Buying a Home

It all started when...

So you’ve made the decision to buy a home, but what comes next? Well, here is a general overview of the home buying process to guide you through what is will likely be the largest investment you’ll make in your lifetime.

First, it is important to ask yourself, is buying right for you? Have you weighed the pros and cons of renting vs. buying? If you’ve considered these factors and find yourself confirming that now is the time, the next step should be to ensure your finances are in order. Ways to do this are to order a credit report (of which you’re entitled one free one per calendar year), find a lender, calculate what you can afford in terms of your down payment and get pre-approved for a loan. 

Once you’ve handled these initial considerations, it is time to hire a real estate agent to assist you with the purchase process. It is crucial that you find an agent you are comfortable working with and that has proven their expertise and knowledge of the real estate market. As an accomplished professional, it is my job to help you with things such as avoiding common buyer mistakes, finding homes that meet your needs, and standing by your side through all the paperwork and processes so that your experience is as easy as possible.

When you have found the home of your dreams, the true buying process begins as the time for making an offer and negotiation comes. I know what it takes to submit a winning offer, how to best handle negotiation and counter offers, and to ultimately give you the best chance at getting the results you want. I’ll also assist you with inspections, walk-throughs, and all the other nuances the process entails.

Finally, closing time will come, which is generally between thirty and sixty days after your offer is accepted by the seller. This is the time to obtain home and title insurance in addition to completing all required closing processes, steps that I will of course guide you through. Then, once the final papers have been signed and you receive your keys and title, the final step is to move in and make that house you’ve bought into your home.

Selling a Home

After deciding to list your home, a monumental decision in and of itself, the first thing you’ll probably ask yourself is where to start. After all, you’ve purchased a home before but chances are you haven’t sold one. So where to begin? Well here are three simple steps you can take facilitate the process: 

1. Call your real estate agent. They can help make sure you are headed in the right direction and keep you from making avoidable mistakes. If for some reason you don’t remember the agent that sold you the home, are unable to locate them, or simply don’t care for them, then finding a new agent will become your priority. Finding someone that is professional and knowledgeable is key, as is meeting with them early on to discuss priorities, goals, and preferences. Determining your expectations at the start will help both you and your agent as you move forward through the selling process.
    
2. After you have obtained an agent, the time comes to walk through your home. During a walk—through, we can discuss necessary repairs and establish goals for staging your home to sell. I can help you avoid overspending as you prepare your home for the market and let you know which tasks are and are not necessary to complete in the eyes of a potential buyer.
    
3. The final step is determining what the listing price will be. This is a task I am professionally prepared to assist you with and that will depend on the types of tasks we have completed during the staging process in addition to appraising recent comparable sales in your area. A home that is priced right will sell and I know how to guide you to the right price.