We take on a limited number of buyer clients a month in order to ensure that the buyers we work with have our full attention and access.
Most agents only rely on properties that are currently on the market. 10-15% of the homes sold in the Midlands are sold prior to publicly being listing on MLS (Multiple Listing Service). We utilize our access to clients/homeowners, past expired listings, & our connection with industry leaders to create off-market opportunities for our clients. Our reputation, relationships & proven track record in our market provides our clients with an advantage over other buyers.
Our proven off-market campaign for clients includes targeted direct mail, online newsletter (18,000+ subscribers) & social media ad campaign (reach of over 40,000 a month) to uncover homeowners who are willing to sell prior to listing their home. This is a service we offer to clients who have completed the questionnaire, the full buyer profile below, & are committed to working with us under an agency agreement as required by law. The full buyer advantage profile enables us to convey & present your legitimacy & strength, which will be highlighted in our off-market campaign. The goal is to provide you with inside access & opportunities.
Complete the questionnaire - LINK (more details in the video below)
Picking the perfect local lender puts you above the rest in the eyes of sellers and local listing agents. Connect with our preferred lender below and ask us why using local puts you ahead of other buyers when purchasing a home:
There are 3 common ways a buyer’s agent gets paid:
#1 & the most common - The seller offers a 3% commission. This means you will not be responsible for any additional commission at closing since the commission matches the 3% fee we charge noted in the buyer’s agency agreement.
#2 - The seller offers less than a 3% commission (usually around 2.5%). We’ve helped hundreds of buyers & have been very successful negotiating the full 3% fee with sellers in this scenario. If we are not able to negotiate our full fee, the balance between what the seller is offering & our 3% fee will be due from you at closing.
#3 & unlikely - The seller is not offering any commission at all. We have helped hundreds of buyers & never encountered a seller that didn’t offer any compensation to the buyer’s brokerage. This scenario is also unlikely because it puts the seller at a huge disadvantage. If you decide to purchase a home that isn’t offering a buyer brokerage commission & we are not able to negotiate our fee with the seller, the 3% fee will be due from you at closing.
A few things to remember:
Many hire us because we are skilled negotiators & have a proven track record of successfully crafting, presenting & negotiating offer terms that matter to most buyers (purchase price, closing cost, concessions, contingencies, repairs, commission, inclusions, & closing dates to name a few).
It may be possible to cover any balance between what the seller is offering & the fee we charge in your mortgage. Connect with your lender to see if this is possible.
It is important to remember that great representation is not free & bad representation can cost you a fortune.
Experience the difference with us by hiring full time, full service, full fee agents.
Top Buyer’s Agent in Columbia, SC & The Midlands
With a proven track record of over 1,500 homes sold and more than $500,000,000 in combined sales, The Patrick O'Connor Team is recognized as Coldwell Banker Realty's top real estate team in South Carolina and a top 20 nationally. As your trusted partner for buying or selling a home in Columbia, South Carolina and the South Carolina Midlands, we are committed to delivering expert guidance and exceptional results for every client.
Whether you're looking for a waterfront property on Lake Murray, a new construction home in Columbia, SC, or a family-friendly neighborhood in Lexington, our team offers hyper-local market and neighborhood knowledge. We provide personalized service across the entire South Carolina Midlands, from the vibrant markets of Columbia, Blythewood, and Northeast Columbia to the serene communities of Lake Murray, Lexington, Chapin, Irmo, Batesburg-Leesville, Newberry, Prosperity, Gilbert, Lugoff, Elgin, and Camden.
Our team works with both home buyers and sellers, utilizing aggressive marketing strategies designed to deliver top results across all price ranges. We have a deep understanding of the local market, builder-specific incentives, and a proven track record of securing on- and off-market opportunities for our clients. For insights on navigating the market, we provide tailored advice on how to buy a home on Lake Murray or the best strategies for selling your home in Columbia.
Ready to make your next move in South Carolina real estate? Contact Patrick O'Connor to schedule a personalized home buying or selling consultation and discover the difference of working with a top-ranked team.