Get Pre-Approved A necessary item when buying a new home is a pre-approval letter. This letter shows the seller and their agent that you are seriously interested in buying their home and you can also afford it. Having this letter can put you ahead of the competition.
Get all necessary documents in order before getting pre-approved. You lender will use this information to let you know what your budget is when searching for a new home.
What To Look For In Your Buying/Selling Agent
Buying Agent: You are going to want a buying agent who has the most experience, knowledge and tools to get you your new home. An agent with their own database of home in the area on their website is also a big plus since this will help your agent understand exactly what you are looking for. Your agent and you will have a solid relationship that will let them understand what you’re looking for in a new home and they can use all the information you give them combined with their skills and experience to find exactly what you want. Selling Agent: Find a Selling Agent who is going to get your home listed on the market for the best price possible. An experienced agent will know exactly how to get that best price based on several factors including the market value, what other homes are listed for, how soon you are looking to move, etc. Your agent should also have good marketing skills. They should know how to get your home found both in person and online. They will also know how to show your home off with photos, staging, and descriptions to pull in the right potential buyers.
Appraise your home
You lender should be able to find you a professional appraiser to objectively evaluate your home. They will take into account what similar homes are doing, what the market trends are and your home condition itself. This appraisal will give a you and potential buyers a fair value of your home.
Extra Costs
Don’t forget…. Buying a house brings a lot of extra costs. There are closing fees, processing fees, title search fees and more. You may also want to prepare for escrow which is when a third party holds onto the funds being used to purchase the home and then they distribute the money to the appropriate parties.
Inspect Your Home
A home inspection is necessary to ensure that the home is exactly what it is being advertised as. This is also a major final step in the home buying process. The inspection will check for structural damage and any other issues that may arise. When buying a home, you have the final say and can ask that any necessary repairs are done before you close.
Pictures Pictures Pictures!
Just like buying most things today, the search begins, and often ends, online. Make sure your home is cleaned up and looks presentable to take photos. These photos are there to introduce your home to viewers and first impressions are everything, especially online. Your agent should know how to stage your home and take the best pictures with the best angles to really show your home off!
Need help making sure your home is good to go? We work with a team of experts to help make this happen. Contact us today!
