Home Buyers … put on your running shoes.

It will be April in a couple days and of course, we’re hoping that Spring won’t be far behind. That also means that it is prime time to begin your search for a new home. By the time you secure your financing, select the perfect home, and execute the due dates of the contract, you’ll be ready to move in by the end of May or earlier.

Feet Secured In The Starting Blocks

OK, you’re ready to get started. A Miami blogger just posted an article on Home Buyer’s Etiquette. Ines offers some good tips on the best etiquette to use when initially starting your search with other hints from other Realtors® – me included. Once you’re done reading the article, you can enjoy the great photos she has of Miami. It’ll make you feel warmer even if we’re not warm here.

1st Lap

Your first step should be to select a Realtor® to represent you. As lawyers say, “a client who represents themselves in court has a fool for a client”. It’s similar in real estate, “you don’t know what you don’t know”. Having an agent watch out for your interests, will make the process easier, will ensure that you have the appropriate inspections, paperwork, and meet contract due dates.

Once you’ve selected the agent, your next step is to select a lender to determine the price of home you can be approved to buy based on your credit rating, your down payment, and your income/expense ratio. Don’t assume you’ll be able to afford a certain priced home as the lending rules are much, much stricter now than in the past.

2nd Lap

Now that you know what price range you can consider, you’re ready to start viewing homes with your agent that meet your criteria. Be very truthful and communicate well with your agent so they know what you want or don’t want. You may find there needs to be some give & take in your criteria. The more truthful you are, the better job the agent can do for you, thus, lessening the time you spend actually viewing homes. Afterall, you don’t want to waste your time viewing homes that don’t match what you want.

3rd Lap

Be prepared to write a Purchase Offer when you find a home you like. As crazy as this sounds, there are some areas around the Columbus metro area that have limited inventories and are seeing multiple offers on homes because of that. Since it’s Spring when more buyers are starting their search, the competition for “good” homes will increase as well. Don’t miss out because “you snooze, you lose”.

4th Lap

As Ines mentions in her post, once you decide on your “dream home”, don’t trash the home in your Purchase Offer or any Remedy Request to justify a low offer or your long laundry list of things you want fixed. As your mother may have told you, you attract more flies with honey than with vinegar. The seller will be more willing to work with you to meet your requests if you’re polite and courteous throughout the process. Remember, unlike some other personal contracts, a real estate Purchase Contract must be a win-win for BOTH parties, otherwise it won’t become a contract. Both parties must come to some agreement that is acceptable to them in order for that agreement to take place.

The Finish Line

All the Contract due dates have been met … the lender has found an underwriter for your loan … you’ve purchased your homeowner’s insurance … both parties are packing boxes feverishly and have called the utility companies … your certified check is in hand and the closing is ready to occur. How exciting! You’re now a new homeowner, ready to make your own memories!

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