Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Buyer's Agent?
A Buyer's Agent guides you, the buyer through your home buying experience. They are at your disposal for your needs and questions as they come up through out the process.
They can help you
- Find the right property
- Negotiate your offer
- Recommend other professionals
- Help with inspection issues
What is a Seller's Agent?
A Seller's Agent guides you, the seller through your home selling experience. They are also at your call when you have questions about listing or selling your home.
They can help you
- Give an initial walk-through and provide suggestions on cleaning and staging
- Help seller price the home and market through photos and website
- Host Open Houses and Private Tours
- Assist with communication and sale issues
How do I pay you for your services?
Realtors are paid a commission from the sale of the home. Typically the seller will pay 6% out of the sale and it will be split between the two agents to pay for their services.
Why do I need an agent to sell my home, can't I just do For Sale By Owner?
An agent has both the expertise and the resources to make both your home purchase and buying experience an easier one. A large reason that sellers choose not to work with an agent is cost. They think that by skipping an agent they can save the commission as profit. In reality, studies have shown that there is a $0 difference between using an agent or selling the home yourself. It pays to use an agent that can lend their expertise to your situation, because it's likely they've dealt with it before!
Can you only show houses that you're listing?
Nope! I can show you any home your interested in! That's the great part about being your buyer's agent! I can try to help you find homes that cater to your interests. I can even set up an automatic search to send you updates of the types of homes that might interest you!
Should I talk to a lender before I look for homes?
Yes and no. It's always a good idea to know what kind of home you're looking for, however, it's very important to know if you can afford that home you like! If you're serious about trying to purchase a loan, contacting a local lender to receive pre-approval should be your first step. The lender will help you to understand how much of a home you can afford, what you may need to sell your home for and if you need to work on your credit to be approved in the future.
Should I talk to a lender before I look for homes?
Yes and no. It's always a good idea to know what kind of home you're looking for, however, it's very important to know if you can afford that home you like! If you're serious about trying to purchase a loan, contacting a local lender to receive pre-approval should be your first step. The lender will help you to understand how much of a home you can afford, what you may need to sell your home for and if you need to work on your credit to be approved in the future.
What is earnest money?
Earnest money is a percentage of the purchase price for flat fee that you give to the seller with your offer in good faith that you will follow through with the transaction. The amount is applied to your final closing costs. If you choose to cancel the contract without cause, you can lose the earnest money. This is especially important in a market that has very quick sales.
Do I really need a home inspection?
Absolutely. Some loan types require a licensed home inspection to approve your loan. In general, it is a good idea. You may find something in the home that is an absolute deal breaker. These items are usually outlined in the contract, and if found the deal can be cancelled. To save yourself the headache and hassle of very expensive repairs, a buyer should always have a licensed home inspection. Other addition inspections can include, sewer, well & septic, pool and other special home features.