Tips For Buyers
1. Get Financially Pre-Approved - Your first step in purchasing a new home would be to sit down with a bank or mortgage representative and decide what you can afford. They will then give you a pre-approval letter which will put you in a stronger position. Sellers prefer a Buyer that has a pre-qualification or pre-approval letter with the offer.
2. Call a Boardwalk Realtor - Choose a full time realtor who is professional and is familiar with the area that you are interested in. You should also feel comfortable with your Realtor, since it is in your best interest to only work with one Realtor. Working with a Realtor who you have a relationship with inspires that Realtor to find you the perfect home. You can work exclusively with one of our Realtors with a Buyer Agency Contract if you so desire.
3. Feedback - Give your Realtor lots of feedback when he/she shows you a property. This will allow the Realtor to know what you like and dislike about properties. This way they will be more knowledgeable about what you are looking for and be able to service you better.
4. Open Houses - Walking into an open house unaccompanied by your Realtor can cause problems if you decide to purchase this house. If you stop in at an open house, let the hosting agent know that you are currently Working with a Realtor.
5. Home-Inspections - Once you have decided on your home and have a signed Contract to Purchase, schedule your home inspection as soon as possible. It is important that you have time to further examine anything that may arise during this inspection. By scheduling it as early as possible, you will have the time to look into any issues that may arise. Remember that no home is perfect.
6. Legal Advice - It is also advisable that you use an attorney to review the Purchase and Sales Agreement. In the long run, this small investment may be very valuable.
7. Negotiation Strategy - As in most negotiations, try to put yourself in the Seller's place when you are dealing with them. Many Sellers have very strong attachments to their homes and it is very important to them that they are putting their home and all of its memories into good hands.
8. Prices of Homes - Last but not least, do not rely on prices that you may see on the website. There are many factors to consider when buying a home. These factors may be very different for each Buyer. The prices you will see on homes listed on Web Sites are List Prices based on an agents estimate of value; not actual selling prices. Some homes sell for less than the listed price, some sell for more. This is another reason to work with a Realtor that you can trust and feel comfortable with.
