It's a bit more involved than that -- we unlock doors AND turn on lights!  :-)

Just kidding, of course.  There's more to representing a buyer than just unlocking doors and turning on lights -- so before you call the listing agent to see a home listed for sale, you should understand a bit more about buyer representation.

In representing you in your home purchase, your buyer's agent would be performing tasks such as:

• assisting in your home search
  
• providing data about each property
  
• explaining financing options
  
• creating a negotiation strategy
  
• drafting and presenting offers
  
• researching restrictive covenants, etc.
  
• coordinating property inspections
  
• coordinating property appraisal
  
• conducting final walk-through
  
• preparing for settlement
  
• answering questions and providing counsel and guidance as needed

Best yet, your buyer's agent's compensation for representing you would (in most cases) be paid by the seller.

So -- you can call the listing agent (who is contractually bound to represent the seller's best interests) or you can hire a Realtor to represent YOUR best interests as the buyer.  Clearly, I recommend the second option.

Beyond buyer representation, there is a lot more to know about and think about regarding the home purchasing process.  Read more at....