Issue Nº. 01 | Risky Representation
Welcome to this week's edition of DIY Homebuyer News!
Today's word count: 425
Estimated read time: 1 min 45 sec
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"Representing yourself in real estate is risky."
Is it?
Then why do home inspectors, appraisers, title companies, mortgage lenders, and escrow agents all exist?
These professionals exist specifically to protect buyers — regardless of representation status — from making costly mistakes.
Let's face it: Your realtor isn't crawling under the house looking for moisture damage or testing the electrical panel. And the professionals who do that work are available to you whether you have an agent or not.
In fact, most buyers' agents rely on the exact same professionals you can hire directly:
A home inspector to check the condition of the house
An appraiser to verify the price is fair
A title company to ensure there are no liens or ownership issues
An escrow agent to handle all the paperwork and money
A loan officer to secure financing
Want to know what's actually risky? Trusting someone who only gets paid if you complete the purchase.
Think about it: your agent might make $18,000 if you buy the house, but $0 if you walk away.
So, when your home inspector finds issues, who's more likely to say "it's not that bad" — you, or the agent who's about to lose their commission?
I've been on both sides. I've felt these tensions representing buyers, and now I help buyers represent themselves. The dirty secret? The person best equipped to protect your interests is you.
When you represent yourself:
You're never rushed into making an offer
No one pressures you to "overlook" inspection issues
Your decisions are purely about what's best for you
You save thousands in the process
Or, more simply: Knowledge → Confidence → Control → Better Decisions → Better Outcomes
With each step of the process, you gain more knowledge and confidence. Each decision you make is yours alone. And when you find the right house? You're not just saving money — you're buying it because it's genuinely right for you, not because someone else thinks it should be.
Your Home-buying Friend,
– Nick
P.S.
Last week, I was talking with a DIY buyer who found a charming craftsman home just outside of Portland, OR.
During the inspection, they discovered several windows needed replacing — about a $12,000 job. Instead of an agent whispering "Don't lose this house over a few old windows," they calmly negotiated a $15,000 price reduction.
They close next week, saving over $30,000 between the repair credit and the purchase price reduction they negotiated for not having a buyer's agent.
But most importantly? They feel great about their purchase because every decision was truly theirs.
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