iandwk, Santiago is a beautiful Village. Congratulations on your TV home and Welcome! You are very kind to pass along your lessons-learned.
When we were house hunting in TV, we were advised by a Realtor friend in Atlanta to be sure to get a signed "buyer's agent" agreement with our MLS Realtor in Florida. It was excellent advice. Without this agreement, the agent who shows you houses is just a "transaction agent"-- basically just someone who wants to get the deal done.
A buyer's agent is legally obligated to represent only the buyer's interests.
Ours was true to her word, noticing problems with several of the houses she showed us and pointing these out to us. She helped us negotiate a contract for well below the asking price. We purchased "turnkey" and she went out of her way to make sure everything that was in the house when it was showed stayed, actually taking pictures of everything-- even in the drawers.
So, I'm passing along the recommendation to others looking at resales. Get a "buyer's agent" agreement with your Realtor.
BTW, iandwk, we are northsiders too, although just part-timers for now. Village of Springdale. Hope to meet you one of these days!
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