5 Tips to Choose the Best Buyer's Agent in Boston

A common question homebuyers in Boston ask today is "Should I hire a buyer’s agent?" Given a home purchase is the largest transaction of most homebuyers’ lives, the simple answer is yes!

While you may be well-versed in business dealings and negotiation of large transactions in your work life, you’ll still want to have an exclusive buyer agent representing you that is experienced in all of the nuances of residential real estate transactions.

An experienced buyer agent or buyer’s broker will guide you through your home-buying process and will be your dedicated advocate. They will educate you on key aspects of the transaction, analyze pricing trends, handle negotiation strategy, prepare necessary paperwork, and be with you from offer through closing.

Most home buyers don’t realize that traditional seller’s agents (also known as listing agents) solely represent the interests of the sellers of a property (unless you enter into a dual agency relationship). While these seller’s agents may seem very polite and helpful, buyers will want to have their own agent to be their advocate to avoid any conflicts of interest.

So, how do you choose a buyer’s agent in Boston? Below we’ve compiled the top 5 tips to select a buyer’s agent in Boston that is 100 percent loyal to you.

When hiring a licensed professional for any project in your life, you should interview multiple professionals before selecting the one that best suits your needs. This is especially true when hiring real estate brokers in Massachusetts.

In a recent report, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) noted that 68% of homebuyers work with the first agent they meet. Even more surprising, the same survey showed that 88% of homebuyers only interview two or fewer real estate agents before entering into buyer agency.

Before you work with the first buyer’s agent that you meet in Boston, make sure to interview several real estate brokers and select the one that offers you the best educational and financial benefits.

When you are narrowing down your decision on a buyer’s agent, you should definitely ask about the agent’s knowledge of the local area as well as their experience level. While there are a lot of eager, motivated agents new to the real estate business, you don’t want your home purchase to be the agent’s first rodeo.

Real estate professionals bring specialized skills and expertise to the home buying process. An agent’s deep understanding of Boston real estate trends, neighborhoods of interest, and a track record of experience with various types of residential real estate transactions will be an invaluable resource for a homebuyer.

Be sure to ask if they’ve handled your type of transaction (condo or home purchase) and if they’ve done deals in your favorite neighborhoods. Local intel makes a big difference.

Every dollar counts when buying a home, especially in Boston where home prices aren’t cheap. There is a new, money-saving concept that most buyers are not aware of (because traditional brokers don’t offer them) called commission rebates. A buyer broker plays a crucial role in this by acting in the buyer’s best interests and providing these financial benefits.

The way a commission rebate works is that a buyer’s agent or broker gives a homebuyer a portion of the commission they receive for representing the buyer. Commission rebates are legal in 40 US States including Massachusetts.

Prevu, a tech-enabled brokerage, offers up to 1% of the buyer’s purchase price with their Smart Buyer Rebate. The firm’s program is the largest commission rebate in Boston. For example, if you bought a $1,250,000 apartment in the Back Bay neighborhood of Boston with Prevu, you could receive up to $12,500 cash back.

Consumers today are accustomed to online shopping in all parts of their daily lives. From e-commerce to grocery shopping, or from travel to car purchases, people prefer to use online tools to research products and buy them online.

So, why shouldn’t people be able to buy a home online too?

In the real estate industry, modern tools are essential for homebuyers who prefer online experiences. Make sure to select a modern real estate brokerage that offers digital tools to seamlessly search and collaborate with your buyer’s agent. Say goodbye to the antiquated interactions with traditional brokers, and work with a tech-enabled brokerage.