Home Buying Guide

How does working with an agent work?

As a buyer, you can work with a licensed agent through every stage of the purchase — from prequalification, to finding the right home, to writing the offer, negotiating, and closing. Many sellers offer a cooperating compensation to the buyer’s agent, which is typically paid by the seller as part of the closing costs, usually calculated as a percentage of the sale price. In other words: expert representation on your side often costs you nothing out of pocket.

What does a buyer’s agent do?

• Conduct a needs analysis to ensure fiduciary service
• Help you get pre-qualified with a mortgage lender
• Research and identify homes that meet your criteria
• Schedule showings of homes with listing agents and sellers
• Go on a home tour with you and show homes
• Refine your criteria and select more homes to show as needed
• Write and submit offers to purchase homes
• Negotiate all offers to purchase and oversee the negotiation process
• Schedule and attend home inspections with you and the inspector
• Negotiate all inspection repairs
• Provide access to the home as needed for measuring, inspecting, and more
• Educate and guide you through the process, all the way to closing
• Provide community, pricing, and market information
• Promptly return all calls, texts, and emails from all parties involved

Download Our Buyer Glossary

What is a buyer’s agency agreement?

A buyer’s agency agreement is a formal contract stating that you will work exclusively with one agent through your purchase. It protects the agent — who is only compensated at closing — and it keeps the transaction fair to all parties involved. It also formalizes your agent’s fiduciary duty to you: your interests come first, full stop.

Getting started — define your needs & wants

Almost every home purchase involves some degree of compromise. Before you tour a single house, rate what matters to you on a scale of 1–10 — school zones, commute, yard, kitchen, square footage, walkability. Knowing your non-negotiables keeps you from falling for the wrong house.

Fill Out the Homebuying Checklist