GETTING STARTED
Be clear about what you are looking for.
Identify and communicate to me what is important to you and why. A failure to identify the “why” closes you off to acceptable alternatives when your dream home doesn’t immediately appear. Develop a sense of what you want to see when you drive up that generates a sense of ‘home’ to you. I am able to search on a wide variety of features that most people aren’t aware of; if you can’t live in a house without hardwood floors, central AC, or you just don’t like the looks of brick exterior or ranchers- I can define our search based on those parameters. Please let me know what your absolute requirements are and I can save you a lot of time during the search process.
Where to look
Your Nancy Fritz Team will employ a wide range of resources to find you your home. They will include, but are not limited to:
NancyFritz.com https://nancyfritz.com
RMLS http://www.realestate-mls.com/
LUTAR http://mithumb.com/
Off Market Listings. One of the greatest values of using a set of well-connected and networked agents, is that we often know about homes before they are ever available for sale in the MLS. We will learn as much as possible about your needs and then work to identify homes for you that you may not otherwise have had access to.
New Construction. Much new construction, but certainly not all, is listed in the multiple listingservice. Many builders invite agent participation and pay an agency fee. Please check with us prior to visiting any new home projects.
Our Sphere of Influence. More often than not, we will know of potential sellers who have homes similar to the home you are looking for. Additionally, when appropriate we will contact prior clients to see if a move is in their plans and if a showing can be arranged.
For Sale By Owners (FSBO’s). Most people who are marketing their own homes are prepared to work with agents and, in some cases, pay a fee. If this scenario occurs, we will need to discuss the differences between a sale with a For Sale By Owner and a sale ushered by two Realtors® and through the MLS.
FINDING THE RIGHT HOME
Your Priorities May Shift
A word of caution: As we begin this process, you may have “needs” in mind that will actually turn into “wants” once we’ve looked at some homes together and there may also be “wants” that turn into “needs.” The “wish list” is a starting point—your criteria may change over the course of our search.
Learn the Neighborhoods.
The goal is not only to identify which communities appeal to you the most, but also identify those to exclude from your future search.
Focus your Search.
Now reduce your search area to three to five zip codes. Searching this way will insure that you do not miss finding homes which do not belong to larger communities. Further refine your search based on your neighborhood knowledge base.
Prioritize and Select.
Now is the time to begin looking at homes to select the one you want to acquire. As you inspect homes, keep the following in mind.
Understand the 30 to 60 day rule.
Ideally you want a minimum of 30 days, and a maximum of 60 days to process your paperwork prior to settlement.
Settlement periods of more or less time can be managed but we will need to talk through these details.
Love or Like?
Are you looking for a home you absolutely love or is ‘liking it a lot’ sufficient? Remember that most buyers choose homes that fit current and pending lifestyles and expect to move several times in their life.
Identify a Fall Back Home.
When entering into negotiations with a seller, it can be very liberating to know that, if this doesn’t work out, there is another home to fall back to. It will also provide leverage during negotiations.
Would you be disappointed to learn tomorrow that this home has sold to someone else? If the answer is yes, then the time has come to prepare an offer to purchase.
WHAT IF YOU DON’T FIND ANYTHING?
Change Criteria
Most buyers use this opportunity to change some or all of their purchase criteria. Sometimes you need to look at properties that are not what you think you want.
Price Range
Moving up in range, especially by changing your financing approach, may open up much better possibilities.
Type
Detached, Townhouse, or Condo? Staying in the area and price range, but moving to a town home or condominium may give access to very workable properties which still meet your essential needs.
Size
Square Footage or Extras? Perhaps you can live without the extra bedroom, garage, or even family room, if everything else works for you.
Location
If you aren’t finding what you want, where you want it to be, it might exist somewhere else. Often the trade-off is location for a home, or less home in the right location. Keep your options open to help us identify where your criteria might be best met. We will work to find you what you want, where you want it to be and for the price you want to pay.
Hang in there! Revisit your criteria. Also, new listings are constantly coming on the market. Don’t give up. Unless you are unsure of your intention of remaining in the rea or of your employment, your interests will be best served by purchasing something sooner rather than later.
WHEN WE FIND THE RIGHT HOME
The Nancy Fritz Team will do the following;
- Help you plan your offer strategy
- Prepare a competitive market analysis to determine if the price is fair and reasonable
- Help you select the target price to offer for the home
- Help you prepare your offer to purchase with your best interests in mind
- Negotiate the contract terms on your behalf
- Coordinate with the lender to complete the financing
- Schedule inspection(s) and address any issues which arise
- Prepare and finalize all paperwork for closing
- Help you with the sale of your current home, if needed
- Help you get comfortably settled into your new home
- Follow-up to make sure you’re happy with your new home
- Stay involved after settlement to deal with any questions you might have