A Guide for Buyers

The reasons for buying a home are personal, so the first thing to consider is what you want to achieve in purchasing a home.

Buying a home is filled with both strategic thinking and emotions. With ever-changing market conditions and other variables, various factors may affect the path you take in finding the property that's right for you.

As your consultant, we help you understand the market landscape and determine, based on your goals, if now is in fact the right time to buy and then identifying the correct approach.

As far as the property itself, it's wise to invest the time to outline the key factors and features relating to your search, including:

It's important to identify what you are able to afford when it comes to a home and how much a lender is willing to loan based on key factors such as income, debt, expenses, etc. Your advisor can help you work within that budget and take into account other considerationsas it relates to the property you seek.

Are you looking for a single-family home, townhouse, condominium, co-op or a multi-family building? There are many options and considerations for each that will impact your search.

Identify your must-haves and list them out in priority, for both you and whomever you may be purchasing your home with. Make a list of your non-negotiables when it comes to a home and take that with you when you are visiting properties

This is one of the most important factors to consider when you're looking for your new home, because unlike structures, paint colors, and flooring, the location of your home cannot be changed. Beyond the physical location of the home within the city or town, you should also think about its location in the neighborhood, community, and/or the building, as this too will have an impact on your home's value.

Before you begin packing up boxes, take inventory of your furniture and other belongings to decide what to keep and what to purge. If items are not worth the effort of packing, moving and unpacking, consider donating, selling or discarding them.

A smooth and successful move is only possible with a plan. Select a moving day to work toward. Identify and engage a moving company as soon as possible. We are happy to make a local recommendation.

Purchase your moving supplies including boxes, moving labels, bubble wrap etc. Begin packing items that won't be needed between now and your move date including things like decorations, photos and off-season clothing. Then, schedule time to pack the remaining items based on room or category to make it easy to unpack.

Make sure to not only update your address with friends, family and service providers, but also any mailing clubs, subscriptions and utility companies for both ending services and activating them at your new address.

This is the day when your moving strategy pays off and your focus can be on saying goodbyes and enjoying the exciting elements of your new home. Once you get into your new home one of the first things you should do is to have new locks installed and extra sets of keys made.

As long as you have everything in order, the closing process should be simple and straightforward.

Closing day typically happens approximately 30 days after the sales and purchase contract is executed and includes the buyer and seller, along with their respective agents, a representative from the title company and lender.

The closing process is where the buyer and seller execute and sign all remaining legal documents and pay closing costs and escrow items. Be sure to bring two forms of identification, certified funds for any remaining costs, and any additional documents requested by the lender.

Once all paperwork is executed you will receive the keys to your new home and then all that's left to do is celebrate!