Helping Buyers
Most likely, you've watched enough HGTV to know how to look at a house and not be afraid of the paint color. You know how many bedrooms you want. You know how to DIY your way to curb appeal if you have to, and you know what your non-negotiables are. (Or maybe you don't, and that's okay too; not all of us are fans of Property Brothers.)
Either way, a good Realtor is more than a gatekeeper.
A good Realtor is by your side every step of the way, taking late-night phone calls, negotiating on your behalf, and talking you through contract legalese. Whether you're buying your first home or your fifth, our job is to educate you on the process, smooth out the bumps along the way, and provide smart advice. When you find the home of your dreams, we want you to be confident in the offer you make and your ability to make it. Our job isn't to sell you a home; it's to guide you towards making a smart choice when you're ready.
1. PRE-APPROVAL
Loan pre-approval is a must. Most sellers will not look at an offer unless they're confident that the buyer has the financials to make the purchase. Plus, you don't want to even look at houses until you know how much you can afford; it's no good falling in love with a home you can't afford to live in. If you need a recommendation for a loan officer, we know a great one.
2. Home Search
Once we know what you're looking for and what you want to spend, we'll set you up on an automatic home search that sends available homes right to your email. These results come right from our local MLS, which means they're more accurate and complete than anything you'll find on online home search sites. Once you see some houses you'd like to visit, it's go time.
3. Make an offer
So you've found your dream home. Now what? We'll help you craft an offer: our goal is to put forward an offer that both gets you the house and protects your best interests. There's a lot that goes into making an offer, including price, closing costs, closing dates, contingencies, inspections, appraisals, and more. It's one of the most complicated transactions you can make, but the good news? We speak fluent real estate.
4. INSPECTION
There's more to a house than meets the eye. (If you do watch Property Brothers, you know how poorly things always go in the basement.) You need an inspection to help you unearth any safety or health issues and make sure you know exactly what you're buying. If the inspection turns up something you don't like, we'll talk you through your options.
6. CLOSING
This is the final step before you get to move into your new home. Since this is a legal transaction, you need someone to make sure that you own this property free and clear (no liens, no encumbrances, etc.). The closing makes sure everything is legit, and (big bonus) it's where you get your keys.
5. APPRAISAL
The bank will hire an appraiser on your behalf to make sure the home is worth the price you've agreed to pay. If the appraisal comes in low, you've got some options there too. We'll help you through it.