Local Buying Tips

The Buying Process

Needs & Goals

Once you have decided to move we will discuss and clearly identify your needs and desires before beginning to search actively for a new home. What characteristics must a house include in order to meet your basic needs? What qualities will truly make it your home?

Characteristics To Consider In Determining Your Needs

• Price range

• Minimum number of bedrooms and bathrooms

• Minimum amount of living area

• Special requirements, such as wheelchair accessibility

Characteristics To Consider In Determining Your Desired Home

• Styles you like (and those you do not)

• Lifestyle (lot size, townhouse/condominium, active, urban)

• Condition (new construction, move-in condition, a 'fixer-upper')

• Location (main street, close to town center, cul-de-sac, waterfront)

• Public services (water, sewer)

• Features most important to you (fireplaces, wood floors)

Hiring me as your Realtor can help ensure that the home buying process is a successful, enjoyable experience. I will assist you in finding the home of your dreams!

What to expect from me as your Realtor

• Honesty, integrity and fairness

• Professional standards and support

• Broad, consistent market coverage

• Complete range of homeownership services

• Online technologies to simplify your home search

• Commitment to customer satisfaction

• Legwork to help complete the transaction

• Expert guidance and negotiation through a complex process

• Vigilance for market dynamics

• Insight about homes and communities

Related Home Buying Services

• Mortgage Assistance: It is recommended that you get pre-approved early in the process. If you would like assistance   with your mortgage, I work with Julie Pos from Eagle Home Mortgage. She has extensive experience and will use her expertise to ensure the process goes smoothly.

• Insurance Coverage: Home protection is recommended even if you are not financing your home

Remember to be flexible

New listings may become available on a daily basis from participating Multiple Listing Services (MLS). In a competitive market, these properties may sell rapidly. Inform yourself about local home values and obtain mortgage pre-approval early in your home search process, so that you can move quickly.

 Home Values

Here are some important Key Factors to keep in mind that will contribute to the value of a home

• Recent sales of comparable houses (in terms of size, features, location and style)

• The condition of the interior, exterior, major systems, and grounds

• Local market conditions, including the inventory of comparable homes

• The existence of other competing buyers

These factors only provide part of the answer. Your own motivations also weigh heavily on any determination of value: How well does the house meet your goals? As your Realtor I can give you an accurate assessment of a home's current market value and  help balance market realities with your dreams. Considering all of these factors will allow you to make a competitive offer.

Making an Offer on Your Home

• Offers must be in writing, signed and dated by all buyers, and include the following:

• Offer Price: how much you are agreeing to pay

• Expiration Date: when the offer expires, if not accepted

• Closing Date: when you can take ownership, including elimination of all contingencies

• Deposit: the amount you will place into an escrow account to secure your offer (typically 5% - 10% of the offer price)

• Contingencies (if any): such as mortgage financing and inspections

Negotiating An Offer

The seller has the following options when considering offers:

• Accept the offer as proposed

• Counter the offer

• Reject the offer

I will assist you in this process; as I am a skilled negotiator. If the seller rejects the offer, they may modify one or more terms and submit a counter offer. However, they are under no obligation to do so. Once all terms are agreed to by both parties the home inspection process begins, after which the parties proceed to execute the purchase contract (typically within 5-10 days), and begin the closing steps.

Home Inspections

Property inspections should be conducted by professional inspectors - someone trained in the field that has no outside interests in the property. The buyer should be present when inspections are performed, so that the inspector can describe the process and findings personally. Don Harding from Advantage Home Inspection works with me in this process. Don’s job is to assist both our buyers and sellers and to identify potential problems on each property.  With Don’s help, my clients can feel at ease knowing that they get up front information and what they can expect from their home.

 The Inspector will:

• Look for any serious structural, mechanical, and/or other major defect in the property

• Examine all systems, including heat, air conditioning, electrical, and plumbing

• Examine the general construction quality and condition of the house

• Spend time checking the exterior of the house, including the roof, foundation, and chimneys

• Check the basement, including wiring, plumbing, heating, and air conditioning

• Check the attic for proper insulation and venting

• Check all interior rooms for proper venting, insulation, and electrical outlets

• Run all appliances and plumbing fixtures to verify working condition

• Check all bathrooms to see if moisture has affected the areas around the tub or shower

• Inspect for other items you may have requested, such as insects, termites, and other pests

The Closing

What to Expect In The Days Before Closing

Closings usually occur thirty to ninety days after a signed Purchase & Sale Agreement. In the period leading up to closing, the buyers and their homeownership service providers are normally focused on removing contingencies, which would include conducting inspections and processing the mortgage application(s).

The home buyers should also begin planning to move their personal goods.

What to Expect At Closing

All parties will be present or represented at the closing for final review and signing of papers. Closings are administered by a Closing Attorney or Settlement Agent. If the seller cannot attend, there are alternative arrangements, which typically involve signing papers in advance, and/or granting Power of Attorney to their representative. You will be asked to sign the mortgage and any other papers that the lender, and/or other interested parties, may require. 

As your Realtor I will ensure the purchase of your home goes smoothly. I will assist you every step of the way as we find and purchase the perfect home for you.