COMMON QUESTIONS

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FAQ: FAQ

WHAT ARE SOME OF THE MAIN REASONS WE SHOULD CHOOSE YOU AS OUR REALTOR®?

As your realtor®, you can expect honest and ethical treatment, up-to-date experience, and objective information. I also bring negotiation knowledge, marketing power, and expansive search capabilities. I will be your advocate, focusing on your needs first, and will help you navigate the many forms, disclosures, and other technical documents involved throughout a real estate transaction.

HOW WILL YOU HELP ME SELL MY PROPERTY?

As your list agent, I will provide you with a wide range of services, including helping you price your home correctly, marketing it (on the multiple listing service, social media, and other venues), hosting open houses, negotiating with home buyers, and ushering the home sale through closing. As a trained expert, I can help you fetch top dollar for your house and put out fires—while also alleviating some of the stress that comes with selling a home.

HOW DO I GET MY HOME READY TO SELL?

Make sure your home is market ready for potential buyers. Pare down any clutter and pack up your least-used items. Clean the windows, carpets, walls, lighting fixtures, and baseboards to make the house shine. Gather up warranties, guarantees, and user manuals for any items that will remain with the house. Consider making repairs. If there are big ticket items that need repair, get estimates even if you don’t plan on fixing them. Spruce up the curb appeal so buyers will get a good impression when arriving at the property. Have professional real estate pictures taken. Speak to a realtor® (hopefully me) to help you best identify what needs to be done before you sell.

HOW MUCH DO I PAY AN AGENT TO HELP ME BUY A HOUSE?

Home buyers typically pay no fees to an agent when buying a home. Here’s why: For most home sales, there are two real estate agents involved in the deal: one that represents the seller and another who represents the buyer. Listing brokers represent sellers and charge a fee to represent them and market the property. The buyer's agent is compensated by the listing broker for bringing home buyers to the table. When the home is sold, the listing broker pays a percentage of the listing fee to the buyer’s agent. Thus, buyers do not pay their agents.

WHAT IS THE FIRST THING I SHOULD DO WHEN BUYING A HOME?

Speak to a lender -- First, you need to know how much you can borrow. Knowing how much you can afford narrows down home searching to suitable properties within your budget. Second, the loan estimate from your lender will show how much money is required for the down payment and closing costs. Finally, being pre-approved for a mortgage demonstrates that you are a serious buyer.

SHOULD I ORDER A HOME INSPECTION WHEN BUYING A HOME?

Yes! Home inspections are required if you plan on financing your home with an FHA or VA loan. For other mortgage programs, inspections are not required. However, home inspections are highly recommended because they can reveal defects in the home that are not easily detected. Home inspections can help bring peace of mind to one of the biggest investments of a lifetime.