ABR® and the Home Buyers Kit

The Accredited Buyer Representative (ABR®) designation is the benchmark of excellence in buyer representation. This coveted designation is awarded to real estate practitioners by the Real Estate BUYER'S AGENT Council (REBAC) of the National Association of REALTORS® who meet the specified educational and practical experience criteria.

Why should you use an Accredited Buyer's Representative?

Depending on the business arrangement you have with a licensed real estate agent, that agent may actually be negotiating for the seller, not you the buyer. The best way to be certain that an agent is working in your best interests is by signing a buyer representation agreement with an agent.

A buyer's representative represents the consumer who is purchasing property, not the seller. In Virginia, a buyer's representative works for and owes fiduciary responsibilities to the real estate buyer. It is the buyer representative that has buyer's best interests in mind throughout the entire real estate transaction.

Look for the ABR® designation before looking for a home. These three letters after a REALTOR's name tell you that you will be working with buyer representative who is committed to your best interests.

The Home Buyer's Kit contains information on each step of the home buying process such as:

Deciding to Buy a Home
Locating and Buying a Home
Making the Best Deal
Moving In
Home Buyer's Glossary of Terms
What a Real Estate Buyer's Representative is...
and Why You Should Use One
Finding a Neighborhood for You
Making An Offer
Tax Tips for Buyers
How to Start Packing Prior to your Move
Resources

Helpful self-assessment tools and worksheets to assess:

What You Want and Need in a House
Your Credit
The Neighborhood
Your Home as Compared to Other Homes in the Neighborhood

Useful checklists, such as:

Mortgage Loan Interview Application Checklist
Special Situations Applications Checklist
Moving Checklist

What is a Buyer Representative?

A real estate buyer's representative represents the buyer who is purchasing property in a real estate transaction. Research by the National Association of REALTORS has shown that when a buyer's representative is used, the prospective buyer found a home one week faster and examined three more properties than consumers who did not use a buyer's representative.

The buyer's representative works for, and owes fiduciary responsibilities to, the real estate buyer and has buyer's best interests in mind throughout the entire real estate process. A buyer's representative will:

Evaluate the specific needs and wants of the buyer and locate properties that fit those specifications.
Assist the buyer in determining the amount that they can afford (pre-qualify), and show properties in that price range and locale.
Assist in viewing properties -- accompany the buyer on the showings, or preview the properties on behalf of the buyer to insure that the identified specifications are met.
Research the selected properties to identify any problems or issues to help the buyer make an informed decision prior to making an offer to purchase the property.
Advise the buyer on structuring an appropriate offer to purchase the selected property.
Present the offer to the seller's agent and the seller on the buyer's behalf.
Negotiate on behalf of the buyer to help obtain the identified property -- keeping the buyer's best interests in mind.
Assist in securing appropriate financing for the selected property.
Provide a list of potential qualified vendors (e.g. movers, attorneys, carpenters, etc.) if these services are needed.
Most importantly, fully-represent the buyer throughout the real estate transaction.

The Buyer Representation Agreement

It is important for the buyer to discuss the buyer's representative's compensation in the initial interview. In many cases it is recommended that the buyer and the buyer's representative agree to the terms of compensation prior to viewing properties, and sign a written agreement based on those terms. The agreement should spell out the responsibilities of both parties throughout the real estate process.