Buyer's Guide

• Download and Preview homes through my KW app to eliminate those you won’t need to visit in person.
• Get an accurate idea of your price range, an estimate of your monthly payments and a pre-approval letter, so sellers will take you seriously when you make an offer.
• We’ll work together to hone your “wants” and “needs” list. Think about what’s most important to you: the location or the house itself.
• We’ll then plan an itinerary and schedule showings for homes you’d like to see.

• This is the fun part – Home Shopping! We’ll typically visit homes together
• Homeowners usually are not home, so you’re free to spend as little or as much time as you want.
• Buyers often have a gut reaction to a home. First impressions count, but you can also rely on my experience and expertise to learn more about home values and possibly to reevaluate your priorities in the context of what’s available in your price range

• Look beyond the staging and decorative items to see the features and fixtures that convey with the house.
• Check the condition of the home.
• Keep track with photos and notes.
• Consider possible home improvements you might want to make so you can research costs later.
• Don’t forget to check out the outside of the property and the neighborhood. I will run Comparative Market Analysis, evaluate pricing to neighborhood insights and data to help inform your decision.
• Locate your commuter route, schools, shops, restaurants, parks and other amenities.
• If the property is a condo or located in a homeowners association, find out the fees and rules to see if you can live with them.

This is where you can rely on me to be your trusted partner for your home search.

• The price
• Terms – such as a request for closing cost help or that the offer is subject to your obtaining financing and a home inspection
• Target date for closing
• Earnest money deposit –how big your deposit should be based on current market conditions
• Request for final walk-through
• Time limit for the offer

• Financing. Unless you’re paying cash, it’s typical to write your offer with a contingency clause that lets you off the hook if you can’t finalize your mortgage within a certain number of days. Even though you have a pre-approval for a loan, it’s smart to protect yourself.
• Home inspection. Your offer can be made dependent on a satisfactory home inspection report within a certain number of days. This protects you if the inspection uncovers expensive necessary repairs.

Sellers can accept your offer as is or they can make a counteroffer with an adjustment to some or all of your terms. You can accept or reject the counteroffer and make your own counteroffer. The contract is final once you and the sellers have agreed to all the terms.

My expertise, relationship and negotiating skills are essential when negotiating the terms of your purchase.

Details are crucial; I am committed to guide you through and explain the key points in your multi-page contract, such as:

• Accuracy of information, including the correct spelling of your name and the property address
• The effective date of the contract – important because your contingencies have time limits.
• A list of contingencies, such as that the sale depends on financing, an appraisal, a satisfactory home inspection and perhaps the sale of your current home.
• Property disclosure information from the seller, depending on your state laws.
• A complete list of what conveys with the property
• A list of required inspections, such as a home inspection and a pest inspection
• Information about when you can move in.
• In some cases, such as if your offer is contingent on the sale of your home, the seller may add a “kick-out” clause, which means that the seller could accept another offer if one is made before your home is sold.

In a competitive Sellers’ Market, I can help prevent you from making an emotional decision you may regret, such as paying too much. You also need to decide how much you want a particular property and what you’re willing to accept to get it. You may want to let go when:

• A bidding war drives the price too high
• The appraised value of the home is below your offer
• A home inspection finds defects that would be expensive to repair
• The sellers are unwilling to make reasonable repairs
• You learn about homeowners association rules that won’t work for you

I will help you watch out for:

• Unrealistic deadlines: you’ll need time to arrange a home inspection and receive the report, as well as arrange financing
• Missing deadlines means you lose your chance to end the contract and keep your deposit
• Items that don’t convey with the property: if you’re not sure, I will confirm
• Communications from your lender

According to the National Association of REALTORS®, the most common reasons for contracts to fail or to be delayed are home inspection problems, financing problems or an appraisal issue. Relying on my detail-oriented thorough and extensive expertise will help you navigate the complexities of a real estate contract.

You and I will should attend the home inspection to learn about home maintenance and so you can see any potential problems yourself. The inspector can answer questions as you go, so if there’s anything you don’t understand or are worried could be a problem, just ask.

While we can decide whether to negotiate on anything in the inspection report, you can ask the inspector the following questions:

• Are the items you’ve flagged major or minor issues?
• What needs to be done to resolve any flagged issues?
• Can you give me an estimate of the cost of any repairs?
• Do I need another inspection, such as by an electrician or a structural engineer?
• Are there things I need to do after I move in

This is where my experience will help you understand the implications of the home inspection.

As your closing nears, you should:

• Stay in close touch with your me, lender and title company.
• Avoid lowering your credit score with a new credit application or late payments.
• Confirm that your contract contingencies are resolved, including the home inspection, an appraisal and your financing.
• Finalize your homeowner’s insurance policy.
• Schedule all Utilities to be transferred into your name, effective day of closing.
• Review your Closing Disclosure form, which you’ll receive three days before your settlement, and ask questions if you don’t understand something.
• Arrange a wire transfer or get a cashier’s check for the funds you need for the settlement.

Bring to the closing:

• A government-issued photo ID
• Proof of homeowner’s insurance
• Your copy of the contract
• All paperwork associated with your loan and the home purchase
• Your cashier’s check or wire transfer confirmation
• Your checkbook for miscellaneous funds that weren’t included on your closing estimate

After your closing:

• Keep all your signed documents in a safe place. Most documents will be sent electronically. I will always have copies of all Closing documents if you need
• Change your address.
• Change the locks and security codes on your home
• Review your due dates and new budget.

Congratulations! You’ve got the keys to your new home! Stay in touch with me for future recommendations and service.