Buyer Tips

1. The Decision to Buy

Today, home buyers have more choices than ever before. You can choose financing options that are flexible and affordable, home styles that fit a variety of lifestyles and professional services that make the home buying process fast, effective and enjoyable. 
 

2. Find an Agent

Once you've made the decision to buy a home, your next step is one of your most important: finding a real estate professional to guide you through the process. A good agent will help you avoid common pitfalls, make wise home investment decisions, and bring order to the entire buying process.

3. Find a Home

You've heard it before. When choosing your new home, consider three important factors: location, location and location. Choosing a home you can afford in a desirable location is a wise choice, both from a personal and financial perspective.

Next you'll want to define your needs, tastes and preferences for your new home. This is easier than it sounds when you use our Home Buyer's Needs Analysis, an integral part of the Home Buying System. It helps you quickly prioritize your requirements.

Time to make an offer.

5. Home Inspection

Even if you've looked in every nook and cranny of the home you want to buy, we at BOWES Real Estate believe it's crucial for you to protect yourself by having a home inspection conducted when you purchase a home.

6. Obtain Financing

Today, finding the right financing for a home purchase is as important as finding the right home. The only certainty in the mortgage market is change -- and finding the financing package that best suits your needs can be a complicated process.

7. Closing

Closing day is the day when you finally achieve your goal — you take legal possession and finally get to call your new house your own. You are sure to feel great relief and satisfaction but remember that the homebuying process isn't over just yet. There are quite a few things that need to be done on closing day.

8. Moving

The countdown to moving day starts weeks before the actual date. Be prepared by creating a moving calendar to make the big day as simple as possible.

9. Premier Service Survey
Our customer satisfaction surveys, provided to you upon transaction close, help us continually refine our customer focus and maintain high standards. Over time, all our customers will be given the chance to give input to help make us the best that we can be.

1. Make a Good First Impression
An attractive, well-maintained home will generally sell faster and for a higher price than a similar home that looks drab or run-down. When you prepare your home for sale, take a critical look inside and out. If you're having trouble being objective ask your BOWES GMAC Real Estate agent, a neighbor or a friend to help. Watch for places and things you can clean up, repair or replace.

2. Know the Market
Your home will be competing with similar homes for sale in and around your neighborhood, so it's a good idea to know which homes are on the market and what their asking prices are. Take a leisurely walk or drive through the area to look for signs, check local newspaper and Internet listings, and make sure you ask your agent for a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), which includes information on area homes for sale. All of this will help you when you work with your agent to determine the fair market value of your own home.

3. Price Your Home Correctly
Pricing your home too high can discourage offers from serious buyers. On the other hand, pricing your home too low won't leave you much room to negotiate. And most homes sell at fair market value – not above it. That's why intelligent pricing is so important. Work with your BOWES GMAC Real Estate listing agent to determine the best price for your home.

4. Make Sure Your Home is Marketed Effectively
It's tough to sell your home if no one knows it's for sale. A BOWES GMAC Real Estate aqent can create maximum exposure for your home using our Web site, direct mail, home books and other marketing tools. This unique combination of services means your home is actively marketed every single day until it's sold. That's our service guarantee.

5. Prepare for Showings and Open Houses
Showings and Open Houses let potential buyers personally tour your home to see if it fits their lifestyle. Your goal should be to create an environment where potential buyers can visualize how the space will fit them. This includes removing items from your kitchen counters and arranging your furniture to create a simple, spacious appearance, so it's easier for buyers to see themselves living there.

6. Negotiate the Terms of the Sale
Buyers and sellers usually expect to negotiate the price and terms of a home sale. You can speed up this process if you evaluate and respond to offers and counteroffers in a timely fashion. Don't worry if you're not personally comfortable negotiating; your BOWES GMAC Real Estate agent has great experience and will help you through this process by handling all negotiations.

7. Review the Home Inspector's Findings
Most buyers will request a home inspection before completing the sale. Once they have the inspection results, many buyers request certain repairs. As the seller, you should receive a written copy of the inspection report. Be sure to review it carefully so you understand the nature and extent of any problems and repairs a buyer may request. Your agent should help you respond to the inspection, clearly stating what you will take care of, how and when.

8. Sign the Agreement of Purchase and Sale
Once you reach an understanding with the buyer, it's time to sign the Agreement of Purchase and Sale. Review this document carefully and discuss it with your BOWES GMAC Real Estate listing agent. The Agreement of Purchase and Sale will specify the terms and conditions to which you have agreed.

9. Prepare for Closing
The closing process is a simple process which involves the attorney transferring the home from your possession to the new owner on the day of closing. The paperwork is usually prepared and signed in the lawyers office several days prior to the closing date.