Each buyer’s journey is different: Some have tight timelines, some are looking for an investment property and some are retiring. Some buyers are upsizing and have their family involved in our home tours and some are downsizing from 5,000 square foot homes into 1,500 square foot condos. The bottom line is, I will tailor the process to fit your needs wherever its required. However, below is a basic outline as to what you can expect:
Getting To Know You
Our first meeting in-person might be at my office, or it might be at the first home we view! In any case, we will first talk on the phone or via email so I can learn more about the type of home you are looking for, the areas you are interested in, and your budget. We will also discuss about the importance of pre-qualification and meeting with a lender if you have not yet done so and are financing.
I will be listening closely to what you have to say and will be looking for clues that help me find the home that is just right for you.
Searching for Homes
Once I know your parameters, I will set up a search in the MLS. The MLS houses all the current available homes on the market. In some cases, there may be a lot of different homes that fit your criteria. In other cases, we may be hard-pressed to find a single home that checks off all your boxes. In either case, I will show you the available inventory and we can determine from there if we are on the right track.
Once we have seen the first few homes on the tour, we will discuss those homes in-depth. I will want to know your thoughts on the homes themselves – was there enough space, not enough space, what you thought of the layout, location, amenities and landscaping, etc. It is important to remember what can be changed and what cannot with every home you view. Location cannot be changed, but things like paint and carpet can. There may even be adjustments that can be made with the interior layout (a licensed contractor would be able to tell you more about that).
As we continue our search, it is not unusual for your search parameters to change. You may decide that having a two story house is really important to you or that you may not need that extra bathroom. This is a normal part of the search process so please keep me in the loop!
Making an Offer
Once you have found the house that is “just right” and are ready to make an offer, I will guide you through the process. There is much more to it than just price. There are many variables that are available to customize in the Purchase and Sale Agreement from closing date and closing costs to possession date, earnest money, and even how long you want to review the neighborhood. I will help you craft an offer that keeps your goals in mind – both your financial goals and the goal to make the house yours. Your strategy will vary depending on how much demand is out there for homes like that one and I will be there to help you see the big picture.
Pending to Close
There is a long list of things I stay on top of between pending and close. There are deadlines to meet, activities to accomplish, forms to get done, and I love keeping track of it all and making sure your transaction is progressing on schedule. I will be on the phone with you every couple of days to make sure I get everything I need from you. There will be some things I need from you along the way and I will give you a list of those things I need you to be working on. This might include determining how you want to move forward on inspecting the property and what you want to ask the seller to fix, making sure your loan is going through and it will be funded on time, verifying the title report is satisfactory, and more. Although this may sound intimidating, we will just take it one step at a time. I will educate you on each step of the process so you always feel informed and you always feel like you have all the information to make the best decisions possible.
The Home is Yours!
This is always so exciting! If possible, I will meet you at the house with the key and make sure the home is as it should be.
As your agent, I will work diligently to:
- Protect your best interests
- Show you all available homes
- Update you when new listings become available
- Negotiate the best price and terms and help you avoid costly mistakes
- Guide you through the purchase and closing process
- Answer all questions, before, during and even after the sales process is completed