I heard from a friend recently that she knew someone who was looking for home, but they did not want to work with an agent because they were afraid of being ripped off. That kind of set me back on my heels. It made me wonder what kind of negative experience this person had or heard about that would cause them to walk away from the opportunity to have a buyer agent professionally represent them, especially when it doesn’t cost them a nickel.
While I know that there are varying levels of expertise and professionalism in every industry, it’s disappointing that one of my peers left a potential buyer with such a distaste for agents that they are willing to try to do it all themselves.
As a home buyer, did you know that you can interview different buyer agents to be sure that you feel comfortable with them representing you? You don’t have to just call the names on the signs in front of homes that you are interested in and it is more than possible to find a great buyer agent who will work hard to help you find the right house at the right price on the right terms and guide you through the entire process. Whether you already live in the area or are relocating to the West Bank, finding a professional agent to help you is not a difficult task but one that does require a little bit of work on your part.
Tips for finding a New Orleans buyer agent
- Ask friends for referrals to agents they have had a good experience with in the past
- Use the internet to find agents who are active in the area (Google is your friend)
- Ask whether they practice dual agency (do you want your agent representing the seller or YOU?)
- Find out if they are familiar with the neighborhoods you are interested in
- Check them out with the Louisiana Real Estate Commission to be sure they are in good standing
- Ask if they have a network of trusted lenders and inspectors that can help you through the home buying process
For more information about home buying or selling on the West Bank of New Orleans, or relocating to or from NAS JRB New Orleans, please contact the West Bank Living Team. It would be our pleasure to have the opportunity to assist you with any of your real estate needs and have a little fun while doing it!
