We did not work with a buyer’s agent when we bought our first house. At the time we thought that we came out alright. We did not know what we did not know.
With the help of a buyer’s agent, we may have paid less for the house and if we had made an inspection contingent offer we may have been able to negotiate some repairs. The seller’s agent wrote our offer, she was helpful but did not negotiate or work on our behalf.
It wasn’t until many years later as I started working as a real estate agent representing buyers that I realized we missed a few things when we bought the house.
Buying a second or a third house is a little easier but each house is unique and so is each seller. Rules and laws change over time. If you bought a house twenty years ago you might not be aware that laws have changed.
No, you don’t have to have a buyer’s agent representing you but most home buyers need one.
Choose an experienced agent. An inexperienced agent can be worse than no agent at all.
If you choose to go it alone consider consulting a real estate attorney.
