Depending on what you are looking for if an agent can not answer they should be able to lead you in the right direction to get answers. I know I am not a contractor, but can point out things in a home that may be a concern and advise these items to be checked by a professional in that field. You do have the inspection period after an offer has been excepted, a professional can tell you the condition of the home. As far as neighborhood info, you would want to check with the city and any neighborhood assocaitions. As far as history of the home, if the home was listed on the MLS we can pull old listings or look for past sales on the tax site......etc.

Sun May 11 2008, 05:35

A Buyer's Agent should give you detailed info about the houses she/he is showing you. Sometimes Agents have to be careful not to give info that may go against Real Estate Commission Standards. But most of the time, the kinds of questions that are asked by Buyer's are usually one's that Agents should have answers for. If the Agent doesn't know the answer, she/he should find out and get back to you. The more detailed questions that have to do with property lines, etc, are a bit more challenging and may require a specialist ( survey). Hope this helps a bit!

Thu May 8 2008, 09:12

The job of the buyers agent is to protect their clients and look out for their best interests. Many buyer agents cannot answer certain questions due to real estate commission laws. Many agents will remain very vague to avoid being accused of stirring later down the road. You can always ask your agent to find out additional information about a specific property. Your agent will talk with the listing agent of the property to get the answers requested. If there is a material fact about the property, the seller is required to disclose this fact, but that doesn't mean that they always do. Keep in mind, "buyer beware", and do as much research as you can on your own or enlist the services of a well respected buyers agent. Using the services of an exclusive buyers agent is different than using the services of a full service agent who is only acting as a buyers agent at the time. Exclusive buyer agents never represent a seller and are usually extremely protective of their buyers. Hope that helps!

Thu May 8 2008, 09:05

Jc, It's good to ask questions about a home. If you are asking for recommendations about a specific home, not a neighborhood as in your other question, if the home is not that agents listing they may not know anything more than what you see. This may be their first visit to the home.

Other things the agent may not be answering to your satisfaction would be about the structure, where property lines are located, water & sewage, or when the sellers need to move or what they will accept for the home. These are liability questions so you may get an evasive answer. (For instance, if your agent told you the property line ended at the fence in the back yard and later you found out the fence was encroaching on the neighbors property and needed to be taken down, the agent could be liable.)

As you see from the answers to the two questions today, refraising the question to your agent another way will get you a completely different answer. I suggest you continue asking questions until you get the answer you want.

Wed May 7 2008, 06:51

Your expectations are not clear. Your agent can advise you about business factors related to buying a home (financing, negotiating strategies, known issues related to the property etc,), but must avoid the appearance of expertise related to the law, structure and systems. In example, the agent can advise you to hire an inspector, but not remark about the adequacy of an air conditioner unit or soundness of a hot water heater etc.

Perhaps you should talk with your agent. When you think some bit of information should be forthcoming, ask. The agent can then tell you what they can, or why they need to defer opinion to an expert.

Wed May 7 2008, 05:21

What kind of information are you looking for?

Buyer's agents typically do not know anything about the condition of the home, other than what they might read on the disclosures. You will have an inspection for that. They will advise you on where an offer should be but that is after they have done a cma.

Wed May 7 2008, 05:13

A buyers agent has a fiduciary role to point out what he/she knows about the property and area that may affect your decision. The agent may also be reading the dsiclosures to see what information the seller provides. The agent may be asking you questions to help you discover what is important about each home to you. You may have a hot button about safety or utitilty costs. Buying a home is a process. While an agent may not have the answer, they should find the answer or direct you to the ultimate resource to investigate/provide the answer.

Wed May 7 2008, 05:12

JC,

You said, "The answers I get are very non-commital."

What type of question is he/she being non-commital about:

1. How old is the home?
or
2. Is this a good neighborhood?

Your Reator can give you the facts as presented on the listing card (question 1), but your Realtor CAN'T tell you if a neighborhood is "good or bad", or the board would be happy to fine her.

Do you have an example of a "non-commital" answer? That might help a little.

Wed May 7 2008, 05:09