Blog Post

Why Having an Agent Helps You Negotiate For the Best Possible Deal

Tom Sprich, Realtor(R) • Apr 07, 2020

Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a small town that is not only charming but exciting to live in, making it the best place to buy a home. The city is a blend of different things from the urban streets to the natural river walks, down to the vibe of live music. You will also be impressed by the vast employment opportunities and great opportunities for growth at Grand Rapids. If you are looking for a house in this part of the country, you are better off with an agent by your side. Here are some of the reasons to hire Grand Rapids realtors for the best possible deal.

1. Huge Savings

Many people are looking to maximize value by hiring experienced realtors to connect them with quality homes. If you are looking to make a home purchase, you probably would not envision paying an agent to get a house. While anyone can shop for a house, unless you have enough time to go home-shopping, an agent is your best bet against getting the perfect house much faster. For example, if you want a swimming pool or a basement playroom for your children, or anything specific, a real estate agent will help you find the home that best fits your needs.

2. Ethical Considerations

Although not all Grand Rapids realtors belong to the National Association of Realtors, those who join the association are bound by a specific code of ethics. According to the code, realtors are expected to be honest in all their transactions. The professional is expected to consider the best interests of the client when choosing a piece of real estate. The agent should make full disclosure regarding the property, including informing you of any problems with the house you intend to buy.

Any agent found to have broken this code of ethics is subject to severe penalties. The penalties include a suspension from the association, a three-year expulsion, or a fine of $5,000.

3. Requesting Repairs

One of the delicate issues of purchasing real estate is requesting repairs. A qualified realtor spot trouble you may not identify on your own. Moreover, they will also recommend a home inspector who will give a comprehensive report regarding the defects with your house. If the report shows some problems, the agent will request for the appropriate repairs. Note that the agent is experienced enough to differentiate between excessive and reasonable repair requests. While the request of repairs will depend on you, the agent will exercise their discretion to suggest what they deem fit for you.

4. Pricing Expertise

A highly qualified realtor is able to set a price on a house the moment they walk through its doors. With such experience, they are able to tell you how well a particular neighborhood holds its value. Although you can easily get information online on the sales of comparable houses, an agent has the expertise and to tell you if a house is underpriced or overpriced. The agent will not waste your time visiting houses that won’t work for you because they know what you’re looking for.

5. Finding Available Houses

While most homes for sale may be available for buyers to find on websites, in some cases, the sellers may not want their offers to be highly publicized. This may be for personal reasons, like if they don’t want their friends or neighbors to know about the sale because they are having financial or relationship problems. In such cases, only the real estate agent will know that the house is for sale. A real estate agent will, therefore, help you find an ideal house that you might miss seeing.

6. Tackling the Paper Work

Buying houses involves a lot of paperwork before the transaction is officially finalized. These include papers on the written-offer, the counter-offers, details like specific repairs, and what was or was not part of the sale. Such paperwork is tedious. This is one reason you need Grand Rapids realtors to handle the paperwork. Often the offers and counteroffers have a limited time frame. The odds of not checking a box, not initialing a margin, or missing an important detail are slim when you have an agent working for you.

7. The Purple Room Feature

Besides the technical aspects of a house sale and the errors people are likely to make with the paperwork, real estate agents know houses and the neighborhoods they’re in, inside out. This is also called the purple room phenomenon because if you want a house with a purple room, the agent will get that specific house for you. These are features you will not find on the internet. If you are searching for a house with a room that can be used as an office, mother-in-law unit, or customized features, an agent is your best chance of getting it than any real estate website.

If you are looking to buy a house, you probably have a specific budget and certain features you want in that house. While you can go home-shopping on your own, there are chances you are not likely to get the best deal possible than when working with Grand Rapids realtors. Apart from paying a fair price, working with real estate agents relieves of tiresome paperwork, time-consuming house hopping, by getting you the specific house that suits all your needs.

Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 15 Jun, 2022
When sellers put up a home, there are a lot of factors to consider. However, pricing is very important. Sellers understand that buyers can now research information, and they are now smarter than ever. So, they need to set a reasonable price for their homes. Besides, the initial price differentiates between a painless sale and months of frustration. Here are five common house pricing strategies sellers use. 
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 16 May, 2022
Buying a home is a significant investment, and it can be an exciting process. You have read about how important it is to get pre-approved and pre-qualified to stand out from the competition. However, when the home appraises for less than the agreed-upon price during the home appraisal, you risk losing your home or your money. Here is a guide on appraisal gaps and how to deal with the difference. 
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 18 Apr, 2022
Are you looking to settle in Grand Rapids? Grand Rapids offers a growing economy, low cost of living, excellent health care, diverse cultural options, and award-winning schools. Thus, it was ranked among the top places to live. Given the high demand for homes in Grand Rapids, the real estate market is hot, and sometimes, sellers have multiple offers to consider. So, how do you deal with multiple offer situations as a buyer? 
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 16 Mar, 2022
If you are trying to buy a home, you are probably keeping tabs on the real estate market trend. The real estate market is constantly shifting, impacting buyers' purchasing decisions. Thus, buyers are always on the lookout for the perfect time when the prices are low to make a purchase. This guide will help you understand the two markets under real estate and how to tell when the market is shifting. 
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 16 Feb, 2022
Are you planning on buying or selling a home? While the forces of housing demand and supply affect the market, so do seasons. The seasonality of the real estate market will vary according to location since each region has its nuance. Read on to understand how spring impacts the real estate market and why spring is the best time to invest in your dream home.
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 17 Jan, 2022
As the spring season approaches, it is time to get your home in order if you intend on selling. The real estate market goes up every spring, making it the best time to take advantage of the market and list your property. Preparing your home for listing could seem like a lengthy process for a first-time seller. If you would like your home to stand out among beautiful listed homes for sale in Grand Rapids, follow these tips. 
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 16 Dec, 2021
As the market begins to shift and the interest rates start going up, the best time to make your investment in real estate is now. But where should you invest? - In Grand Rapids. Grand Rapids has become a favorite location for many real estate investors due to the competitive housing market and low cost of living. 
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 16 Nov, 2021
You plan on selling your home and moving to a new location, but you can’t seem to decide the best town to move to yet. How about Grand Rapids? If you have been waiting for the best time to make an investment in real estate, it's time to make your move. The housing market has begun to shift, and the interest rates are expected to go up soon. So, if you would like your home to sell faster, list your property now for the best deals. 
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 18 Oct, 2021
Are you on the lookout for real estate investment opportunities? Have you considered investing in Grand Rapids real estate? With an average population of 200,000 people, Grand Rapids is the second-largest city in Michigan State. The city shows more promise than other cities in the state, making it a prime area for investment. It has the following.
Grand Rapids Real Estate Agent
By Tom Sprich 15 Sep, 2021
Buying a house is a dream many people would like to accomplish. However, government policies change with the ever-changing real-estate sector and the dynamics of homeowners. Besides finding a suitable mortgage lender, the next considered factor is the interest rate. After the pandemic, the real-estate sector has been significantly affected, and most finance corporations like banks and commercial lenders have lowered their interest to encourage investments. However, a low-interest rate is like stealing money, and a rate between 6 and 8 is a healthy interest rate. Read more about interest rates below. 
Show More
Share by: