What the Buyer's Agent Does — And Doesn't Cost You
In most Greater Cincinnati transactions, the buyer's agent commission is paid from the seller's proceeds — you as the buyer aren't writing a check for agent representation. What you get for that: a fiduciary legally required to put your interests first, market knowledge that saves you from overpaying, contract expertise, negotiation strategy, and a network of inspectors, lenders, and contractors you'd otherwise spend weeks sourcing on your own.
The Buyer Agency Agreement — What Changed and Why
As of 2024, NAR's settlement requires all buyer's agents to present a written Buyer Representation Agreement before showing homes. This agreement outlines how your agent is compensated and clarifies your agency relationship. Read it. The key provisions: compensation rate, exclusivity window, and termination rights. A good agent will walk you through it clearly and answer every question. If an agent can't explain it clearly, that tells you something.
How to Evaluate a Buyer's Agent Before Committing
Ask how many buyers they've represented in the last 12 months (and in your target neighborhoods). Ask for references from buyers in a similar price range. Ask how they handle multiple offer situations — do they just say 'offer your highest' or do they have a strategy? Ask what access they have to off-market or pre-market inventory. And most importantly: pay attention to whether they listen to your actual priorities or push you toward homes that are convenient for them to sell.
What I Bring to the Buyer Side
22 years and 1,750+ transactions means I've seen every scenario in this market — the inspection issues that kill deals, the neighborhoods that look good on paper but underperform on appreciation, the builders who deliver and the ones who cut corners, and the pricing dynamics in every zip code I work. I'm also a buyer myself — I've made every investment decision that my clients are making, and I bring that personal context to every conversation.
The Most Important Thing in Choosing Your Agent
Choose someone who will tell you when not to buy as readily as they tell you when to buy. Every agent can tell you a home is great. The ones worth working with are the ones who'll tell you why a specific home in a specific situation is wrong for you — even if it costs them a commission. That's the fiduciary relationship you deserve.