Before real estate, I worked for the Department of Finance and Administration as a tax auditor. The relationship between the State and the taxpayer is an adversarial one. No matter how nice each party was, their goals are in complete opposition. At the core, one is wanting the most amount of money. And the other is wanting the least.

Buyers and Sellers are Adversarial by Nature

   Buying and selling property is a massive financial transaction and it’s important to have your representation. I have heard horror stories of people going unrepresented (especially as buyers) and the opposing party took advantage of them. Or completely changed the terms during the transaction and causing the buyer to lose the house. Because sellers, that are unrepresented, have less restrictions that means less protections for those buyers.

   Unrepresented sellers are not held to the same standards as Listing Agents in the MLS. Buyers can be misled and then stuck with the financial consequences. Sure, there can be legal ramifications for sellers who are misleading, but courts are often backed up with cases. Time of the Essence might not matter much. And hiring a lawyer now comes out of pocket for the buyer when a Realtor representing them MAY have prevented the bad purchase in the first place. And I won’t go into all of the scams I have heard recently.

   It is important to find the best Realtor for you. Interview some, check their reviews, follow their online presence and see if it is someone you feel like you can trust. You do not have to go with the first Realtor you come across, just like you don’t have to buy the first house you see online. Do you research because it’s important to protect yourself and your interests. Because someone WILL be a fit for you. They will earn that paycheck for the services they provide for you. There are so many amazing Realtors in NWA. Find the one that matches your personality as a buyer/seller and will work for your best interests. Find a Realtor that is experienced. There are so many things that can go wrong during the process (through no fault of your own or your Realtor) and you need someone that knows how to handle them. 

   But not all real estate transactions are difficult. Sometimes you will have an experience where it was easy, just like those comments in that fb post. And everyone hopes for a smooth real estate transaction. But that isn’t always the case. Always be diligent, as the opposing party has their own interests that oppose your own. And that’s ok, that’s real estate! Find someone you know will work for you and your best interests!

Check Matt’s Reviews

   Look at the Realtor.com reviews/recommendations for Matt here. Matt and I are experienced and want the best for our clients. It is our priority to get what is in our clients’ best interests when they are buying and selling.