One of the biggest decisions you will be faced with when you decide to purchase a home is this: what TYPE of agent do you want representing you? In other words, what agency affiliation do you want your agent to possess? In real estate, there are sellers agents, dual agents, transaction coordinators, non-agents and buyers agents. Discussing the differences between these various forms of agency is a large enough topic to warrant a separate discussion outside the more limited focus of this article. Once you do this research and learn the basics of agency law, you will more than likely come to the same conclusion that most buyers reach: your preference will be to be represented by a "buyer's agent." The goal of a buyer's agent is to find the perfect point of connection between the homes available in the market and the needs and financial capacity of the buyer. A buyer's agent, under a Buyer Agency Agreement, acts solely on behalf of the buyer. Buyer's agents have a duty to disclose to the buyer known information about the seller which may be used to benefit the buyer.

The duties a buyer's agent owes to the buyer include:

Promoting the best interest of the buyer

Fully disclosing to the buyer all facts that might affect or influence the buyer's decision to tender an offer to purchase real estate

Keeping confidential the buyer's motivations for buying

Presenting all offers on behalf of the buyer

Disclosing to the buyer all information about the willingness of the seller to complete the sale or to accept a lower price

Having said that, on a more practical level, a good buyers agent will:

Respect the price range that you have established (they will never show you homes beyond your price range)

Be completely dedicated to the buyer

Take whatever time it takes to find the buyer the right home

Help the buyer get the best terms

Utilize a "Buyer's Contract" to afford the buyer the greatest contractual protection

Prepare a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) to show the buyer recent comparable sales and give the buyer the information they need to identify the proper price to pay for the home

Help the buyer negotiate the lowest reasonable price

Advocate the buyers interests, and only the buyers interests, throughout the entire buying process

Make recommendations with respect to quality, competitively priced lenders

Make recommendations with respect to inspectors

Attend the inspection with the buyer and make recommendations based upon the results of the inspection

Make recommendations with respect to radon testers

Make recommendations with respect to attorneys

Obtain and review the closing documents prior to the closing and follow up on any errors or unusual items that they discover

Review the closing documents with the buyer prior to the closing

Attend the closing with the buyer

Follow up with the buyer after the fact to ensure their complete satisfaction

When you are interviewing agents to potentially represent you in purchasing a home, I would suggest that you use the list above as a scorecard of sorts. Ask the agent you are considering if they will do all of the things detailed above. If they wont, I would suggest you keep looking until you find an agent that will. Given that a home is usually the single largest investment that you are likely to own in your lifetime, you owe it to your self to work with someone that is truly committed to doing all they can to protect your interests and find you the best possible bargain on the market.

The bottom line: a buyer's agent represents the purchaser. Take the time to find a quality buyers agent. It may be the best decision youll ever make in real estate. Please visit the Professional One Real Estate website for a more detailed discussion of buyer's agents at Professional One Real Estate website.