Home Shopping Process

Lets Find A Home

As your real estate team, our most important job is to make the home shopping process pleasant and rewarding for you.

We do that in a number of ways.

We regularly recommend properties for viewing that closely match your needs and wants, and are within your price range. That spares you the frustration of visiting homes that aren’t suitable.

We make sure you don’t miss opportunities. When a desirable property suddenly comes on the market, you’re alerted.

We help you schedule viewings that fit your schedule, so there’s little if any inconvenience for you.

Before you view a property, we provide you with in-depth details on the home, so you can make an informed decision. This includes closing dates, market value, and more. Later, if you have questions, we get the answers for you.

We also give you the scoop on the neighborhood, so you get a clear sense of what an area is like in terms of lifestyle, safety, schools, etc.

When you find a property you like, we give you our honest, professional recommendation as to how well the home meets your needs and wants. You won’t have to make such an important decision without our expert advice.

As your real estate team, we’re committed to getting you into the right home, and we’re with you every step of the way.

What to Look for when Viewing a Property

Here are a few questions and ideas to consider when viewing homes to help make the process easier and more productive:

• Does the home have your “needs” features (those features you must have)? (For example, number of bedrooms, closet space, kitchen size, etc.)
• Does the home have any of your “wants” features (those features you’d like to have but would be willing to forgo)? (For example, large backyard deck, spacious family room, etc.)
• What is the general condition of the home? (Are there signs that the owners have kept up with repairs and maintenance?)
• Will the home need any major repairs, remodeling or renovations? Is there anything, such as the furnace, that may need to be replaced soon?
• What do you like most about the home?
• Is there anything about the home you don’t like? Can that be changed with a remodeling or renovation now or in the future?
• Take a walk around the neighborhood. Are the homes well-kept, indicating pride of ownership?
• Do you like where the home is situated in the neighborhood?
• Does the neighborhood have what you want? (For example, access to public transit, shopping, local parks, etc.)

Viewing properties should never be a frustrating ordeal. It’s our job to help make the process easy and productive for you, so you can find the home you want.

Making an Offer

When you view a home on the market that you really want, you can hardly wait to be handed the keys. In fact, you may worry that the property will somehow slip through your fingers. Don’t be. You’ve got experts by your side. Our job, as your real estate team, is to ensure you get that home – and at a price that works for you.The first step is preparing the Offer. This is the document we present to the seller that basically states the price you’re offering, as well as any conditions.

The price we go in with is critical. You want it to reflect the true market value of the property so the seller will take your offer seriously. On the other hand, you don’t want to go in too high and risk overpaying for the home.

Don’t worry. We know how to prepare a winning offer and get you the property at the lowest possible price. In fact, we look after your interests throughout the entire process.

How the Process Works

When you decide to make an offer on a home, here’s what typically happens:

• We’ll recommend a price that has the best chance of being accepted by the seller, without over-paying for the home.
• Obviously, sellers prefer offers that have no conditions. However, we may suggest a condition, such as passing a professional home inspection, be included for your protection. We’ll talk about that.
• We’ll prepare the necessary documents and present your offer to the seller and his or her real estate agent personally.
• If the offer isn’t accepted, or if the seller makes a counter-offer, we’ll work with the seller’s agent, skillfully negotiating on your behalf to make a deal.
• We’ll communicate with you throughout the entire process. You’re never in the dark when you work with us.
• Once the seller agrees to a deal, we’ll help lead you through removal of any conditions and closing the deal. Then, the home is yours. Congratulations!

We realize that making an offer can seem like the nail-biting part of the process. It doesn’t have to be. That’s the advantage of selecting a real estate team that, like us, puts clients first. When you go after a property you really want, you can take comfort in knowing you have experts on your side… a team that knows how to get that home for you.