Now that you’ve decided you want to live in the Stoneleigh neighborhood, what do you do next? As your buyer’s agent, Ashley Richardson will work on your behalf to:
Find you the right property,
Negotiate the best price and terms for you, and
Handle the “details” and keep you informed.
Here is a guide to help you through the steps of buying your Stoneleigh home. — Begin the home buying process by getting pre-qualified and pre-approved from a Mortgage Lender. Your mortgage qualification will significantly strengthen your offer when you find the home you want.
—Analyze your housing needs and wants to determine which houses you should be considering.
Make a checklist. The home you are looking for has:
Number of bedrooms
Number of bathrooms
Family room
Bonus/Game room
Fireplace
Home office
Kitchen amenities
Basement
Garage (no.of cars)
Central air conditioning
Lot size
— Do your homework. As your buyer’s agent, Ashley will prepare a competitive market analysis with information on properties similar to the ones you are considering. It will describe homes that are currently on the market and have recently sold. This data will help you decide whether the homes you like are worth the price.
— Begin your property search. Ashley will show you the homes that best match your criteria. She will share her evaluation of the homes, including factors that may affect their value. Getting your candid impressions of these properties will help in fine-tuning your search process. Ashley can show you Stoneleigh homes, as well as any property listed through Bright, the REALTORS multiple listing service. She can also provide information on any home you see listed online or in print media, tell you about the availability of homes with open house or yard signs, and let you know if they meet your criteria.
— Prepare the offer. When you find an acceptable house, Ashley will prepare an offer that provides a solid basis for negotiating with the seller. — Negotiate your best deal. Ashley will present the written offer and negotiate on your behalf. She will communicate the seller’s response and, if necessary, suggest negotiating options.
After you have reached an agreement and have a contract, Ashley will monitor the entire purchase process to help you prepare for a smooth closing. For a successful purchase, she can guide you through the next important steps. You will need to:
— Apply for a mortgage loan if you haven’t already done so. — Get title insurance and an independent appraisal to confirm the value of your home. — Arrange for professional inspections. Not only does the home inspection point out possible defects, a professional home inspector will often give you tips on maintaining and repairing your house. Termite inspections are mandatory for most home loans. — Learn about home warranties and what they cover. Ashley will provide you with the details. — Compare and secure homeowners insurance. — Arrange for the title company, closing agent or attorney. — Secure final loan approval and commitment from the lending institution. — Do a final walk through of the house. — Final closing and settlement. Typical items you will need at your settlement: Wire transfer or certified check, copy of driver’s license, copy of homeowner’s insurance policy, original termite inspection documents.
Throughout this process, Ashley will track the completion of all the conditions required under your purchase agreement and keep you informed of the progress of your transaction.
