Buying a Home
Ready to go find your dream home?
Our real estate business is built on being of service to our clients. Our goal is a concierge-style service that takes the stress out of the home buying process and helps you focus on the excitement of your new home! We love helping our clients find the home of their dreams; a home that really fits THEM. That’s why we work with each client uniquely and personally, taking the time to understand your lifestyle, needs, wants, and even dreams for your new home. This is about more than a certain number of bedrooms or a particular zip code; it’s about a huge change in your life. We are here to walk beside you as you step into your next adventure.
Considerations for Buying
The growth possibilities: Shop for a place that meets your current spatial needs, but at the same time also considering one that can adjust to a changing household and lifestyle. A five-year plan may not pan out as you expect (2020 is a prime example); so think about possible life changes that could impact your need for bedrooms, bathrooms and square footage.
What's under the hood: Your new home may not come with many frills or luxury features - but all the basics should be in good condition. Thoroughly inspect prospective properties. Before any purchase is made, hiring a professional inspector is a must. I’m here to guide you through this key step, with a list of qualified inspectors I work with personally to assist you.
No home will be completely perfect: Your new home may not be the perfect place. But it can still be the right place. Finding the right home is often a matter of prioritizing. Together, we’ll create a list of your "must haves," along with the "would live to haves" and "not necessary to haves". Only you can measure the importance of the amenities you are looking for, but together we can find the right fit!
Renter to buyer: When you buy a home, you take on recurring costs you don't have to worry about as a renter. Look for a home that meets your budget in terms of full living costs - mortgage, utilities, trash pick-up, sewage fees and homeowner's association dues. Your lender doesn't take into account these costs when approving your home loan. Obtaining estimates for these can help you feel more secure with your home buying decision.
Planning for future costs: In addition to identifying cosmetic and structural flaws before you buy, know what to expect from the home's components. How long until you need to replace the roof, appliances, furnace or carpet? Everything may be in working order now, but all homes need these types of repairs at some point. Researching the expected remaining life on large-ticket items can help you plan for the future and avoid unexpected costs along the way.
Watch the seasons: Whether you’re shopping for a home during the sunny days of summertime while sipping an iced coffee, or donning your rain boots while holding an umbrella, take into consideration every season. What does the yard look like during the rainy season? If you have to be inside for several weeks, is this the view that will bring you joy? Will there be enough natural light in the shorter days of winter? It’s easy to see a home in its current season, but picturing it at other times of year is key to long-lasting enjoyment.
It’s time to go find your new home!
This part is the most fun! We get to talk about all of the happiest parts of what you want your new home to be, along with the practical items like size, price, beds, baths - that kind of thing. We’ll establish search criteria and once you have your preapproval from your lender in hand, we’ll head out shopping! Don’t have a lender in mind? No worries! We have a long-standing history with some of the best in the biz and can make some great recommendations for you based on your needs.
Once you’ve found the home you want to buy, we’ll walk you through completing the Purchase & Sale Agreement. This is the contract in which you and the seller outline the details of the property transfer. If it gets competitive, which it often does, we’ll discuss a strategy for boosting your offer to the front of the pack. We have all kinds of tricks up our sleeve, so rest assured, we’ll do everything we can to optimize your chances of offering success.
The next step - after you’ve settled on the home you’re ready to buy – it is time to bring in a home inspector. The home inspector looks beyond the cosmetics to make sure that the home’s general systems operate properly. The inspector will also look for any large repairs that are needed and report on the condition of the home. Don’t forget a sewer scope too!
Once we are through inspections and your loan is finalized, it’s finally on to closing, handing you the keys and moving in! We’ll be there to guide you each step of the way - even after closing when you have questions or need a vendor recommendation.
You’re so close to your Welcome Home!
