Dave & Cindy Walker

A buyer has a number of options when looking for a property, they can:

1. Hire an established Realtor: Dave, Cindy or Amanda Walker represented by an established company with numerous listings
2. Work on Their Own, surfing the net, calling for sale signs and advertisements
3. Work with Many Realtors, with no particular loyalty

In 1995 the Fraser Valley Real Estate Board introduced Buyer's Agency Contracts, similar to Listing Contracts for sellers including the Realtor's Plan to find a property and a commitment from the buyer, should they purchase a property during this contract time, the realtor will be remunerated.

A few questions to ask yourself: With no Buyer's Agent or Realtor on your side, who is looking out for your interests, who is providing the buyer a completely unbiased market evaluation. Who is negotiating the best possible price and the best terms?

Would the answers be: The Listing Agent who is working for the seller? The For Sale By Owner? The Developer's Sales Representative? Wouldn't you rather have someone who represents you, who is committed to work only in your best interests.

An agent who is not contracted to work for you cannot:

• Recommend or suggest a price. Negotiate on your behalf
• Inform or disclose any information to you about the seller

For Sale by Owner Properties: Who is liable, who carries the Errors & Omissions Insurance for your protection. Is the seller going to tell you what's wrong with the house or deduct the real estate commissions from the sales price? What is your gain?

Dealing direct with Listing Agents in hopes of getting the agent to cut their commission: We have seen this time and time again, the buyer saves a $1000 or so in commission at the risk of paying $5000 or more for the property because they have not been represented by their Buyer's Agent, providing an unbiased market evaluation of area sale prices and negotiating solely on their behalf.

We can share dozens of scenarios where buyers have struck out on their own, been pressured into buying, paid too much, bought a home with a poor sales history, poor location, unregistered easements, neighbouring development, problems covered up, poor quality construction, flooding crawlspaces or leaky stucco.

We have also heard scenarios where new project representative working for the developer "never informed buyers" the other homes were sold with discounts: GST and appliances included, $10,000 decorating allowance or the greenbelt alongside their new home is under application for a condo site. Remember if a deal is too good to be true, it probably is!

The choice is yours! Dave, Cindy or Amanda welcome the opportunity to represent you as Buyer's Agents in your next purchase and make you glad you did, making the commitment to work with a top team and real estate company.