Buyers November 21, 2021

First Time Home Buying: Beginning the Process

USING A WINDERMERE AGENT TO HELP YOU FIND A HOME

Whatever your reasons for buying, know that finding the right home, in the perfect neighborhood and at a cost that is within your budget, is no small task. That’s why many buyers enlist the help of a full-service Windermere agent. There are many benefits you receive from working with a licensed professional with specialized skills:

AS YOUR WINDERMERE AGENT

  • ❱  We know the local market and can quickly narrow it down to a few areas where you are likely to find your home at the price you want.
  • ❱  We can save you time by doing a lot of the legwork. By knowing your needs, we can eliminate homes that do not meet your criteria.
  • ❱  We will make appointments, preview homes with you and help you determine the pros and cons of each home.
  • ❱  We can help you maximize online home search tools available to you on Windermere.com.
  • ❱  We can provide information and make appointments to see almost any property listed for sale. A home does not have to be listed by a Windermere agent in order for me to get detailed information or an appointment to view.
  • ❱  Once you find the home you want to buy, we will guide you through the negotiation, legalities and details of purchasing a home.

GUIDE TO BUYING A HOME 3

BEGINNING THE PROCESS

Organization is the key to finding the home you want while spending the least amount of time and energy.

It’s always best to find out how much house you can afford before you go house-hunting. We can refer you to a loan officer who can assist you with determining how much of a down payment you can afford, along with a monthly payment you can handle. (To help determine how much house you can afford, see pages 6–7 of this booklet.)

Make a list of everything you want in a home. Is a master suite important? How many bathrooms? What about closet space? Do you need a yard for the kids and pets to play in? How about a fireplace or a bay window? Do you prefer a rambler or a multiple-story house? Are schools or access to public transportation important?

Separate the essentials from the items you could do without and put them on the “A” list. Prioritize the rest of the items into a second and third list in order of importance. We’ll then go over the lists so that I’m very clear on what you want and need in your home.

Keep good notes as we look at homes. After a while, it becomes difficult to remember which features belong to which home. I can provide you with a form and rating system to help you compare homes.

When selecting a home, look beyond cosmetics. Make sure the home is in good physical condition
and that you understand the cost of repairs. For more information on how to assess the home’s condition, refer to “Home Inspections” on page 10 of this booklet.

Look at additional homes, even if you love the first one you see. Many times, it takes looking at several homes before you find the one that is really right for you.

As your Windermere agent, we’ll check with you regularly, even if you haven’t yet found the home that’s right for you. Keeping in contact allows us to establish a good rapport, and helps me learn how to help you effectively. We’ll continue to be on the lookout for homes that suit your needs.