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WHY A GOOD DC BUYERS AGENT MATTERS

We're a bit biased on this one, buuut... it's true that in addition to the many advantages gained by working with a Realtor with lots of expertise and experience, your home search will be less labor-intensive and stressful, and more successful! We'll tell you why. And when you're finished reading, get in touch to start your DC real estate journey!

BUYER AGENCY

Buyer Agency protects buyers and ensures their DC real estate agent works in their best interests, not the seller’s, providing the duties of loyalty, care, confidentiality and other fiduciary duties. Agents who are not acting as Buyers Agents are effectively subagents of the seller.

1. YOUR TIME IS VALUABLE
You’ll never know how much time and effort goes into your home search & purchase when you’re working with good DC buyers agents like us! That’s because you don’t see much of what we do. The Isaacs Team spends between 20 – 50 hours a week: 
  • Screening and reviewing listings in real time
  • Performing market and property research
  • Arranging tours and touring
  • Researching and drafting CMAs
  • Drafting, packaging and negotiating offers and contracts
  • Attending inspections, additional visits, walkthroughs and settlements
  • Engaging in communication with listing agents, developers, lenders, title companies, home owner associations, contractors and vendors, and more
  • Supervising execution of contract provisions
  • Boiling everything down to client communication.

Even if you had the expertise and tools required to do all these things well, it’s doubtful you’ could devote the time and attention necessary to your home search and transaction.

2. WE'RE EXPERTS
  • We've trained in the laws, practices and protocols of DC real estate for over a decade. How much training have you had?
  • We transact in DC neighborhoods daily, garnering information that benefits our clients in the process.
  • We have specialized tools and resources necessary to making informed decisions and executing successful transactions. We spend thousands of dollars annually for the software, hardware, memberships and resources that allow us to provide you with accurate data, real time on and off-market property listings, hidden listing information accessible only to agents, access to homes for sale (both on and off-market), the knowledge and brokerage technology that enhance your search and transaction and reduce risk, as well as immediate access to brokers, title attorneys, business partners and other experts.
You’re at a disadvantage without them. Many people don’t realize all the work that a good Realtor does. Property search & price negotiation are just two small components of a complex home purchase process–and nearly all the remaining portions of a transaction are negotiable! If you don’t know what the other factors are, or what outcomes can occur based on each choice you make (or fail to make), you will benefit by having an expert guide you through the process. The seller or developer of the property you purchase will have professional representation, shouldn’t you? This is one of the biggest expenditures you’ll make in your lifetime. Don’t shortchange yourself.
3. YOU'RE PAYING FOR IT ANYWAY
Some buyers think they’ll get a better deal by not using a DC buyers agent because they assume the seller will be paying less commission. That’s not the case. Here’s how real estate commission works:
  •  It’s contractual and the terms are set before the listing ever goes on the market or is advertised for sale. The seller and listing agent sign a listing agreement that includes a  percentage for the listing brokerage (representing the seller) and the selling brokerage (representing a buyer) based on the list price of the home. *Note that the agreement is between the seller and brokerages–not individual agents.
  • Let’s use 6% total commission as an example. The listing broker lists the property for sale at the agreed upon price, offering the selling broker (buyer broker) a split of the 6% commission, usually 50%, but this can vary.  The selling brokerage split is advertised in the listing.  Now the home is sold to a represented buyer. The listing brokerage earns 2.5% and the selling brokerage earns 2.5%. The individual agents earn a percentage of that commission, in a sum based on the contracts they negotiated with their brokerages when they joined them.  All parties to a sales contract would have to agree to amend it, including the brokerages.
  • Let’s say now that the home is sold to a buyer who is not represented by a brokerage/agent. According to the terms of the GCAAR contract boilerplate, the listing brokerage keeps the full commission. The seller is still paying the full 5% so there is no savings to the seller based on lack of representation for the buyer.
Other points to remember: If you’re negotiating against an experienced agent, chances are good that you’ll come out on the losing side–not only on price but on terms that may matter a lot later in your transaction. Experienced investors, attorneys and even real estate agents themselves use agents to buy and sell property. They know it’s the smart thing to do. You’re paying for it anyway–so take advantage of expert advice!
4. WE DO THE DIRTY WORK SO YOU CAN RELAX
Realtors take the emotion out of stressful real estate situations so buyers can make smart decisions. We wish we could say that all real estate transactions are simple, smooth and easy. They’re not. We wish we could say that all parties play fairly. They don’t.  We wish we could say that all sellers are rational and stick to agreements. Sadly, no.
Make sure you’ve got a professional on your side who knows how to read the signs and guard against issues. 
5. IIT'S MORE FUN
This is no small thing! Real estate transactions can be stressful time sucks. Partnering with us to manage yours frees you up to enjoy the experience. You’re buying a home–you want to be excited about it!  We’ll guide you through the process, do the legwork, run the research and provide support, making your home purchase process less time intensive and more enjoyable.