Last spring, I worked with a buyer an attorney who wrote their own offer on one of my listings because they believed they could save money by doing everything themselves.
What they didn’t expect was how complicated the process truly is.
Their contract had several issues:
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Wording that triggered underwriting red flags
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Missing clauses required for compliance
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Timelines that didn’t match the contractual structure
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Sections that contradicted state-approved forms
What should have required four addenda took nine to correct.
The transaction nearly fell apart multiple times as we worked to resolve cascading issues caused by that initial contract.
The seller ultimately paid my commission so I could guide the buyer through the process and get it across the finish line.
This experience highlights an important truth:
Buying a home isn’t just about signing paperwork it’s about understanding how contracts interact with lending, risk, and timelines.
Even intelligent, capable buyers can unknowingly put themselves at risk by going it alone.
Experienced representation isn’t an extra it’s essential.
