Shopping for a new home is an emotional experience. It’s also time consuming and comes with a myriad of details. Some buyers, however, caught up in the excitement of buying a new home tend to overlook some items. Their home purchase turns into an expensive process. These errors generally fall into these areas:
- Paying too much
- Losing a dream home to another buyer
- Buying the wrong home
- Purchasing without Representation
When you have a systematic plan before you shop, you’ll be sure to avoid these costly errors. Here are some tips on making the most of your home purchase: Bidding without sufficient information
What price do you offer a seller? Is the seller’s asking price too high? Is it a deal? Without research on the market and comparable homes, you could lose thousands of dollars. Before you make that offer, be sure you have researched the market. Brenda can offer an unbiased opinion on the value of a home, based on market conditions, condition of the home and neighborhood. Without knowledge of the market, your offer could be too much. Or worse, you could miss out on a great buying opportunity. Buying a mis-matched home
What do you need and want in a home? Sounds simple. Yet, clearly identifying your needs and bringing an objective view to home shopping, leaves you in a better position. Sometimes, home buyers buy a home that is too large or too small. Perhaps they didn’t consider the drive to work, the distance to school, or the many repair jobs waiting for completion. Plan ahead. Use your needs list as a guideline for every home you view. Unclear title
Before you sign any document, be sure the property you are considering is free of all encumbrances. As part of MY services, I supply you with a copy of the title to ensure there are no liens, debts, undisclosed owners, leases or easements, owing more on mortgage than the sale of home, up to date Real Property Report with compliance. First thing Brenda does is pull Title on the property to view the registered owners and make sure ALL parties have consented to sell, I make sure there aren't any debts left owing. It is afterall, the Title we are selling, not the home. Perform a market evaluation for YOU the buyer and educate you on the absorbtion rate in that specific community.(% of homes selling compared to Listings) Outdated survey
Before the purchase is completed, an updated survey is essential. This report will indicate boundaries and structural changes (additions to the house, a new swimming pool, neighbor’s new fence which is extending a boundary line, etc.). What if the sellers decided to do a DIY project on a nice Bi-Level and ripped out that Supporting Wall they 'thought' was in the way? Might look pretty and open....but is the roof covering your family gonna hold up? Where's the Permits? Did they even pull permits? Has their work been inspected? If not, you may be stuck paying. Have you checked out Title Insurance and what it covers. I can explain all these options to you so you aren't stuck with the pain and heart ache after moving into your home and you are now stuck with $1,000's of dollars to pay for unknown grief. Unexpected repairs
For $300 - $500 a professional inspector will conduct a thorough inspection of the home. This way, you’ll have an idea of the cost of future repairs. Make the final contract 'subject to' a favourable report. Brenda has a hand full of proven, trusted, qualified Home Inspectors that will NOT pass any inspection just for a sale to go through. *Shopping without pre-approval
It only takes a few days to get financing pre-approval. When you are shopping for a home, this gives you more power. A seller is more likely to consider an offer from a serious buyer as well rates are on the rise now, why wouldn't you want a guarentee rate promised to you for 90 days whether you buy or not.. 
Private Sellers:If you find a home that is not listed on the mls, it is STILL my duty to serve you to show and represent you on ANY home purchase; even more crucial if it by a private seller. Brenda has your back and protects you so all you have to worry about is if the home suits you and your family's needs. If Brenda runs into something or thinks of any objectives, she'll notifiy you so you are informed all the way through. |