Common Questions About Buyer Agency And Our Real Estate Services

1. What is a buyer agent / buyer broker?
A buyer agent or buyer broker (sometimes referred to as buyer agency or buyers agents) represents the buyer in a real estate transaction. Buyer agency is defined as follows: A principal agent relationship in which the broker is the agent for a buyer, with fiduciary responsibilities to the buyer. What does that mean? It means that a buyer agent is tied to the buyer, and that all of that agent's loyalties are to the buyer.

The seller's agent, or the listing agent, represents the seller, not the buyer, and his or her loyalties are to the seller. They must tell the seller anything you tell them, even if it hurts your negotiating position.

Although the benefits of a buyer agent are obvious, remarkably many individuals do not know they can have their own real estate agent look out for their best interests. (Free consultation).

2. Why do I need a buyer agent?
Simply put, there isn't any reason not to have a buyer agent represent you and many important reasons to have a buyer agent.

A buyer's agent represents the buyer, not the seller, and looks out for your best interest. Buyers agents have a duty to get the best deal for the buyer client(s).

A buyer agent earns the same seller-authorized commission split that is offered across the board to any agent who brings a buyer, so Buyers Brokers Only, LLC does not collect any fees from you, the buyer. In addition, Buyers Brokers Only, LLC's real estate brokers are also lawyers, and we will provide full service legal representation (through our law offices) for you at no additional cost. Or if you have your own attorney, or the transaction takes place in New Hampshire, we will pay $500 from our commission at Closing for your personal lawyer..

A buyer's agent will pass along any information about the seller or his or her property to help the buyer make a smart decision and get the best deal possible.

A buyer agent has no interest in any particular piece of property, so a buyer agent will provide you with objective advice with no exceptions. A buyer agent will spot potential problems with a home or any material defects. The seller's agent will not.

For years now consumer advocates have encouraged homebuyers to use a buyer agent / buyer broker.

View our What is a buyer agent? page for more information about buyer agency.

3. Can the seller's agent represent me?
Although possibly helpful in other areas of the home-buying process, a seller's agent cannot be your advocate or counsel you about a property's value or negotiation strategy because he or she works for the seller. In addition, if you work with a seller's agent he or she must disclose to the seller anything he or she knows about you or your circumstances that would give the seller a competitive advantage or affect their decision making.

The only way to insure absolute loyalty is to work with your own exclusive buyer agent. Buyers Brokers Only, LLC exclusively represents home buyers and individuals buying commercial real estate. We do not ever list homes for sale. Free consultation.

4. How much does it cost for Buyers Brokers Only, LLC services?
Homebuyers do not pay Buyers Brokers Only, LLC a penny. We exclusively represents home buyers, providing real estate and legal advice (through our law offices) at no additional cost to our clients. We do not collect any fee from you. Period. Our licensed real estate brokers also are lawyers, and, since our fee comes from the sales commission paid by the seller, you receive professional advice without spending a penny more than you would if you handled the transaction on your own. Studies suggest that professional buyers agents help home buyers save both time and money, according to the Massachusetts Association of Buyer Agents.

The legal advice is provided through our lawyers' law offices at no additional cost to you, provided you use Buyers Brokers Only, LLC as your buyer agent. We will provide the legal work for you at no additional cost in Massachusetts or provide you $500 from our commission to pay for a New Hampshire real estate lawyer.

5. Are the homes for sale email alerts really free?
Absolutely. Simply sign up for alerts about new homes or other property for sale that meet your needs. The emails will arrive daily with the latest and all MLS real estate listings meeting your criteria. You'll see all the listings, not just the home listings that some other brokerage agencies only want you to see.

In addition, once signed up, you have unlimited access to our MLS Web site, so you can search for any type of home anytime you want.

6. If I decide to purchase a for sale by owner (FSBO) home, will Buyers Brokers Only, LLC still represent me?
Yes. Buyers Brokers Only, LLC will assist you in purchasing a home that is for sale by owner. Contact us for more information.

7. Will there be a charge for the real estate and legal services, if I decide to purchase a home from a for sale by owner (FSBO)?
It depends. In many cases individuals selling their homes without a broker will offer a commission to buyer agents (brokers) for bringing a buyer to them. In the event that an owner will not offer a commission to a buyer agent, we will not charge you for our real estate services; however, if you still want our lawyers to represent you regarding the legal aspects of your purchase, the fee for the legal services is in the $500-$1,000 depending on all the circumstances. Again, in the event that you purchased from a FSBO that did not offer a buyer agent/broker commission, you would be under no obligation to pay this fee if you do not want one of our lawyers (through their law offices) to provide you with legal advice regarding the offer to purchase, purchase and sale agreement and closing.

