Buyers Guide

Buyers Guide
These tips will help buyers, especially first time buyers, to avoid costly mistakes and disappointments:
1. Inspect: Use a well-respected professional building inspector. Carefully examine the inspection report; ask about items you don’t understand. For condo purchases, examine By-Laws, and Association Fees.
2. Imagine the Property Vacant: Don’t be swayed by beautiful furniture; it leaves with the owner.
3. Income + Lifestyle = Mortgage Payment: Sit down with your professional real estate agent and trusted lender to honestly discuss your income level and living expenses. Take into account future considerations, children, add-ons, amenities and fix-ups. Your dream home is worth a sacrifice, but don’t mortgage your entire future.
4. View Several Homes: Don’t move too slowly, but don’t move on the first property you see. With your agent’s help, you should be able to view enough properties to get a good overall perspective of the home market. When you find the right property, all the leg work will be worth it.
5. Utilize Your Team: The right real estate professional will have an entire team at your disposal. Utilize your lender, title rep and agent. Each should work hand in hand for your benefit. Explore all options before you sign.
6. Check and Recheck All Details: Check all costs and expenses before you sign—utilities, taxes, insurance, maintenance and any applicable homeowner  dues. Ask questions and be very detail conscious.
7. Do a Final Walk-Through: Visit the property after all furnishings have been removed to be sure there are no surprises. Make sure all utilities (gas, electricity, and water) are on during your walk-through, so you can inspect everything in working order. Be absolutely positive the property is as you had agreed upon in the contract.
8. Plan For Flexibility: Closing dates are not written in stone. Allow for contingencies and have a back-up plan. If you or the sellers need more time to conclude final arrangements, don’t let these delays upset or frustrate you. These types of circumstances are not uncommon in real estate transactions.

9. If It’s Not In Writing, It Doesn’t Exist: All promises and discussions should be in writing. Don’t make any assumptions or believe any assurances. Even the best intentions can be misinterpreted. Have your professional keep an ongoing log in writing of all discussions and get the seller’s written approval on all agreements.

10. Loyalty Breeds Loyalty: Be open, honest and up front with your team. Hard feelings and disloyalty will cause head aches, delays or may even keep you from getting into the home you worked so hard to locate. Take the time to select the right team in the beginning and your home purchase will be a pleasing and memorable experience.

Whether buying or selling a condo or a home, choose Joan for her knowledge, experience and exceptional service with highest integrity.