AS YOUR TRUSTED ADVISOR, I WILL:
- Determine the motives and priorities that bring you to the marketplace
- Prepare with your input, a description of the desired property
- Conduct counseling and information sessions to identify your needs and goals and to plan a property search
- Isolate the attributes of the property that allow for some flexibility in the search while determining the features that various members of the family feel are important
- Conduct property searches through a variety of sources (MLS, public records, appraisers, etc.) to establish reference
- Complete a market search to identify properties consistent with your needs and price range
- Make myself available to you on a priority basis in order to meet your needs and schedule for property research and showings
- Provide a list of optional days, times and schedules for viewing property
- Provide clarifying information to assist you in evaluating physical and functional attributes of a property
- Review information about properties on the market today
- Provide you with a list of critical steps and stages that most prudent buyers follow
- Compare and contrast the information and advice already secured with the realities of today’s marketplace
- Identify the desired timeframe or schedule for selecting and acquiring a property
- Identify properties or areas previously viewed by you
- Review local procedures of setting appointments, presenting offers and securing answers to critical questions
- Describe the role of a seller’s agent and how buyers are impacted through this representation
- Discuss the interaction anticipated with sellers or seller’s agents
- Describe the process of pre-qualification and or pre-approval
- Review the role and involvement of the mortgage lender/bank representative
- Review state mandated forms and documents related to agency relationships
- Identify the role of the other agents within the office of the buyer’s agent
- Explain the role and procedures of the MLS
- Discuss the proper procedures when dealing with other agents, sellers and the public at large with regard to your Property Search
- Determine the plan of responsiveness should I locate a potential property
- Discuss the implications of market conditions and your availability to view new listings
- Establish backup plans should all the decision makers not be immediately available to view properties
- Review checklist of property features dealing with the property itself, the area and the price range, that would isolate the most likely property for the buyer
- Identify experts or consultants who might be called upon to provide specific and technical information or advice depending on any given situation
- Review the documentation and record supporting disclosure (i.e. past repairs, lead-based paint, etc.)
- Discuss the differences between building, home and environmental inspections
- Explain state and local requirements around inspections and inspectors
- Prepare and provide, as needed, a list of possible inspectors from which you might choose
- Review a sample sales contract/agreement of sale
- Provide consumer information via email or mailings in order to keep you up to date on critical and nice to know items
AS YOUR SKILLED NEGOTIATOR, I WILL:
- Provide data on recently sold properties within the areas of your home inspection
- Provide property description and sellers statement of property condition as available, prior to the offer to purchase
- Discuss the offer/price counseling phase and the contract preparation and documentation
- Discuss items/tactics to be considered in an offer preparation
- Discuss how counter-offers from sellers will be communicated, handled and responded to
- Review the overall negotiating strategy, as appropriate
- Identify the factors that influence the negotiating position of buyers such as market conditions, terms, price, timing, contingencies, etc.
- Present examples of “strategy adjustments” and the reasons or causes for adjustments
- Prepare a written Offer to Purchase on the property of your choice selecting your price and terms
- Present all offers to purchase in a timely fashion using standardized forms
- Assist you in monitoring the status and satisfaction of contract contingencies
- Involve “outside” advisors (management or another agent) acceptable to both you and me to provide a frank and candid perspective of adjustment strategy
AS YOUR EXPERT COUNSELLOR, I WILL:
- Inquire as to the terms of financing you are presently seeking
- Offer to arrange pre-qualifying or pre-approved meeting with a lender to determine your price range
- Share the role of the agent in the loan process (if any)
- Arrange for you to meet in house loan officer, if applicable, to discuss financing
- Share specific questions and key points of inquiry when dealing with the lender
- Provide assistance in assessing information on licensed building inspectors prior to the Offer to Purchase
- Accompany you on the property inspection prior to closing, if provided for in the contract
- Contact you after the closing to assure the satisfactory completion of all service details
- Research any local websites and use public government information sources/venues
- Extract from an accepted contract of sale the provisions that will impact and influence the progression toward closing
- Establish a schedule of dates and events to monitor the progress of contingency activity and removal
- Act promptly and decisively to problems and concerns that result from contingency removal activity
- As contingencies are removed or attended to, keeping you informed and providing a targeted or scheduled closing date, location and time
- At time of offer preparation, review the checklist of due diligence inspections and consultations that might be considered and the impact they will have on property purchase
- Once contract is accepted by the sellers, proceed to schedule inspections agreed upon
- Assist the inspectors in obtaining access to the property to conduct the inspection
- Coordinate with and inform the sellers and seller’s agent of the inspection, as appropriate
- Remove inspection contingencies or confirm the inspection report results that effectively indicate fulfillment of the contingency
- Coordinate with you, sellers and seller’s agent is specific date and time for the final walkthrough personal inspection (by you) immediately prior to closing
- Accompany you on the walkthrough, as appropriate and mediate concerns and issues with seller’s agent
- Provide checklist of items you should take to closing
- Attend closing with (or, if allowed, in place of) you. Inform you of the activities and events that transpire at closing
- Provide a checklist of items relating to moving into the property
- Coordinate with sellers, selling agent and other parties to affect smooth transfer of possession
- Retain Seller’s Disclosure documents and closing documents for period-of-time (as required by law)