Choosing a buyer’s agent is an important step in buying a home because this is the person that will guide you throughout the entire buying process. Some buyers believe it’s better to work with the listing agent directly, thinking they’ll get a better deal.  But nothing could be further from the truth. The listing agent is obligated to look out for the seller’s interests. A buyer’s agent, on the other hand, will look out for your best interests, do all the legwork for you, and negotiate the best price for you. Don’t look for an agent who is too nice and just tells you what you want to hear. Hire an agent who will be honest with you and won’t try to push you into buying a house you aren’t sure about. A good buyer’s agent will want you to find the right home.

Once you find an agent you’re comfortable with, have some questions ready for your first meeting. This is a chance for the buyer’s agent to ask you about how your search is going and to answer the many questions that arise when buying a home. Your agent should help outline every aspect of the home buying process so you’ll have a better idea of what is involved.

This is also your opportunity to discuss in detail what type of home you’re looking for, your price range, and which town or towns you’re interested in moving to. Your agent will probably have some suggestions based on your criteria and you may have already begun searching for homes online which you can go over with the agent as well. After you discuss some of your preferences, your agent can begin some more thorough research on what’s on the market.

Getting pre-approved for a loan allows you to see how much a bank will actually lend you to purchase a home. This way you won’t waste time looking at homes priced out of your range. Getting pre-approved helps you find out how much a lender will give you, at what rate, and what the terms would be. This is also a good time to find a good mortgage broker. Working with a qualified mortgage broker is one of the best things a buyer can do to ensure a successful transaction. The mortgage broker should be very knowledgeable with all of the mortgage programs that are available to you and advise you on which documents you’ll need to provide for the pre-approval process. The mortgage broker will pull your credit report, review your tax returns, bank statements, and paystubs to get everything in order. So be prepared to provide all of these. 

This is the fun part! Our exclusive listing alerts delivered every morning right to your inbox allows you to have FREE access to every home that is available for sale in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. You’ll also get priority access to the best home bargains in the area, including bank foreclosures, government-owned homes, probate and estate sales, short sales and recent price reductions. Our unique listing alert technology allows you to simply enter towns you’re interested in, price range, style of home and other particulars that are important to you. It then provides you priority access to all the homes that meet or exceed your criteria complete with addresses and photos of the interior and exterior of the homes. This system also lets you know about new listings as soon as they hit the market!

Your agent will also have homes they think will fit your criteria. Once you find some homes you like within your budget, you can contact your agent to schedule viewings. View homes with an open mind and don’t be too hard on yourself or the home if it is not a perfect fit.  Homes are coming on the market each day, so the right home is definitely out there for you. And once you find the right home, don’t wait to view it! Have your agent show you the home as soon as possible and be ready to make an offer. When you see a home you love, act fast. You don’t want to be outbid and have to start your search all over again.

One of the most common questions we get is, “How Much Should I an Offer on a Home?” Once you find the perfect home we will submit a written offer on the home.  This is another step where you will be glad to have us on your side.  Since our buyer’s agents know how to negotiate, they will work to get you the best deal.  Keep in mind that contract negotiations are not limited to price, they also include timing, contingencies, and much more.

Now that you have secured a property, it is time to schedule the appropriate inspections on the property.  We highly recommend buyers spend the money on a home inspection. The report alone is very much worth the cost. The home inspection will be done by a licensed inspector whose job is to make sure the home is structurally sound, all of its systems are working correctly, and if there’s any evidence of pests in the home or mold. Some inspectors do uncover some major issues that the seller may need to address. This is also a good time to have your home tested for Radon. If you are buying a home with knob and tube wiring, have a licensed electrician look the system over to determine the overall condition of the wiring. Remember, most issues can be worked out in some form or fashion and your agent can advise you on what to do.

Now that the inspections are complete, a purchase and sale agreement needs to be prepared by the attorneys and both buyer and seller must sign.  The Purchase and Sale agreement gives more detail of the transaction, including specifics on the property, the contingencies, and responsibilities of the buyer and seller.   This is also where you will be expected to put down additional monies that will be held in the listing broker’s escrow account until closing. This amount is usually between 3-5% of the purchase price so make sure you have this money available. If you’re buying a home in New Hampshire, your second deposit is usually due by now and the Purchase and Sales Agreement has already been signed.

This is where all the hard work pays off and you become the owner of a home! Before closing, you should have your agent arrange a walk-through of the home to make sure nothing has changed in the property since the purchase and sale agreement was signed. The “walk-through” is usually done the day before or day of closing. During the actual closing, deeds, loan papers, and other documents are prepared, signed and filed with the registry. This includes the Closing Disclosure Statement, which details all the costs related to the sale of the home.  And remember to bring your license and checkbook. At this point, congratulations will be in order now that you are a homeowner!