Tips & Advice:
Credit
Do not make any large purchases on current credit cards. This will ruin your chance to receive the loan you have been pre-approved for. Good example is to not go and buy a new car, or to shop for furniture before your loan is finalized and the home is yours.
Do not apply for new credit cards or new loans.
Continue to pay your obligations on time. Before your purchase is finalized, your credit will be checked and if you have missed payments you can get denied the loan.
Employment
Do not make any employment changes while in the process of purchasing a new home. This could potentially cause problems with your financing. If you are in between jobs, consult with your loan officer so that he/she can be prepared and help you to receive the loan.
Insurance
Shop for insurance companies for the best rates and services. Make sure you check different providers to get a fair rate, this could save you a large amount of money.
20 Reasons to Hire a Realtor:
1. Homes are bought by comparison. We have a large inventory at our disposal through MLS.
2. We are very familiar with competitive houses so we can help you position your home well.
3. It is hard negotiating for yourself. We have lots of experience in writing contracts and can negotiate aggressively on your behalf.
4. Buyers are not always forthright about their financial situation. We insist on pre-approving the buyer before I even bring you an offer.
5. Our lender contacts and their mortgage experience help buyers get the financing they need.
6. Most buyers do not want to tell the seller why they did not make an offer. We always try to make sure that the buyer or his agent provides us with feedback.
7. Any follow up you do with a buyer can be seen as desperation. We follow up as part of our service to you not to compromise your position as a seller.
8. We can showcase your improvements better so that you do not appear like you are "pushing" the sale in a negative way.
9. Most sellers who spend their time as a For Sale by Owner end up listing with a realtor in the end. A recent survey conducted by the National Board of Realtors found that only 11% of sellers nationally ended up selling by owner.
10. Unqualified buyers can tie up your home. We make sure that does not happen.
11. Personality conflicts with a buyer can get in the way. We come in between the buyer and the seller so that personalities won't be a factor.
12. Most buyers use a realtor. It increases the number of buyers who will see your home.
13. We can mobilize my company agents and other area realtors on your behalf.
14. An NAR survey of recent closed sellers found that realtor-assisted sales brought in 20% more sales price than For Sale by Owner sales.
15. When you list, only buyers accompanied by a realtor will get into your home. This increases the chance to get serious enquires.
16. Being accessible to show your home limits your personal time and cuts down the available showing time. When you list, you property will be available during normal showing hours and your home will be accessible at any given time that suits your demand and request. We use a lockbox which only realtors can access.
17. Additional exposure through MLS and our web-site brings you a higher price.
18. We orchestrate the contract-to-closing process, including the appraisal, buyer-loan process, title, inspections, pest control, survey, etc., taking this burden off of you.
19. We make sure that you are compliant with all laws relating to the sale of your home.
20. We only get paid when we get the job done.
