How an Exclusive Buyer's Agent works 100% for you…

100% OF THE TIME!

WHAT IS AN EXCLUSIVE BUYER'S AGENT?

An Exclusive Buyers Agent is a specially trained, Real Estate professional who represents Home Buyers Only, unlike a traditional agent who represents buyers and sellers, sometimes both at the same time. Experience is usually the hallmark of a true professional – 5 to 10 years is the norm.

As an Exclusive Buyers Agent, I am committed to helping you find and buy the best home at the best price on the best terms with the least amount of stress. I have the experience, negotiating skills and in-depth knowledge of the Palm Springs, Palm Desert, Indian Wells, Rancho Mirage and La Quinta housing market to make good on my good intentions and produce ther results you are seeking.

What They Say About Exclusive Buyer's Agents

"Unlike the traditional agent who looks out for the seller, a buyer broker acts as your advocate, helping you find the home you want and then negotiating the lowest possible price. The best buyer brokers are so-called exclusive agents - that is, they represent only buyers, never sellers..."
Money Magazine

"Groups such as the Consumer Federation of America and the American Association of Retired Persons recommend using buyer's agents...The reason is that they work."
SmartMoney

"Only by using a buyer agent can a buyer be sure all information is kept confidential. Only an exclusive buyer agent can give the buyer an objective, experienced opinion of the homes viewed to ensure the buyer gets the right home, in the right location, at the right price."
Mobility

"To buyers: If you want representation, work with a buyer broker. They are legally obligated to represent your interests in any negotiations with sellers."
Consumer Federation of America

"Exclusive Buyer's Agents only work for consumers and often can save them money - and they don't cost more to hire...Buyer's agents are not tied to any particular property or agency, so they will show buyers any home, even those for sale by owner."
Los Angeles Times

"Hire a buyer's broker. When in the market for a home, the best defense is a strong offense."
Worth

Your goal should be to engage an agent who will represent your interests. Not just a buyer broker, but an exclusive buyer broker. Make sure that is what you are getting."
Joseph Eamon Cummins
Author, NOT ONE DOLLAR MORE!

"To protect themselves, buyers can retain their own exclusive representative called a "buyer's broker". Your local agent may offer such services, but be aware that buyer's brokers who also work as sellers' brokers can sometimes end up on both sides of the deal."
Business Week

MY PRIMARY COMMITMENT...

I place my clients' interests above those of all others - including my own! I don't sell houses; I enable clients to make and carry out well-informed buying decisions. They are confident that the home they bought is what they wanted - their best house at the best price. My clients know that my training and experience enabled me to serve them effectively.

MY MISSION…

To assist my clients in finding and buying the home they want on the best possible terms.
To assure that my clients are aware of all the homes which may meet their needs.
To provide my clients with all of the information and advice they need to make educated real estate buying decisions.
To advocate my clients’ interest at all times, and in all aspects of their real estate transaction.

FEE/COMMISSION FAQs aka Who Pays the Buyer’s Agent?

Doesn’t basing my fee on the price of the home give me an incentive to direct you toward a higher-priced home or negotiate a higher price on any home?

Not even a little! My personal interests are much better served by referrals from happy clients than by the marginal increase which would result from selling my clients out. Never happened, never will.

Why don’t I charge a flat fee or charge by the hour?

The listing broker is not obligated to reduce his listing fee (normally 6%) if I don’t take my fee from the sale proceeds, and there is nothing that can be done to encourage such a reduction without inviting a lawsuit for "contractual interference".

In most cases sharing the commission that the seller has already agreed to pay their agent compensates the Buyer’s Agent. The buyer can receive representation at no additional cost to himself or herself.

The bottom line on my fee…

It's not an issue for my client since its included in the price of the property.
It's not an issue for the vast majority of sellers: listed, FSBO or new construction.
It's not an issue for the Listing Agent...commission splits are an everyday event.
I'm totally worth it! My clients save time, money and stress while achieving better results.

