Buyer Responsibilities

We hear a lot of talk about real estate agents--what they should and shouldn't do and say, whether they represent buyers or sellers--but we don't hear too much about buyer responsibilities.

A successful real estate transaction requires cooperation from everyone associated with the sale. There are things you can do to help your agent, which in the long run gets you to closing faster and with fewer bumps along the way.

Get pre-approved by a lending institution.
You won't waste your time or the agent's looking at houses out of your price range.
If you find a house you like, you'll feel confident making an offer. If you have written proof, your agent can present it with your offer, making a powerful statement that you can truly buy the home. You'll have a better idea how much to expect in closing costs.

Think seriously about your needs and wants.
It's sometimes difficult to find the ideal home. Evaluate your needs and wants to determine which items are most important to you. Convey that information to the agent.

Be honest with the agent.
How much personal information you give a real estate agent depends on your relationship with him/her, but no matter what the relationship is... be honest. Find an agent you like and stick with them!

Don't ask your agent to do anything illegal.
That includes obvious tasks that might relate to fraud or deception. It also includes fair housing issues. Your agent must comply with fair housing laws.

Cooperate with the agent.
Don't judge listings by looking at MLS sheets. Sure, choose some of the houses you want to see, but let your agent make choices, too.

Don't refuse to keep a listing appointment just because you don't like the exterior.
It's rude to drive away and it creates hard feelings. You don't have to spend a lot of time in the house, but do a walk-through.

Don't blindly follow an agent's directives, but do cooperate.
If contracts must be signed, don't let them linger. Your verbal acceptance of a counter offer might be discarded if you take your time to sign.

Attend your home inspection and pest inspection if possible.
You should be there to see and hear things firsthand.

Gather all paperwork needed to process your loan.
Meet with the loan officer as required.

Work with your agent to make sure everything's ready for closing (switching utilities, obtaining insurance binders, etc.)

Closings don't just happen. They happen because at least one person is following through. The road to closing is a lot smoother if everyone involved cooperates.