How should you conduct your house-finding efforts?
You could do it yourself.
You could search with multiple Realtors. Or you could select just one agent.
Let’s look at each alternative.
Looking without an agent: This is the option most likely to fail. Naperville’s real estate market and the availability of properties are constantly changing on a minute to minute basis. Without the assistance of a Realtor, who always knows about each property with the help of a computer system, you will never know if you have seen the homes you should see. Even with the Internet at your fingertips, you could be missing out on some of the best opportunities as it can take days for some homes to hit the web.
Looking with two or three agents: This alternative seems to be the logical choice at first glance. It would appear better to have a number of Realtors looking on your behalf so you could be assured that you have seen every property that meets your needs. This approach is not the ideal one either because no one person accepts the sole responsibility for getting the job done. Also, with the computerized multiple listing services (MLS), each agent knows about all the property for sale at any one time.
Putting one Realtor in charge: It is always better to hold one person accountable for results than to hire a committee to do it. This is certainly true when trying to find your next home. If you put your trust in one agent with the understanding that you will definitely buy your next home through him or her, providing that they put out the effort required, you will have a motivated agent who knows that they will be paid for getting the results you expect.
