Buyer’s Agent; What does it mean? A buyer’s Agent represents the BUYER. There are Agents who ONLY represent Buyers, and there are Agents that represent both buyers and sellers. Not usually at the same time, although in California “dual Agency”, is legal and in certain circumstances is just fine.
When a Buyer is considering a Short Sale OR a standard, equity sale, they need an Agent looking out for their own interests. I don’t take my Buyer’s to just any property. It is a process to find a property that matches a buyer. It takes homework on the Buyer’s Agent side. We need to interview our Buyers to try to suss out exactly what their list of “I wants” is vs. their list of “I will not live withouts.” Very different.
If a Buyer is looking at a Short Sale or a Foreclosure, they are probably more interested in price/sf. This Buyer may very well give up many of their “wants” and certainly some of their “I will not live withouts”. In a Short Sale, the Buyer has to LOVE that home so much, they are willing to ride the short sale cycle all the way to the end. In a Foreclosure, the Buyer has to look past the condition to the potential..
The Buyer’s Agent has to LISTEN. Really hear what the Buyer is looking for. Really see how they respond to a property. Sometimes, the Buyers list of “I will not live without”, becomes very different as we go through the process of home searching. Look for a Buyer’s Agent that suits your personality, and listens to what you want…you’ll be working together for a long time!