.



If you are buying, selling or relocating to Park City, Utah and need help from a professional REALTOR®, give me a call or visit my website, parkcityhousehunters.com for a FREE Relocation Packet, I specialize in both primary and secondary residences in the greater Park City area.