Buying a Home
Buying a home?
As a certified ABR (Accredited Buyer Representative), Jill Hare has unmatched knowledge of the local market, neighborhoods, and sales trends. For most of us, buying and selling a home is one of the most significant transactions we'll make in a lifetime and it's imperative that you have the right Realtor on your side! Buying a home, especially if it is your first home, can often seem to be a daunting task. As one of the city's top buyer agents, Jill takes the worry out of buying a home by assisting you in all areas of the home buying process. You can expect Jill to exceed your expectations at each of the following steps.
1. Buyer's Consultation. Jill will conduct an introductory meeting with you...to get to know you and your needs so that she can better assist you, making the process more efficient for everyone involved. She will explain the process step by step so that you know what to expect along the way. Knowing the process will make you more prepared and eliminate any potential snags. She will also give you access to the actual MLS so that you can modify your search and so that you are notified immediately of new properties hitting the market as well as price reductions that occur.
2. Pre-Qualification. Jill works with a team of professionals who work around your schedule to make the buying process as smooth as possible. She will not only help you to become pre-qualified with a mortgage lender, but also make sure you are in capable hands in this difficult mortgage market we are in. Jill's team of lenders will ensure that there are NO SURPRISES at the closing table, NO HIDDEN COSTS, and that you are completely informed through-out the entire process. Getting pre-qualified will allow you to determine your purchasing power as well as a comfortable price range without overstepping your limits...this also adds leverage for negotiating offers. Jill's goal is to position you to the seller's agent as the best possible buyer out there...they won't even want to sell their property to anyone else!
3. Property Searches/MLS Updates. Jill will comb the market daily to find properties that match the criteria you are interested in. You will be notified of these properties via email as soon as they become available.
4. Schedule and Conduct Property Tours. Jill will efficiently schedule and confirm carefully screened properties that match your needs. Throughout the tour, Jill will educate you on the neighborhoods, market value, and details of each property.
5. Property Analysis. After you think you have found "the one", Jill will sit down with you to analyze the comparables in the area/building as well as determine a negotiation strategy. This will help you to determine what your first offer should be to best position you in front of the seller.
6. Presenting an Offer and Negotiation. This happens to be Jill's favorite part of the process...having been complimented for her "negotiating prowess" by a past client, her goal as a buyer's agent, is to keep up her reputation. As your trusted advocate, she will write up and present your strategic purchase offer to the seller's agent and guide the entire negotiation process. She will work tirelessly to get you the best price and terms on your new home, always keeping your best interests at hand, but careful not to alienate the other party. It's a fine line but something she has so gracefully learned to do!
7. Property Disclosures. Jill will obtain and review with you the seller's property disclosures, if applicable. She will explain the ramifications of materials disclosed and how they may affect you.
8. Professional Inspection. Jill works with an amazing team of inspectors who she would be more than happy to recommend personally. She uses them for all her personal transactions and trusts them entirely. Keep in mind Jill is NEVER compensated for making a referral to a home inspection company. She will review with you all inspection reports and discuss how it may affect your negotiating position and transaction.
9. Attorney Review. Jill will coordinate getting the contract and documents to your attorney for review. Your attorney will review the homes title as well as make recommendations for structuring your purchase contract. Jill would be happy to refer you to a reasonable, professional, and extremely knowledgeable full-time real estate attorney. Jill feels strongly that having the right real estate attorney on your side is the difference between a smooth transaction and a disaster.
10. Commitment for Financing. Your lender and your attorney will work with you to obtain a commitment for financing from your mortgage lender. The lender will collect various documents and appraise the property and furnish you, in writing, an unconditional commitment to finance the home loan. Jill will also intervene if necessary to remedy any unsatisfactory work toward contingency completion.
11. Final Walk-Through. Jill will schedule and accompany you on the final walk-through of the property just before the closing to ensure that the property remains in satisfactory condition and that no damage occurred during move-out, if applicable.
12. Closing. Jill will prepare you for the closing and provide you with a checklist of things to do before the closing and your move. Jill will attend the closing with you and provide any necessary guidance. It is Jill's experience, that if you follow the steps above closely, there will be no issues at the closing table! She will also bring your much deserved housewarming gifts!!
13. Agent for Life. After completion of the transaction, Jill will continue to update you on real estate news that pertains to you. She will be there to answer any questions you may have or at least point you in the right direction to get answers. Jill's service does not end on the day of closing. She will also ask that you think of her when your friends and family are in the market to buy or sell. Referrals mean so much to her and her business. It's how you can say "thank you" to her!