Home buying process

HOME BUYER CONSULTATION & NEEDS ANALYSIS
This all begins with an initial consultation to establish what the clients are looking for not only in a home, but also in a lifestyle. Every person and family has a unique set of for buying the home they ultimately choose. It is a Realtor's goal to seek out those thoughts and feelings that go into the process of deciding on that perfect home.

PROFESSIONAL GUIDANCE & CONSULTATIVE APPROACH
From the initial consultation through the close of the transaction and thereafter, your Realtor provides professional guidance and consultation to his or her clients. This guidance begins with of a Buyer Representation Agreement that establishes the working relationship between Broker and client and continues through the home search, contract negotiations, and closing process. Realtors are prepared to assist you with making decisions about what to offer on homes, how to negotiate closing costs and terms, what is customary and what is not, and which inspection, closing, pest control and other common service providers are the best in their fields.

PROACTIVE HOME SEARCH
Proactive searches include regular scanning of the Multiple Listing Service for new and existing properties that fit the client’s specified criteria, previewing homes on the market, staying aware of new listings both through other Brokers and those privately offered for sale, and networking with other associates for unique homes coming available. As a part of the proactive process, a good agent will maintain daily contact with clients throughout the search process in order to communicate new listings and asses the client’s ongoing needs.

EASY EXIT AGREEMENT
If your agent feels strongly that you will be pleased with the services they provide, they may offer a no-obligation guarantee...the “Easy Exit” agreement. If at any point in the pre-contract phase you are not 100% satisfied with their services, you may exit the relationship with no questions asked. Most associates won’t guarantee their services; much less allow you the opportunity to fire them if they aren’t measuring up... only the best will.

The Initial Consultation with your agent:

Your first step toward buying your new home will be to analyze and document your needs. Your agent should meet with you in person (when possible) to get a clear picture of exactly what you want your new home to look like and how it should function for you and your family before going out looking at property. If your agent is a "pop tart" agent meaning they just jump and run to show you a home on the first phonecall, they are probably not the right agent for you!

1. Write down the reasons you are looking for a new home. For example, are you currently renting and would like to have a home where you can begin building equity? Maybe you recently got married and have outgrown your current residence. Or maybe you have just gotten a promotion that requires you to move to a new city. These factors will all have a bearing on how we approach your home search.

2. Establish at timeframe that you would like to stay within for buying your home. Depending on your reasons for wanting a new home and the current state of the market in the area you are looking to buy, we should be able to come up with a rough guideline, which you can finalize at a later time.

3. You most likely have a mental picture of what you would like your house to look like and what features it should have. It’s very important to write these ideas down to avoid any ambiguity later in your home search.

4. We suggest you make at least two lists. The first one should describe your dream home in as specific detail as possible. For example, how many bedrooms and bathrooms should it have? One story or multi-level? What about closet and countertop space? Does it have a fireplace or a swimming pool? The other should list the features of the home that are an absolute must have in order to buy it. In a perfect world, your new home would fulfill both lists 100%. It is more likely that you will end up blending the two lists into a schedule of prioritized items as you progress through the buying process. This is a natural and evolutionary process as you get clearer about what you want and what is available.

5. Ask your agent if they have a Homebuyer Survey to help begin the process. Write down all your thoughts about what you would like in a new home and bring this questionnaire with you during your initial consultation. You will also need to bring a copy of your mortgage pre-approval or pre-qualification letter, if you have one. This will help your agent to complete the Estimate of Expenses related to your home purchase.

Don't settle for a mediocre agent! If your agent is not listening to you and/or isn't asking you a lot of questions that will insure that you are communicating fully... move on! This is a big investment and you cannot afford to settle for a weak agent!

For more information on buying a home http://www.thebuckelewgroup.com/