Meet the Real Estate Team That Helps You Buy a House

For weeks, it's just you and your agent, touring homes and talking through offers. Then you go under contract, and your inbox fills up. A title company. Maybe a transaction manager. It's normal to think, who are all these people, what does each one do, and what am I supposed to do with all of it?

Our team has run over 700 buy side transactions, and we see buyers hit this moment. On our team, buyers work with an agent, and an in-house transaction manager to ensure that their transaction runs as smoothly as possible.

Below, we break down each role, who can help you choose the lender, inspector, title company, and insurance agent that fit your needs, and who to turn to when you’re not sure what to do next.

Who Is on Your Real Estate Team When You Buy a House

Your agent is the main point of contact on your team, and the size of that team depends on the agent. A solo agent may handle scheduling, paperwork, and coordination alone. On our team, an assistant may reach out to schedule showings or confirm details, and once you're under contract, you meet one-on-one with our transaction manager. That's at least two other people besides your agent.

Your agent, with help from a transaction manager if there is one, helps you choose the outside professionals.

How Your Buyer's Agent Fits Into Your Real Estate Team

What a buyer's agent actually does

Many people picture a buyer's agent as either a door opener who simply lets you into homes or a salesperson trying to convince you to buy whichever house you're touring. That isn't how we work at Premier Home Team. It's not about the house. It's about you, and making the process educational and relaxed. We act as information providers, so you can make the call that's best for you and your family.

How buyer's agents get paid

Most sellers offer compensation toward the buyer's agent's fee. Agents set their own fees, and ours is 3%. We negotiate for sellers to cover it, so little to none typically comes from the buyer. In the past year, the most a buyer on our team paid out of pocket was 1% of the purchase price.

Why Your Lender Joins Your Real Estate Team Before You Tour Homes

We recommend buyers talk to a lender before they see a single house. It gives you a realistic budget, so you don't tour homes outside of your price range.

Buyers have the right to work with a lender of their choice, and your agent can recommend one. We recommend finding a lender who communicates well and is available outside normal business hours. Offer deadlines can land on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday nights, and you don't want to miss an opportunity because you can't get the financial answers you need.

Your lender is on your team, and won't try to approve you for more than you can afford. They'll tell you what's possible and what it takes to make it work.

What Your Home Inspector Finds and What to Do With It

Your home inspector assesses the home from the foundation to the roof and everything in between. Following the inspection, they provide a comprehensive report that works like a homeowner's manual in the future. Along with any repair suggestions, it lists the remaining useful life of major components, so you can plan ahead for future repairs.

Your agent or transaction manager can recommend an inspector. On inspection day, come ready with questions. No question is a bad one. And if you see something, say something. You're paying them, and they work for you.

After you receive the report, your agent will review it with you and help you decide whether to keep negotiating or walk away.

What Your Title Company Protects

The title company researches the property's ownership history, identifies liens or other claims that need to be resolved before closing, and provides title insurance to protect against certain title problems that may surface later.

Bills like utilities and mechanics liens stay with a property address, not a person, so the title company works to have them cleared before your ownership starts by making the seller do what they can to remove them from the title.

You have the right to work with a title company of your choosing. Your agent or transaction manager can help make recommendations for a title company for you to work with.

What Your Appraiser Does and What a Low Appraisal Means

An appraiser is an independent third party who determines a home's value for the bank lending you the money. You don't get to choose your appraiser, their job is to report their value findings directly to the bank, because the bank lends based on that value.

If the appraised value comes in below the agreed price, we have an appraisal gap. Your agent will help negotiate this outcome with you, either through a price reduction from the seller or an out-of-pocket cost for the buyer.

When to Add Your Insurance Agent

Any home that is purchased with a mortgage is required to have an insurance policy in place prior to closing. The bank wants to ensure that your asset is protected. We suggest handling this at least a week before closing, further ahead if recommended by your lender. The best place to start is with your renter's or car insurance provider, then get at least one other quote. Your agent or transaction manager can usually make insurance broker recommendations if you need them.

How Your Transaction Manager Keeps Your Real Estate Deal on Track

A transaction manager works alongside your agent to support you from contract to closing. On our team, once you're under contract, you'll meet with our transaction manager, who will outline all of the next steps in your transaction and help to keep everything running smoothly. It works like a concierge service, so you have fewer calls to make. They confirm deposit details, help with title and inspection suggestions, and can even set up insurance quotes and ensure that all parties in the transaction are communicating efficiently. The goal is to take as much of the coordination as possible off your plate.

How Your Real Estate Team Works Together From First Call to Closing

Before you tour, you talk to a lender. Once you're under contract, the transaction manager (or your agent, if there isn't one) helps line up title, an inspector, and insurance quotes.

Expect a wave of emails once the title company and the transaction manager get involved. Those emails keep you informed, so if you're unsure about a response, check with your agent or transaction manager first.

Not sure who to ask? Start here

Build Your Real Estate Team Before You Tour a Single House

Buying a house brings a flood of new names and unfamiliar emails.

Here's the good news. Everyone involved plays a specific role in helping you move from an offer to closing with fewer surprises.

At Premier Home Team, we guide buyers from their first call through to closing, with a transaction manager (and sometimes an assistant), working behind the scenes so you never have to guess what happens next.

Your first step is simple. Read reviews, see which agents or teams fit what you're trying to do, and interview at least two. Then download our free team roster and fill it in as each person joins.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do buyers pay their real estate agent?

Most sellers offer compensation toward the buyer's agent's fee. We negotiate for sellers to cover our fee, so little to none typically comes from the buyer.

What does a title company do?

A title company makes sure you get a property free of liens, judgments, and other encumbrances. That work can take 10 days to three weeks.

What does a transaction manager or coordinator do?

Once you're under contract, they confirm deposit details, help with title and inspection suggestions, and can set up insurance quotes. They work like a concierge, so you make fewer calls.

What happens if an appraisal comes in low?

When the appraised value is below the agreed price, that's an appraisal gap. Your agent helps you negotiate who covers it, through a seller price reduction or an out-of-pocket cost for the buyer.