8. Will Buyers Brokers Only, LLC help me negotiate the sales price?
That's our favorite part. Besides having access to a great deal of information on home prices and sales throughout Massachusetts and New Hampshire, we can research comparable home sales when you find a home you're interested in making an offer for. Because we work as your exclusive buyer broker (buyer agent), we only represent your best interest.

It is a good idea to design a strategy for negotiation with sellers and their agents before you make an offer to purchase. It's important to know your spending limits and avoid being swept away by pressure from agents or competition with other buyers.

In addition, our brokers also are lawyers who have experience in a variety of negotiating situations, including negotiations with assistant district attorneys, insurance companies and other lawyers.

9. Will Buyers Brokers Only, LLC review the purchase and sale agreement and make any necessary changes to benefit me?
Our brokers are also lawyers, and a lawyer licensed to practice law in Massachusetts, through their law offices, will review the purchase and sale agreement (sometimes referred to as a P & S) and negotiate changes to the agreement that are in your best interest. All legal is done through our lawyers' law office, not by Buyers Brokers Only, LLC.

Although referred to as a “Standard Purchase and Sale Agreement,” there isn't anything standard about it. All the “standard” forms we have seen heavily favor the Seller’s interests and are purposely crafted to ensure the transaction closes no matter what issues remain with the property. Additionally, if the seller has an attorney, he or she will attempt to insert language into the agreement that will benefit the seller only. Without your own lawyer, you might sign an agreement that is extremely one sided, favoring the seller.

10. If I am getting a mortgage, then I have to pay for my lender’s attorney. Why do I need another lawyer?
The lawyer representing your lender is doing exactly that – representing your lender – not you. Some of the interests of the mortgagee bank are aligned with your interests; however, there are definitely conflicts of interests that do arise. When they do, the Closing attorney has an ethical obligation to act in the lender’s best interest, even if it means disclosing confidential information you have given.

Additionally, in almost all instances, the Closing attorney does not get involved until after a contract to purchase is signed by the parties and even after a signed Purchase & Sale Agreement. Bottom line, for most buyers, a real estate purchase is the largest financial investment of their lives. You should absolutely have a lawyer that represents your interests.

11. Is there any extra cost for the legal services performed?
No. Our fee comes from splitting the real estate commission with the seller's agent. Please review question No. 7 for details regarding homes for sale by owner (FSBO). The legal work is performed through our lawyers' law offices.

12. If there isn't any cost for the legal advice and services you offer, why don't you just say, "It's free?"
Although it doesn't cost you any extra money to benefit from our real estate and legal advice, technically one could argue that the cost the seller has to pay his or her agent is reflected in the sales price of the home for sale. Although there is no reason a home would cost any more or less whether you use Buyers Brokers Only, LLC or not, because our brokers are also lawyers we are held to an extremely high ethical standard by the state organization that monitors lawyers, and we would not want to risk misleading our potential clients.

13. Who are the lawyers at Buyers Brokers Only, LLC?
Click here to see a list of all our exclusive buyer agents. All legal work is performed through our lawyers' law offices. Nothing on this Web site is legal advice, and this Web site is for informational purposes only. To learn more about Buyers Brokers Only, LLC, please review the about us page.

14. Can Buyers Brokers Only, LLC help me sell my home?
No. Buyers Brokers Only, LLC exclusively represents buyers of residential and commercial real estate in Massachusetts and New Hampshire; however, we are more than happy to make a referral to a competent seller's agent (commonly referred to as a listing agent) in your area..

In addition, if you are selling your home and plan to buy another home in Massachusetts or New Hampshire, we can represent you regarding the purchase of your new home. You do not have to use the agent selling your home as your buyer agent. Call us toll free at 978.835.5906 or use our contact form for a free, no obligation consultation regarding our exclusive buyer agent services and referral to a listing agent for the sale of your home.

Even if you already have an agent listing your home for sale, we can still provide buyer agent services and legal advice through our law offices. Free consultation.

15. Can you refer me to a home inspector?
Yes, we can provide a list of competent home inspectors, and we will provide you with a complete list of Massachusetts licensed home inspectors. The information is included in the home-buying materials we provide to our clients at the onset of our representation.

16. Can you refer me to a mortgage broker/advisor?
Yes, we can suggest a reputable mortgage advisor who can pre-approve you for a home loan for free.

17. Do you have a Web site privacy policy?
Yes. We encourage you to read our privacy policy.

18. Is there anything else I should read on this Web site?
Yes. We strongly suggest you read our disclaimer.

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What Our Buyers Say

Client: Leigh H.
"Buyers Brokers Only, LLC made my home-buying process painless from start to finish. I was well-informed throughout the entire process, and I didn't have to hire a separate attorney because they do it all!"

