First Step To Buying

When beginning your search for a home, it is tough to know where to start. There really isn't a right or a wrong answer either, but you can save yourself some time by speaking with a Realtor at the beginning of the process. Most people start by looking at homes on the internet. This is a great starting point, but many times those online sites have outdated information.

Most people believe their initial contact with a Realtor should be when they call them up to go view a property. Yes, it is good to take that initiative and find some properties, but most Realtors will want to sit down before hand for a couple of reasons.

Meeting with a Realtor at their office is preferred to save both parties time. It is always good for the Realtor to go through, in detail, exactly what you are looking for. This will allow you to go through additional listings that may fit your needs so you can cover more than one individual property in a day.

A second reason they will want to meet is to be able to set expectations for the remainder of the process. Some people don't realize what the entire process entails, from financing options, to inspections, to closing, and it is good to get a sense of what will happen at the outset so there are no surprises. If you don't already have a pre-qualification or a pre-approval in place, the Realtor can set you up with a lender to make sure you aren't looking at anything outside your price range. This saves you from later disappointment if you cannot qualify.

A final reason for meeting prior to showing the property is for safety. Is it really a good idea for two people who have never met to go meet for the first time at a property that they don't know? Most of the time probably, but you can never be too careful. Meeting at an office ahead of this is a good way to make sure everyone is comfortable with each other.

One of the things I like to do, either before or during the first meeting is to go through my Buyer Needs Analysis. Once we have some guidelines of what we are looking for, it can certainly make the process go much smoother from start to finish.

If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing a home, I would love to speak with them and see if there is anything I can do to help!