I feel that it is important to be a good match with your real estate agent, so the buying process begins with a face-to-face meeting. I like to sit down and chat informally in my office. Then I'll ask you some questions so that I can better understand your needs and wants and you can feel free to ask me some of your own. I'll explain agency, talk about what's going on in the current market, and share charts, graphs, and articles that further illustrate market conditions. We will also discuss comparable properties that have recently sold to give you a good sense of prices and length of time on the market.

Once we've decided to work together with me serving as your buyer's agent, we will sign an exclusive agreement that secures our business relationship. I will introduce you to my Gold Services Manager who is a part of my team at Weichert. At this point, if you do not already have a written pre-approval letter for a mortgage, my Gold Services Manager will discuss various financing options with you and help you get a pre-approval. You can also feel free to check with other lenders for comparable rates and loans.

Based on the wants and needs we discussed earlier, we can search for properties together and I can share information that might be helpful from my experiences of buying/selling in areas that you may not know about. While every client is different, I strive to gather as much information as possible early in the process so that we can find your home without looking at numerous properties that don't meet your individual criteria.

Once you find a home, we will make a written offer and you will include a check for an earnest money deposit. I will present the offer to the seller's agent and negotiate for you with the other party until we are all able to reach an agreement. Once that agreement is reached and all parties initial the offer, the contract is ratified and your earnest money goes into an escrow account. The check will be credited towards your down payment and/or closing costs.

I can suggest various home inspectors, and I will attend the home inspection with you. I will work with the seller's agent to make sure any needed repairs or alterations are made prior to settlement. At the same time, the attorney or settlement company will do a title search to assure that there are no liens on the property. You will procure homeowner insurance, the lender will order an appraisal, and all documents concerned with your financing will be reviewed extensively. I will guide you through the process and assist in removing all contingencies on time.

You will be asked to bring a certified check to the closing, where you will sign your mortgage documents, and you will receive the keys to your new home at the closing. Congratulations!