HOW TO START…

If you want proper representation from an Exclusive Buyer’s Agent, it's important that you contact mefirst before talking to any listing agent, independent seller or new home builder. Any contact you have with any sort of seller's representative or "listing agent" can be construed as an "agreement" to work through that agent.

WHAT IS MY PRIMARY VALUE TO YOU?

My clients often say that:

I made the home buying process more fun and less stressful.
The decisions they made "felt right" because they were educated on the process.
I made them very aware of what was available in the market.
They are sure they got the best deal (home/price/terms) they could have gotten.
I negotiated as though I was buying the home for myself and my family

(These comments are a source of great satisfaction to me.)

HOW DO I GET PAID?

1) If the home is listed by another Real Estate agent…

I am paid the same way traditional agents are paid: In a commission split between the listing (sellers) agent and Buyer’s Agent from the proceeds of the sale.

2) If the home is For Sale By Owner (FSBO)...

My fee is 3.5% and also comes from the proceeds of the sale. Few traditional agents are eager to deal with FSBOs. I welcome the opportunity to represent your interests through the process.

3) If the home is new construction (and unlisted by an agent)...

My fee is 3.0%, which is included in the pricing set by all ethical volume home builders and which, if not paid to your representative, can virtually never be traded by the buyer for a lower price or any other discount or benefit. I can protect your interests by acting as a knowledgeable, objective set of eyes and ears involved in the process. Make no mistake about new construction; people who have sold the same thing many times are selling you something.

Even in the case of NEW HOMES, and be perfectly clear on this, the Sales Rep's in the Model Homes are highly trained representatives for the BUILDER and their mission is to sell you their homes. Just as you can't go into a Buick dealer and buy a Ford, these Rep's won't represent you. BUT, you can work with these Rep's and still have someone on your side! A Buyer’s Agent can and will always look out for your best interests, show you the entire market and still be paid from funds the builders have already set aside to market their homes. It is particularly important that I be involved at the outset of your discussions with any builder, and that you identify me as your agent at your first contact with any on-site salesperson. Don't "register" without me!

TEN GOOD REASONS
to use an Exclusive Buyer's Agent

1)	You will incur NO OUT-OF-POCKET COSTS in return for client-level, buyer-agent services.
2)	You will SPEND NO MORE than you choose: you will be encouraged to SPEND LESS than you are able to.
3)	You will be discouraged from buying incorrectly or paying too much. YOU WON'T BE SOLD ANYTHING.
4)	You will have EXCLUSIVE, DETAILED INFORMATION about all the homes (and areas) you consider.
5)	You will be exposed to ALL YOUR OPTIONS - listed or FSBO - not steered to (or away from) choices.
6)	You will be served by someone CAPABLE OF MAKING GOOD ON GOOD INTENTIONS.
7)	You will be served by a handpicked SUPPORT TEAM of inspectors/vendors – just handed a list of names.
8)	You will know that you purchased the BEST HOME for you on the BEST TERMS at the BEST PRICE.
9)	A BUYER'S AGENT'S duties to you can never conflict with duties to a seller.
10)	YOUR INTERESTS will be placed above all others, including the agent's. This is how Professional Buyer’s Agents operate!

TEN Commitments To You

The Buyer that I will do:

Respond honestly and accurately to all your questions.
Evaluate your specific needs and wants and locate properties that fit those specifications.
Assist you in determining the amount that you can afford (pre-qualify) and show properties in that price range and locale you have chosen.
Research and analyze comparative financial data on neighboring properties.
Show you suitable homes, specifying their strengths and weaknesses.
Provide guidance on the best property values.
Research the selected properties to identify any problems or issues to help you in making an informed decision prior to making an appropriate offer on the property. I will offer my opinions on the value of the properties under consideration.
Assist in viewing properties on your behalf and either accompany you on the showings or preview the properties your behalf to insure that the identified specifications are met.
Advise you on structuring an appropriate offer to purchase the selected property.
Review and explain all legal documents to you with our in house legal counsel.