Resources
BUYER AND SELLER RESOURCES
BUYERS RESOURCES
Now is the perfect time to find your dream home at a price worth smiling about.
Choosing your real estate professional is, perhaps, the most important decision you will make when buying property. We believe the more you look around, the more you will see the value of working with us.
These simple ideas will help you find and purchase the home of your dreams more quickly and efficiently.
We help you and negotiate for you with the Buying Process from shopping to closing
- We work with you to find the Right Home for you
We provide you with the statistics for evaluating the property that you are interested in
We answers your questions as you view potential homes
Negotiate the Purchase and Sale in your behalf
We recommend a Professional Home Inspection and negotiate the work orders for you
We work with you throughout the escrow and closing process
Before you shop
Be a smart consumer and take care of the financing basics.
Get pre-approved. This takes very little time and lets you know the price range that fits your lifestyle. You can talk with the mortgage department at your bank, your credit union or a qualified mortgage broker. Shop for a home loan that is right for you.
Choosing the right lender will make your purchase go smoothly.
Keep your debt load to a minimum. Don't make major purchases or incur any additional debt until after you purchase your home. Pay down credit cards and don't apply for new ones. Remember, financial institutions evaluate your financial situation on your gross monthly income. Your total monthly house costs should not exceed 28 percent of your gross monthly income.
Shopping
Know what you want. The last thing you need is to close a deal and realize you bought a house you don't want. Ask yourself what you are looking for in a home, before you shop. Think about size, commute time and necessary repairs. Determine what features of a home are essential and important to you and which are optional.
Use the Property Search on our web site to learn the marketplace and do your preliminary shopping - but keep in communication with your agent. Candid communication is important as you work with your broker viewing the homes in the marketplace.
Before you buy
Discuss with your broker how to submit a competitive offer, what contingencies are important (inspection, financing, etc) and the time frame for closing and moving. Discuss with your Broker what your earnest money deposit will be. Sometimes offers are accepted based on the amount of the deposit.
Hire a home inspector. A professional building inspector will make sure the house of your choice is in satisfactory condition. Determine if you need an updated property survey. Know what the boundaries of the property are. Be available when the home inspection is being done and ask your inspector questions to assure yourself on the condition of the home.
Check zoning regulations and covenants. Good residential neighborhoods will be zoned to keep out commercial and industrial users. Read any restrictive covenants (CC&Rs) and make sure they fit your lifestyle.
Make sure you know what stays or goes in the home and on the grounds of the property. Normally, if it is attached it is considered part of the home. Include any questionable items in your offer.
Your contract should be very specific about which items (appliances, etc) are included in the sale.
Get all agreements in writing. Make certain verbal agreements are written into the final contract to avoid any stressful and expensive issues later.
- Make sure all your furniture will fit in your new home. If need be, measure the rooms to verify what will fit. This is an excellent time to support your Goodwill or have a garage sale to reduce the amount of items that you will need to move!
SELLERS RESOURCES
We guide you through the Selling Process from putting your home on the market to closing of the sale.
Market Analysis
We prepare a current competitive market analysis with the homes that are competitive in your market area. The current market drives real estate prices. Study the pricing of the homes on your Comparable Market Analysis and price your home competitively. It is definitely a buyers market now. Interest rates are at an all-time-low, and there is a lot of inventory. You need to take this into consideration when you price your home. Your agent will make recommendations but the final decision is yours. Price to Sell based on the current marketplace!
Stay unemotional during negotiations. Selling your home can be emotionally charged, but don't let that stand in the way of making a deal. Have a business-like attitude during the process. Let your real estate broker handle the negotiations for you.
Prepare Your Home Through the Eyes of a Buyer
Make first impressions count. Without a doubt, a visually appealing house will make a major statement about the desirability of the home and how it was cared for. Don't forget the following:
• Cut the grass • Remove any clutter from the yard • Trim hedges Weed gardens
• Wash steps, windows, railings, doors, etc
• Paint if needed • Remove unnecessary clutter from garages
Scrub, dust and fix up the works. Buyers will notice details. Get rid of the clutter, 
repair leaky faucets, wage war on dust and clean until your home shines. Small things can make a potential buyer walk away. When you prepare your house for showing, remember to:
repair leaky faucets, wage war on dust and clean until your home shines. Small things can make a potential buyer walk away. When you prepare your house for showing, remember to:• Shampoo carpets • Clean tubs, toilets and showers and hang fresh towels
• Oil squeaky doors • Fix things like broken hinges and light switches
Listen to suggestions. As you prepare your home, don't rely solely on your own judgment. It's hard to be objective when you're the owner. Your realtor will have helpful, professional tips on how to make your home more marketable.
Take a whiff. Nothing will turn a buyer away faster than an odd smell. Try to eliminate smoking, food and pet odors.
Let potential buyers "see" themselves in your home. Too many personal items can make viewers feel like they're intruding in someone else's home. Keep things clean and simple. Decorate in neutral colors. This is an excellent time to box up personal items in preparation of your move and discard items that you do not want to move. Donate good items to a charity, have a garage sale and throw away the rest!
When you have a showing scheduled
Turn on the lights. Open shades and draperies. Open all doors inside home. Turn on inside and outside lights.
Get out of the house. When buyers view your home, they'll be more comfortable and spend more time if you're not there. If you must be present, be as unobtrusive as possible. Let the real estate broker do their job of selling your home.
AFTER THE SALE
Moving Tips
- Decide whether you want to use a professional mover or go with a rental service and move yourself.
- You may want to rent a disposal unit to discard clutter and make the move easier.
- Develop a list of all those who need to know your new address and phone number
DMV
Bank
Credit Cards
Friends
Family
These tips will help you sell your home more quickly and efficiently.
WHETHER YOU ARE BUYING OR SELLING . . .
Choose a Real Estate Professional you like and trust.
