What I Can Do For You:
The long and winding road that leads to the door of your new home can be confusing and exhausting. It helps to know you are not alone and that you have, at your disposal, your Agent’s professional expertise. I will help you to do the following:
- Educate you through the entire process
- Listen to your needs to understand your real estate objectives
- Help you understand all of the paperwork
- Handle any problems that arise during the transaction
- Properly prepare forms, contracts and disclosures, which are required by law, and make sure that they are legally correct
- Provide comparable sales data to assure that you are paying the proper price for your home
- Help you find the right home in the right neighborhood
- Screen homes before your inspection to make sure the property meets your needs
- Guide you regarding the repairs that should be made
- Show you homes in an effective and professional manner
- Guide you in your selection of escrow/closing and title people
- Oversee the closing process
- See that the completion of the transaction is smooth, including obtaining keys and taking possession of the property
- Help you spot sellers who are attempting to take advantage of you
- Help you understand the use and limitations of good faith deposits
- Advise you as to when you should seek the advice of an attorney
- Make sure the appraisal process is handled properly
- Help you to understand the complete loan, escrow/closing and title process
- Advise you as to any inspections such as septic, well or soil, which might be applicable to the specific property in which you are interested
- Guide you as to how the escrow/closing instructions should be prepared
- Properly handle the walk-through process with you prior to the final closing
- See that any repairs or requirements are met prior to the closing
- Advise you as to what course of action should be taken if the seller refuses to close the transaction
- Negotiate and deal effectively on your behalf with the seller, other agents, escrow/closing, title people and attorneys
- See that each and every facet of the buying process is effectively and professionally handled in your best interest
Benefits Of A Buyer’s Agent:
For most of us, buying a home is the biggest single investment we’re likely to make – and we’re only likely to do it maybe once or twice in a lifetime. The process is, by nature, filled with checks and balances – and many complex details. Traditionally, agents were legally obligated to protect the interests of the home seller. Today preferences are changing. One of these changes is that more homebuyers are choosing to have their own real estate agent, known as a buyer’s agent, to legally represent them.A buyer’s agent represents you, the buyer, not the seller, and has full fiduciary duties, including loyalty to you. By definition, the buyer’s agent has your best interests in mind throughout the transaction. The percentage of homebuyers with buyer representation has grown significantly in the past decade. According to a recent National Association of Realtors® survey, nearly half (46%) of home buyers used the services of a buyer’s agent last year, and four out of every five buyer’s agent agreements were in writing.
The benefits of buyer representation is the dedication of a buyer’s agent to the home buyer. The buyer’s agent and homebuyer establish a mutual agreement, known as a buyer agency agreement, that will entitle the homebuyer to, but is not limited by:
Loyalty:
The real estate agent must act in the best interest of the buyer.
Disclosure:
All material facts such as relationships between agent and other parties, existence of other offers, status of earnest money, seller’s financial condition, property’s true worth, commission split with other brokers, and legal effect of important contract provisions.
Confidentiality:
Any discussions, facts, or information that should not be revealed to others but does not include responsibility of fairness and honesty in dealings with all parties.
Accounting In Dealings:
Reporting of where any money placed in the hands of the broker is kept.
Reasonable Skill And Care:
Arriving at a reasonable purchase price and advising the buyer of such, affirmatively discovering material facts and disclosing them to the buyer, investigating the material facts related to the sale. With a buyer agency, the interests of the homebuyer will be represented in the purchase of the home. This scenario is different from a typical transaction where the buyer is not technically represented.
Getting Prepared:
Before you step foot into the first home you look at, it’s a good idea to thoughtfully determine your wants and needs, and the difference between the two! By analyzing your needs you will be able to get a clear picture of exactly what you want your new home to look like and how it should function for you. Once you’re in the thick of viewing homes, it’s all too easy to fall in love with someone’s decorating or a home’s outstanding architecture – and to completely overlook that there aren’t enough bedrooms or bathrooms to fit your needs.First, you should write down why you’re looking for a home. For example, are you currently renting and would like to have a home where you can begin building equity? Maybe you have outgrown your existing home or changed jobs which required you to move to a new city. These factors will all have an impact on how you approach your home search.
It is important to identify what you envision your home to look like and what features it should have. Writing this down helps to avoid ambiguity later in the home search process. You should make at least two lists: one should describe everything you would ideally like and the other should list the features of the home that are an absolute must. It is most likely that you will blend the two lists into one as you progress through the homebuying process. This is a natural and evolutionary process that becomes clearer as you determine what you want and what is available.
First Time Buyers:
Approaching the task of buying a home can be overwhelming. It is a complex event during which there is so much to learn and to consider. How much can I afford? Where will the down payment come from? How much will I need and where can I find the best loan? How do I begin the look for a home, what should I expect from my real estate agent and what type of home is right for me?These questions are just the beginning. Buying a home is one of the largest financial transactions in one’s lifetime, yet most people know very little about it. When embarking on the path to home ownership here are two very important points to remember:
- You can and should understand everything that is happening in the homebuying process.
- You will need to learn some new terms, apply some new concepts and take the time to learn about purchasing a home.
Always remember that you are the most important person throughout the entire real estate process. It is easy to think that many others may have more expertise or clout, but the truth is that you, the buyer, are the one person in this transaction that makes it all happen. If you decide not to buy, the entire process comes to a complete stop.If you plan from the beginning to approach the homebuying process intelligently and with confidence, you are much more likely to buy the home you’ve always wanted, and have the confidence that the best decisions were made.
Steps To Buying A Home:
1. Make a decision to rent or buy.
2. Figure out how much you can afford.
3. Find the right real estate agent.
4. Get pre-approved.
5. Decide what kind of home you want.
6. Find the right neighborhood.
7. Begin the home search.
8. Preview the homes.
9. Make an offer.
10. Apply for a mortgage.
11. Have the inspections conducted.
12. Close the transaction.
13. Move into your new home.
