Perhaps one of the most enjoyable stages in the process, shopping for a home is filled with dreams and possibilities. Now to just find the “right” one!

Time to Go Shopping: Now that you’ve done your homework, it's time to go shopping. Your checklist of the reasons why you want to buy a home will keep you focused on homes that will meet your needs. Your lender’s pre-approval letter will keep you focused on homes you can afford.

Getting to Know the Neighborhoods: You may want to drive by a number of homes to become familiar with the neighborhoods and what your money will buy. I can take you on a guided tour of homes in several areas. This gives me a chance to really understand what you like and don’t like. Or, if you’re the adventurous sort and already know the areas well, I can give you a list of suitable homes to drive by along with a map.

Selecting Homes & Making Appointments: Select the top few homes and have your real estate agent make appointments to go inside. I look at hundreds of homes each year, so I can help you weigh the features and strengths, as well as point out the drawbacks or weaknesses of each home. Typically I can provide you with a printed fact sheet for each home, including pictures; this will help you keep track of the homes you’ve seen, what you liked and didn’t like. I’m happy to be your sounding board to compare and contrast your favorite homes to help you decide which home is right for you. I can also offer an opinion as to potential long term re-sale value, based on neighborhood trends. I consider myself a counselor or investigator more than a salesperson. I make my clients aware of all the positive and negative factors regarding a property or investment and if you are still interested, then I’ve served you well.

Make an Offer: Use my knowledge of the market to guide your offering price. I can tell you what similar homes sold for, and I will help you write an offer that is likely to be accepted by the seller. Some homes are listed at a price that may be lower or higher than the price at which it will actually sell. From my years of experience, I can help you understand the possible costs for any deferred maintenance and repairs before you decide to make an offer. I can help you select a title insurance company to ensure you can purchase “clear” title to the property. I’ll help you put in safeguards to your purchase offer, such as loan contingencies and physical inspection contingencies. Since this can be an emotional situation, it is especially important to have your real estate agent negotiate on your behalf with the seller.

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