I was reading through some online Miami Beach forums the other day about relocating and realized just how many people do not understand the benefit of using a Realtor to find a rental. I am also working with a lot of buyers and I think that there are many misunderstandings in regards to how a Realtor to buyer relationship is structured and why it’s important to understand the value of having an agent on your side.
Uncovering the Myths
1. I am just going to call around on different listings and contact the Seller’s agent or the Landlord’s agent because if there is only one agent, I will save money. You do not necessarily save money by using only one Agent. The sales or rental price already figures in the commission. Typically if there is one broker on the deal than that one broker makes the full commission, if there are two then it is split.
2. I will just call the seller or landlord’s agent because they have all of the listings. Not true. In Miami or Miami Beach, if you work with a licensed Realtor than that agent has access to ALL of the properties listed in the MLS. We all work off the same Multiple Listing Service database with the same listings. So the key is to find an agent that you are confident in and trust to assist you with your transaction.
3. I don’t need a buyer’s or renter’s agent because I am going directly to the developer. Let your agent know that you want to preview developer units. This way they can take you to the property and be sure that you have an advocate who can anticipate problems and and who know how to deal with anything that can commonly go wrong. Developers have fees built into their budgets to pay buyer and renter agents.
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