Why You Need a Realtor?A Realtor brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the business of buying a home. In fact, a licensed real estate professional provides much more than the service of helping you find the home of your dreams. Realtors are not just sales agents. Realtors help you navigate through the myriad of paperwork involved in purchasing a home. Realtors will be your resource to finding out whom to contact and when. Realtors help move the buying process along until you are ready to move into your new home.

IN VIRGINIA Real Estate brokers and their sales agents are required to disclose the type of working relationship they have with the buyers and sellers in a real estate transaction. You should understand these at the time a broker provides specific assistance to you in buying real estate. These working relationships are commonly referred to as "agency" relationships and carry with them legal duties and responsibilities for the broker, the buyer and the seller. In a real estate transaction there generally are two agents.

BUYER'S AGENT A realtor who enters into an agreement to only represent the buyer is known as a Buyer’s Agent. It is this agent’s primary duty to protect and promote the interests of the buyer in all negotiations. While the agent must disclose to sellers all material facts concerning the buyer’s financial ability to perform the terms of the transaction and whether the buyer intends to occupy the property, the agent cannot disclose any other information such as the buyer will pay a price greater than the price offered. All information you share with me as your exclusive buyer’s agent is held in strictest confidence. This includes your price range, your negotiating strategies or tactics and your financial situation.

SELLER'S AGENT The real estate agent who enters into an agreement to sell the property is known as the listing agent or agent for the Seller. A listing agent represents the seller in a transaction. This agent must disclose to buyers or tenants all adverse material facts about the property but the Listing Agent acts solely on behalf of the seller. He or she owes the fiduciary duty of utmost care, integrity, honesty and loyalty in dealings with the seller. A listing agent may assist the buyer who is not represented in purchasing the specific property, but the primary duty of the Listing Agent is to protect and promote the interests of the seller.

DUAL REPRESENTATION A real estate agent who enters into an agreement to represent the seller and also enters into an agreement to represent the buyer in the same transaction is known as a Dual Agent. Dual Agency mostly occurs when an agent or agents within the same firm represent both sides of the transaction. Both Seller and Buyer must have given their written consent to such dual representation prior to or at the time of execution of any Agency Agreement, Listing Agreement or Real Estate Sales Contract.

Do I Have To Sign an Agreement? You may ask why you need to sign an agency agreement with me. Below is a list, which details some of the services and duties, which you can expect when I work for you as your exclusive agent and what you can expect when you are a non-client. You will note that if I show property to you as a non-client, I will be working as a sub-agency for the seller and will owe fiduciary duties as such to the seller whose house I am showing you. It is in your best interest to sign an exclusive agreement with me and best of all it costs you nothing. Unless we make separate arrangements concerning compensation you should remember that the seller pays for all fees and commissions earned at time of closing. You have my personal guarantee that if at any time during our relationship you are dissatisfied with my services, our contract can be terminated at will. Conversely, if I find that I cannot provide the level of service to you that I demand of myself, I will ask that our relationship be brought to an end.

Services You Can Expect:

CLIENT 1) Locate all properties on the market including expired & withdrawn listings as well as for sale by owners; 2) The first opportunity to see new listings; 3) Complete fiduciary relationship with all information being confidential protecting your negotiating position; 4) Provide comprehensive market analysis and help with an objective evaluation.

NON CLIENT 1) Present only those properties actively on the multiple listing service; 2) Work as a subagent for the seller. By law required to share all material facts with the seller and seller’s agent weakening the buyer’s negotiating position; 3) Focus on working to sell the property not finding a home.

The Buying Process.

THE FIRST STEP In the home buying process is to find an experienced Realtor that you can trust and sign a Buyer’s Agent Agreement. This guarantees by the laws of Virginia that your needs are met professionally and represented throughout the entire process of buying your new home

THE SECOND STEP In the process is to pre-qualify for a loan. This can often be done over the phone. It will help us to know how much home you can afford and avoid wasting valuable time looking at homes I cannot move you into.

