Me and my fiance are buying our first home and we are debating whether or not we need a real estate agent to help us.

Do you know, really know the area where you are thinking about buying? For instance, do you know everything that is for sale in that area and how long it has been for sale? Do you know the history of sales in that area? Do you know the environmental history of the area? Do you know the reputation of the schools, the ethnic make-up, the potential development impacts, the transportation present and planned?

How’s your knowledge of contract law? Can you do one with conditions and what conditions would you include and with what conditional periods? Waivers, escape clauses, inclusions, exclusions, chattels and fixtures, client and customer – do these make sense to you.? Do you understand agency and know that a listing agent owes little to you other than honesty in answering the questions you ask?

If you can’t answer yes to those questions, you better get yourself a buyer’s agent. But heck you might come along to something I have listed and I’d be a happy camper.