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Getting Ready to Buy
Ready to buy a house? Being prepared and organized, along with the right agent, can remove stress from the process and get you on the path for a successful move. This by no means is a list of EVERYTHING you will encounter on your journey, but it’s a pretty good checklist. And your Boyd Realty Group real estate professionals will guide you every step of the way.
ASSESS YOUR BUYING POWER
It’s important before you start to have an idea of roughly how much house you want to purchase. Let’s find out what a lender will prequalify you for, and work that into your target monthly budget. Just because you can buy more house, doesn’t necessarily mean you need to. Let’s talk about what’s important to you, and make that fit into your life.
A higher credit score will lower your interest rate—and that’s what you want. Get a free copy of your credit report at AnnualCreditReport.com to see where you stand. Errors are more common than you might think, so review your report and be prepared to correct anything you see that doesn’t look right. When you buy a home, we will discuss finding that right place to live, along with how it shapes up as an investment. At Boyd Realty Group we want you to find the home you want to come home to, while also making you aware of where you are in terms of value, both current and future.
TALK TO LENDERS
Few people go car shopping and buy the first thing they find at the first price presented. Why not use that same diligence when shopping for a mortgage lender. Rates and fees are often negotiable. Also look for a lender that is patient, responsive and willing to work with you when necessary. After all, this is the biggest purchase that most people make! Once you’ve found the lender that’s right for you, you’ll want to let sellers know that you are ready, willing and able to move forward with your offer. Your Boyd Realty Group Realtor will work with you and your lender to make sure you have all the documentation you need to present your offer in the best
possible light. Also discuss your funds needed to close so there are no surprises later. This will include your down payment, and your other closing costs.
LET’S TALK ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT!
At Boyd Realty Group, our professionals have decades of experience working with buyers to help them find the right home. We will be asking lots of questions – the where, what, when and how much stuff. Think about these in advance, along with a list of loves and hates. That will point us in the right direction and help us to find properties to show you that will eventually lead to a home just right for you. When you find your next home, we will work with you on developing the best strategy on how to move forward. Markets change, and so do strategies. Be ready to discuss your strengths and how to use them to make your offer stand out. Once a seller has accepted your offer, there are several “next steps”. We will be right by your side every step of the way – letting you know exactly what to be ready for. This will include the earnest money deposit, loan application, inspections, appraisal and selecting a settlement agent. And after you close, we’re still here, ready to answer any questions or share any resources we can. We never go away!
To see our Home Buying Process Flowchart, click here.
Getting Ready to Sell
If you’re thinking about selling your home, let’s talk about how to maximize your return, navigate the process and avoid bumps in the road.
YOUR HOME’S VALUE
In most cases, we will determine your home’s value by looking at similar homes that are either currently listed, under contract or have recently sold. Appraisers are usually restricted to consider only recent sales, but your Boyd Realty Group professional will also look at many other factors to take the “pulse” of your neighborhood and the market. Seeing homes that quickly sell for higher than the listing price, or homes that sell after a reasonable period of time at full price, or homes that sit on the market for a long time with price reductions, all paint a very different picture. The current state of the market is one of the most important things your agent will help you understand.
GETTING READY TO SHOW
Depersonalize, declutter and neutralize – we know you’ve heard this before, but it’s true. We want home buyers to see all the space available to them and imagine what they would do with it. We also understand that your home is part of you, and tells your story. But we don’t want potential buyers to spend more time looking at your story than imagining theirs. Also, we can probably all agree that taste and décor are specific. We will walk through your home with you, and often bring in one of our professional designers or stagers for a consultation to make sure buyers can see their own vision.
MAKE MINOR REPAIRS OR IMPROVEMENTS
Homes in great condition almost always get more offers, and usually better ones. We will provide you with a list of recommended repairs or improvements that we think will be a sensible return on the investment. Repairs are usually noted during the inspection process, and as a result, may end up as a repair request. Let’s talk about what items are worth the attention before the inspection to shorten the list of requested repairs and tell buyers that you really do care for your home.
FIRST IMPRESSIONS
Your home’s exterior is the first thing buyers see, so let’s make sure they like what they see before they even walk through your front door. Again, some of these items may need repair or improvement before they end up on an inspection report. Other items just make your home look well-loved and cared for. Finally, let’s talk about your curb appeal. Having a well manicured lawn, fresh mulch, planters at your front door, or a raised bed garden in the sunny spot with something growing, can touch a buyer’s heart and make a huge difference.
SHOW TIME!
We have your home ready for the world to see. Let’s make it the one buyers want to come see. Over the last 20 years at Boyd Realty Group, we have put together an expert team of designers, contractors, landscapers, stagers and photographers that will make your listing hit the market with a splash. We will work diligently with other agents and buyers to negotiate the best possible offer, and see it all the way to closing. Remember, we never go away.