Client: Jeff C.
"I truly enjoyed my experience with Buyers Brokers Only, and I couldn't understand why any potential buyer would, in good conscience, pass up the opportunity to have one of these guys on their side, and, as a buyer, it costs you nothing!"

Client: Derek A. & Aimee D.
" We highly recommend Buyers Brokers Only, LLC. They have a unique and practical business model, that adds TREMENDOUS value to the buyer."

Client: Amanda E.
"This was my first time buying, so every thing was new to me, and I appriecated the time you took to go over everything with me. The whole process was very pleasent, and I would recomend my friends and family to you."

Client: Ed M.
"I just have to say Thank You. You made the entire process as easy and painless as I wanted it to be. You answered all questions and had valuable insight. "

Client: Alexis V. & Michelle T.
"... as we continue to settle down in our new home, we cannot stop marveling at our good fortune. With your patient assistance, we found a lovely home. You were wonderful to work with, and we will always recommend you to anyone we know who is looking to buy a house."

Client: Kate M.
"Thank you so much for all your hard work & dedication in helping me to find the perfect condo. You will never know how much it means to me!! Thank you for being so patient with my 50 million questions about everything!! You have been such a blessing through this whole process, and I could never have done it without your constant guidance & help!!"

Client: Frank P.
"I can't thank you enough for all the work and guidance you provided during my search and purchase of my new home."

Client: Reid C. & Jocelyn P.
"We would recommend all my friends and family. Thank you for all the work you did to insure that we were comfortable as first-time home buyers."

Client: Susan H. & Brian C.
"Your knowledge of all things real estate was great, but more importantly we felt you had our best interests at heart."

Our coverage area includes: Essex County, Middlesex County, Norfolk County, Plymouth County, Suffolk County, Worcester County, Barnstable County and Bristol County in Massachusetts. Rockingham County, Hillsborough County and Merrimack County in New Hampshire. The following are just some of the Massachusetts cities and towns we provide real estate buyer agent services: Acton, Abington, Amesbury, Andover, Ashland, Ayer, Avon, Belmont, Berlin, Beverly, Billerica, Bolton, Bolyston, Boston (including, East Boston, Charlestown, North End, South Boston, Dorchester, West Roxbury, Roxbury, Roslindale, Jamaica Plain, Chinatown, South End, West End, Back Bay, Allston, Brighton and Beacon Hill), Boxborough, Boxford, Bradford, Braintree, Brockton, Brookline, Burlington, Cambridge, Canton, Carlisle, Carver, Chelmsford, Chelsea, Cohasset, Concord, Danvers, Dedham, Dover, Dracut, Dunstable, Duxbury, Essex, Everett, Fall River, Fitchburg, Foxborough, Framingham, Georgetown, Gloucester, Grafton, Groton, Groveland, Hamilton, Hanson, Harvard, Haverhill, Hingham, Holbrook, Holliston, Hopedale, Hudson, Hull, Ipswich, Lawrence, Leominister, Lexington, Lincoln, Littleton, Lowell, Lunenburg, Lynn, Lynnfield, Malden, Manchester, Marblehead, Marlborough, Marshfield, Maynard, Medfield, Medford, Medway, Melrose, Merrimac, Methuen, Middleton, Millis, Milton, Nahant, Natick, Needham, New Bedford, Newbury, Newburyport, Newton, North Andover, Northborough, North Reading, Northborough, Norfolk, Norwood, Norwell, Peabody, Pembroke, Pepperell, Plymouth, Quincy, Reading, Revere, Rockland, Rockport, Rowley, Salem, Salisbury, Saugus, Scituate, Sharon, Shirley, Shrewsbury, Somerville, Southborough, Stoneham, Stoughton, Stow, Swampscott, Tewksbury, Topsfield, Townsend, Tyngsborough, Wakefield, Walpole, Waltham, Watertown, Wellesley, Wenham, Westborough, West Boylston, Westford, West Newbury, Weston, Westwood, Westport, Weymouth, Whitman, Wilmington, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn and Worcester, Wrentham. The following are just some of the New Hampshire cities and towns we provide real estate buyer agent services: Atkinson, Brentwood, Derry, Dover, East Kingston, Epping, Exeter, Hampstead, Hampton, Hampton Falls, Hollis, Hudson, Kingston, Londonderry, Manchester, Nashua, Newmarket, Newton, North Hampton, Pelham, Plaistow, Portsmouth, Raymond, Rye, Salem, Seabrook, Stratham and Windham.