Without An Agent, You Are On Your Own

Real estate transactions involve one of the biggest and complex financial investments most people experience in their lifetime. Transactions today usually exceed $500,000. If you had a $500,000 income tax problem, would you attempt to deal with it without the help of a CPA? But its more than just about business, it is about a home, and on both sides of the negotiating table it can be an emotional roller coaster ride.  If ever there was a transaction where "things that could go wrong, do go wrong" - its personal home  buying and selling.  There are many horror stories, those with agents and those without.   

Be sure you Choose The Right Agent!

Its a fact, you avoid these large downside risks with highly qualified agents that are full service Realtors®.  They help you avoid the many mistakes often made during transactions mixed with business complexity and personal emotions.  They build their reputation on providing exceptional service and care, and by providing you guidance based on many years of experience through the entire process.

How I Help You

As your Realtor®, here is how I will guide you through the entire process, from viewing homes and financing, to making sure the final contract is in your best interests:

1. Know the Market

I'll help you  know the market of the areas I specialize in, the current prices,  inventory, the history and the trends  from my network of real estate professionals and resources.  Understanding current market conditions positons yourself better as a buyer.  It helps to know if you're in a seller's market (where housing demand is high and supply is low) or a buyer's market (where housing demand is low and supply is high).  Knowledge is the key to the art of negotiation.

You can begin to educate yourself about your market of interest by using various Search MLS tools or try my MLS alert tool which I can also set up for you with little effort on your part.  However, searching the Internet (like driving neighborhoods, and pouring over newspapers) rarely results in acquiring the best home values. Either the information is overwhelming or not enough, certainly not timely, and sometimes misleading. By the time you get the facts you to make a decision, the desired property is sold (sometimes before the "for sale" sign goes up). In the bay area market especially, successful real estate hunting is done with an agent who has the experience, resources and methods for monitoring the market proactively and in realtime for your specific needs.

2 Get Pre-Approval

We need a realistic assessment of your buying power; that is, your financial reserves plus your borrowing capacity.  The first step is to obtain a loan pre-approval letter from your lender.  If you don't already have a lender I can, with some basic information, refer you to lenders best qualified to help you. Beware of the all-in-one services, and professionals that have conflict in interest, or receive referral and kickback fees for service outside their profession. 

Regardless of the lender I  help oversee and monitor your loan to make certain the contigencies are met and the fees and charges are equitable.

3 Narrowing It Down

Once you know how much you can and want to invest, the next step is to find the properties that most nearly fit your needs.  As your  REALTOR® I have many resources to assist you in your search.  I will preview new listings constantly and often will email specifically requested photos to my clients if they cannot immediately visit the home. Sometimes the property you are seeking is available but not actively advertised in the market.  It often takes a lot of investigation to find all available properties.  I don't like to waste my time, nor your time, when I take my clients "on tour" to visit properties each one is one I believe they potentially could fall in love with.

4 Choosing a property

There are two things you'll want to know. First, will the property provide the environment I want for a home? Second, will the property have resale value if and when I am ready to sell?  My job is to provide you all the information you need. Your job is to make the final selection of the right property for you. This is when excitement and emotion run high.  I assist by providing all the the statistics,  documents and disclosures available for each property and its neighborhood.  I have access to a variety of informational resources, and can provide local community information on utilities, zoning, schools, etc.

5 Negotiating

What is the true market value of the home you are interested in? Is it priced too high? Is it a bargain that you should jump on? I help buyers make decisions like this every day, and I'll make sure that YOU get the best value for your money, too.

There are many negotiating factors, including but not limited to price: financing, terms, date of possession and often the inclusion or exclusion of repairs and furnishings or equipment. The purchase agreement should provide a period of time for you to complete appropriate inspections and investigations of the property before you are bound to complete the purchase. I will advise you as to which investigations and inspections are recommended or required.

Negotiating with sellers can be stressful! I will help you negotiate, so that the final contract includes your best possible terms and conditions.  

5 Due diligence

This is a long process. With a negotiated agreement in hand, it is time to complete the evaluation of the property. You should know everything about the property you are buying! I will inspect the home that you are interested in, and prior to closing I will make you fully aware of any and all  professional inspections available to you. 

Depending on the area and property, this could include inspections for termites, dry rot, asbestos, mold, faulty structure, roof condition, septic tank and well tests, just to name a few. I will assist you in finding qualified responsible professionals to do most of these investigations and provide you with written reports.

You will also want to see a preliminary report on the title of the property. Title indicates ownership of property. The title to most properties will have some limitations; for example, easements (access rights) for utilities. I, along with your title company will help you resolve issues that might cause problems at a later date.  The list goes on and on depending on the circumstance.

6 Closing or settlement

Finally, there is the closing, or also known as the settlement. Once the closed is completed, the home is yours.  Every area has its own unique customs. Iin Silicon Valley, the title or escrow company will handle this process with me as overseeing every step of the way. making sure everything flows together smoothly, and finally, accompany you on a final walk-through prior to the final signoff.

Then, its time to move, and here I  assist you with the phone numbers and information to transfer utilities, provide you with information regarding your special needs (child care, churches, and  public transportation.) The list goes on and on, and never compeletes, because after that I will staying touch and will always be available and willing to assist you with all your real estate  questions and concerns.

This is just a summary, here's a detailed list of ALL the roles and tasks a great Realtor will do for you .