THE NEXT STEP Is for you to sit down and develop a wish list of what you would like to see in your new home. Ask yourself what your ideal home looks like. What style, how many bedrooms, what amenities, which neighborhoods. Once you have an idea of what your ideal, no holds barred home looks like, you need to prioritize your requirements into must haves and would like to haves and definitely do not wants.

THE FUN BEGINS Now we look at the various homes on the market. I am available to look at your convenience to help you find your dream home. You will find that you will begin to refine and visualize your dream home even more when you start looking at the inventory of homes on the market.

THIS IS THE "BIG" STEP When you find the home of your dreams, you should prepare a competitive offer immediately. I have extensive experience in preparing a competitive market analysis and in contract negotiations. I will do my best to ensure that you get just what you want at a fair price—a transaction in your best interest.

WE'RE STARTING TO JOG NOW! When the seller accepts your offer, you are "in escrow." You want to make sure that every detail is handled accurately and immediately. I will ensure your home closes properly and on time by keeping track of the myriad of details involved in bringing your transaction to completion.

YOU'RE IN THE "HOME" STRETCH! Final loan commitment details are handled and all inspections are performed to ensure the property is perfect for you. Contract details are further negotiated as we head towards closing!

DAY BEFORE CLOSING We will do a final walk-through of your new home to make sure it meets all the final contract requirements.

D-DAY! Bring your cashier’s check or make sure the funds have been wired for your closing. This is when we sit down, sign the papers and make it all official. The next step will take you over the threshold of your new home!

MOVING DAY! After the Deed is recorded, you can pick up the keys and move into your new home!

Some Things to Consider as You Start Looking for Your New Home. There are many factors to consider when selecting a home that is right for you. After price range considerations and physical requirements of your home, it is important to consider neighborhoods. Below are just a few of the many factors important in evaluating a neighborhood—You may think of others that are important to you. Be sure to write them down so you refer to them as you start the home search process.

SCOUT THE NEIGHBORHOOD It is important that you scout the neighborhood in person at various times of the day. Does commuter traffic use the neighborhood as a shortcut? What about children? Look carefully at how well other homes in the area are being maintained; are they painted, are the yards well cared for, are parked cars in good condition?

LOCATION How near are you to thoroughfares, shopping, churches, schools. Listen for noise created by commerce, roads, airports, railways, public areas, schools, etc. Check with local civic, police, fire and school officials to find information about the area. As your realtor, I will be able to provide you with the numbers to call. You might also call the local zoning board and find out if this neighborhood has a five year plan for development. Does the neighborhood belong to a Homeowners Association? Find out as much information as possible.

Don’t Get Swept Away When Shopping. When touring homes you will find that there are many beautiful homes on the market. Before you get your heart set on that big, tree-shaded colonial on the hill, you need to pin down your financial details. It only takes a moment of your time while you call or visit your favorite lender. Only then will you know if you can afford Willow Crest or it makes more sense to aim for Shady Hollow.

REQUIREMENTS Take a moment to decide what "features" are important to you in your new home— (location, basement, number of bedrooms, eating space, architectural style, garage, etc.)

Next define your "extras"— (fireplace, walk-in closets, pool, siding, deck, landscaping, etc.)

There are many different features in homes that range from necessary to luxury. It is easy to get caught up in the excitement of a beautiful home loaded with amenities. It is important that you select a home that truly meets all or most of your requirements first and foremost! Once you have formed a picture in your mind of your ideal home, it is important to do a reality check and define what is truly important, what would be nice and what you definitely do not want. As you prepare your lists, please be sure to take your "future plans" into consideration— (Are you planning to add to your family, retirement, home based business?)

As you tour homes, check back to your list to make sure the home meets your requirements. The extras should only come into play when you make your final decision between homes that meet all or most of your requirements.