Every profession has generalists and specialists. Real estate is no different. As a Realtor and licensed Broker, Sears’ years of experience and education provides select buyer’s with unsurpassed personal service.
Not many years ago, all real agents legally worked for the seller–as a salesperson both agents in the transaction had the same client (the seller) and the identical goal (sell that house). This remains true in many other countries but not in the U.S.–in fact, in most countries in Central America there is not even a license required to sell real estate!
In South Carolina, there are different types of agency relationships–legally binding agreements between the real estate broker and the buyer. A person interested in buying real estate does not have to enter such an agreement but then the buyer works with the agent as a “customer” rather than a “client;” here the buyer’s agent actually works for the seller in a “sub-agency” role.
A buyer agent’s fiduciary responsibility is to provide: care and diligence, protecting you from harm; total confidentiality, as permitted by law; obedience, doing whatever is legally allowed; accountability, handling money and documents in an expedient and transparent manner; loyalty, 100% to the buyer; and disclosure of any material fact of which the agent is knowledgeable about that might affect your decision.
But, even if you enter an agency relationship with a real estate brokerage firm all agents are not alike! In the Charleston area, there are about 200 agents (out of several thousand) who have this coveted distinction of being an Accredited Buyer Representative.
Agents with an ABR designation have expertise advocating for the buyer. Helping you find the right home or investment property is just the beginning of the buying process. Negotiating a fair price based on knowledge of the neighborhood market and the specific home, inspecting the property to avoid unforeseen repairs and getting compensation for necessary adjustments from the seller, identifying qualified professionals such a licensed contractor, attorney, tax accountant, insurance broker, and moving the transaction from a ratified contract to a smooth closing are just a few of the responsibilities of a buyer’s agent.
When you sign an exclusive right to buy agreement, you can be assured of receiving unsurpassed service. Agency = Empowerment!