Buying Process Overview

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Comprehensive Overview of the Buying Process

A real estate agent can help save you time and effort in your search for the right home. As your real estate professional, I have access to home buying tools and experience that the average homebuyer doesn't. My role is to guide you through the home buying or selling process. I will provide you the service you deserve and the help you need to better:

Understand the paperwork and legal requirements
Find the neighborhood for your lifestyle
Find the home that meets your needs
Search property values in your area
Negotiate the final offer
Coordinate the closing process

I will listen to you to determine the specifics you want or need in a home.

What are your day to day and future needs?
Do you enjoy swinging a hammer?
Older houses have great charm, but may need updating.
New homes offer the latest energy efficiency and design features- Larger lots can give room for additions and swimming pools.
A fixer upper can dramatically increase in worth.
A PUD may have private recreational facilities such as a pool and play parks.
A condo or town-house will relieve you of yard work and exterior maintenance.

I can sit down with you to make up a wants and needs list. Knowing your preferences and price range, I can determine in what neighborhoods or towns to start looking.

Wants and Needs

Price range

Building style/design

New construction

Remodeled

Fixer upper

Minimum # bedrooms

Bathrooms

Family room

Fireplace

Office/den

Hardwood floors

Swimming pool / Spa

In-law quarters

Workshop

Central air conditioning

Parking facilities

Yard size

School district

Work locations

Special zoning or location

With a list of houses that you can afford to buy, make an appointment with me to view the interior of the ones you are interested in. After you have narrowed your selection to few houses it is important to visit them at different times of the day. Visit them during the morning commute time. If you visit only during the middle of the day, you might not notice if the street in front of the home is used as a minor thoroughfare or a shortcut. This is also a good time to find out how you emerge from you residential area into traffic on a thoroughfare or how long it takes for freeway access. Go back after dark and walk around the block. You might notice that headlights from approaching traffic shine into the home or hear sounds from a nearby night club or park that you were not aware of.

After previewing a number of homes, you will want to preview some a second time. This is the time to make measurements, ask questions and make a closer self-inspection. When you want to make an offer, I will provide you with sales comps to arrive at an offering price. A "seller's market" or "buyer's market" can have big effect on how much to offer. There is no sense in making a low offer on a well priced home in a seller's market. A properly written contract might allow a buyer a number of outs if certain items are not met or approved.