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Valued Contributor
Posts: 635
Registered: ‎06-15-2010

An interesting Real Estate concept

Today I had a showing for my house and the firm showing it Was buyers best choice.

i looked it up and apparently they are in a lot of states and only represent buyers, they don't list houses. I thought this might be a good one to keep in mind as they only represent the buyer so no issues. Has anyone heard of this Company?  The people looking today were from Wisconsin and I am in a small town in TN. 

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,138
Registered: ‎05-20-2011

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept

I haven't heard of them, but I like the concept! I always felt the buyers were at a disadvantage often times.

Super Contributor
Posts: 371
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept

[ Edited ]

Keep in mind that they don't get paid unless you buy a house, even if they don't list houses.  So, you still have to be careful and wary.  Unfortunately, I learned this from personal experience, when I used a "buyer only rep" 18 years ago. 

 

“There are two ways to be rich: One is by acquiring much, and the other is by desiring little.” —Jackie French Koller
Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 7,367
Registered: ‎02-22-2015

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept

[ Edited ]

Wouldn't risk working with Buyers Choice. Use either your bank for help or a reputable Realtor. Don't try to save a few dollars on such a large investment. It's the buyers who will win in the end . . . they will sock it to YOU with such things as repairs found during their inspection, financing fees which may not be necessary, and a host of other meaningless things. A Realtor is a professional you cannot afford NOT to have represent you for a variety of legal and financial reasons. . 

 

Offering to represent the buyer is like placing your money in their pocket. What are you thinking? 

 

Of course Buyers Choice doesn't want to represent the seller! The gravy train is made on the buyer's end in the financing deals. Do you want to mess with that? Make sure the deal doesn't fall through; have a reputable Realtor make sure the client is pre-approved before touring your home. Eliminates things missing or break-ins at a later date. If a break-in should happen, your Realtor knows exactly whom to contact. How would you contact Buyers Choice to find out who had been through your home? They aren't going to provide any information - they are not representating you. Beware of them. You do not want to be involved in such a situation ever. 

 

Money screams; wealth whispers.
Frequent Contributor
Posts: 81
Registered: ‎04-24-2015

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept


@BirkiLady wrote:

Wouldn't risk working with Buyers Choice. Use either your bank for help or a reputable Realtor. Don't try to save a few dollars on such a large investment. It's the buyers who will win in the end . . . they will sock it to YOU with such things as repairs found during their inspection, financing fees which may not be necessary, and a host of other meaningless things. A Realtor is a professional you cannot afford NOT to have represent you for a variety of legal and financial reasons. . 

 

Offering to represent the buyer is like placing your money in their pocket. What are you thinking? 

 

Of course Buyers Choice doesn't want to represent the seller! The gravy train is made on the buyer's end in the financing deals. Do you want to mess with that? Make sure the deal doesn't fall through; have a reputable Realtor make sure the client is pre-approved before touring your home. Eliminates things missing or break-ins at a later date. If a break-in should happen, your Realtor knows exactly whom to contact. How would you contact Buyers Choice to find out who had been through your home? They aren't going to provide any information - they are not representating you. Beware of them. You do not want to be involved in such a situation ever. 

 


I don't understand your issue.  I researched Buyer's Choice.  They are licenced realtors, but they only represent the buyers in the transaction.  They do not list houses.   In the OP's case, Buyer's Coice showed OP's home to a potential buyer.  I assume the OP has her own listing agent.  Buyer's agents are quite common.   

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,231
Registered: ‎01-05-2017

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept

Buyer Brokerages have been around since the eighties and even earlier in some states. A Buyer Broker is a reputable real estate agent just like a traditional agent that represents buyers and sellers.

 

In the old days the agent who listed the property represented the seller and the buyer's agent was a sub-agent of the listing agent and represented the seller as well.  This all changed in the late eighties (in my state) because the courts were tired of litigating cases in which the buyers were not aware that they had no representation.  Now, both the buyer and seller sign a document that discloses who is representing them.

 

Whether a buyer is using a Buyer Broker, who does not do listings, or a traditional real estate agent, who does both, but is representing the buyer in a particular transaction, the buyer is getting the same kind of representation.  The only exception to this is if the traditional agents' company has the listing as well.  In that case it may become a dual agency situation in which neither party is being represented, but both buyer and seller are to be treated fairly.  Dual agency is very tricky from an agent's perspective.

 

I hope this clarifies some of the previous misinformation.  My best advice to prospective buyers and sellers is to thoroughly read all documents and ask a lot of questions.  It is the buyer's responsibility to learn as much as they can about the neighborhood (crime, traffic, noise such as air traffic, child predators, etc.) as well as having the home thoroughly inspected.  Buyers should ask their lender questions as well and do some comparison shopping.  Usually your realtor wil know of one or two honest lenders that will close your loan on time.Smiley Happy

Valued Contributor
Posts: 635
Registered: ‎06-15-2010

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept

Thank you all for the feedback on the buyers agent. I do have my home listed with a national firm but thought I needed to research this idea when I buy my next house. I think because of my situation, I better just stick to Plan A and a  conventional  realtor.

 

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,660
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept

There are many agents who advertise themselves as "buyer's agents".  They purport to only represent the buyer but do they really?   DOn't forget it the seller who is paying their commission.  If push comes to shove during a real estate transaction and things might go down the tubes whose side do you really think the agent is going to take?  The buyer who is paying the agent nothing or the seller?

Honored Contributor
Posts: 8,179
Registered: ‎03-10-2010

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept

I love it went the same Real Estate Firm gets the commissions for the buyer and seller of the same home.

Frequent Contributor
Posts: 81
Registered: ‎04-24-2015

Re: An interesting Real Estate concept


@Limbo4now wrote:

Thank you all for the feedback on the buyers agent. I do have my home listed with a national firm but thought I needed to research this idea when I buy my next house. I think because of my situation, I better just stick to Plan A and a  conventional  realtor.

 


Actually, when you buy you next house, you should choose a real estate agent who represents you, the buyer.  They are "conventional realtors" in the sense that they are licenced real estate agents, but unlike traditional agents, these agents represent you, not the seller.