Home Buyers Guide
By Elizabeth Joy — April 4, 2024
When I bought my home several years ago, long before I was a Realtor myself, the process seemed very daunting to me.
The first, and really only step, I took on my own was finding a good Realtor. I know it may seem self serving but that is truly the first step I would recommend to anyone looking for a home; find yourself a Realtor. They're going to have great connections that will aid you along this process.
When looking for a Realtor I would recommend finding someone you get along with, I know it sounds silly but, you're going to be spending a fair amount of time with this person, you might as well enjoy them! When I was looking for one, not only did I want to enjoy them as a person but I wanted someone who didn't come off like they knew everything, of course I wanted them to be knowledgeable but I also wanted honesty. Find someone who is always going to have your best interest in mind and will always seeks to find the answers you need even if they don't know them.
Things to avoid in a Realtor would be one that pushes you to go out of your budget. We all have our comfort zone, and if you've already taken the time to figure out a monthly mortgage payment you would be comfortable with, don't let someone talk you out of that even if you can technically afford it.
With that in mind, if you're thinking 'I have no clue how to even start to figure out my budget/monthly mortgage' don't worry! Most Realtors have great connections with mortgage lenders that can help you figure out these items! Just another great reason to pair yourself with a Realtor, utilize them for all the connections they've already built, this alone takes a lot of stress off the homebuying process.
The final reason to pair yourself with a great Realtor is that they will handle all paperwork and negotiations for you! Who doesn't want that off their plate? I have met many people who have over paid or not received items that they wanted because they found themselves wanting to offer on a for sale by owner situation and didn't want to pay for a buyers agent. Obviously everyone is entitled to going this route if they so choose, however, I would argue that the money you would be paying a buyer agent will be much less than the amount you'll be overpaying on the home, or taking care of items in the home that were not caught during the home buying process. Realtors know what to look out for and they know how to negotiate on your behalf, so let them, they truly want what's best for you, and if you feel like they don't, find a good Realtor!
A good question to ask during the process of finding a Realtor is how they would deal with letting you out of a buyer agent agreement. I, and many others would say, if you're no longer wanting to work with me during this process I will let you out of buyer agency. If they won't, that could be a red flag.
Hope this helps and if you have any questions please reach out to me and check out my Home buying FAQs!