The home buying process is an adventure you may or may not have done before, but it is usually more successful when you are working with a licensed real estate agent. From deciding on a floor plan to finding an area where you want to buy a home, there are some essential decisions to make and deadlines to meet. Here are some tips to help you look for your next home purchase.
Communicate With Your Agent
During the purchase process, you have the option to hire a realtor to help you search, take tours, analyze market information, and submit an offer to buy a home. As using an agent is such a large element of the process, it is important that you set up and continue with a good communication plan. Talk to your realtor first about what you want in a home so they can search their database of listings for homes that you want to check into further. Then when you are planning to meet them for a showing appointment, let them know if you are going to be late or not going to make the appointment. Your agent's time is valuable and you don't want to waste it.
You should also let your realtor know how you prefer to keep in contact with one another. Would you prefer email only or do you want to hear their voice when anything big comes up in your home purchase negotiations? You might want to handle a majority of the communication through text, which is acceptable and can help you in some basic communications.
Read Through Contracts
When you are going through the home search process, there will be some contracts you sign right up front and later on when you find a home you want to buy and put in an offer on. Make sure you read through the details of the contract and have a good understanding of the contract's terms because you are agreeing to them when you sign on the line. If you are not sure of what a contract is stating, ask your real estate agent for a more clear explanation. Don't worry about the fact that you may not understand what a contract is saying, but instead understand it is your real estate agent's job to help you through the contract process.
At the beginning of your search process, you will likely sign an agency agreement with your realtor, which outlines the duties of your agent and details their fiduciary duty. You should also sign a contract with your realtor. This contract will indicate your agent is working for you and for your interests in the process. They won't get paid a commission unless you buy and close on the home.
For information about homes for sale in your area, reach out to a real estate agent today.
