1. You are the buyer, and you have leverage
Whether an $80,000 condo, or a $2.5 million mansion, you are investing a lot, so you deserve the best. There are a lot of factors that go into a purchase. You are the buyer — make sure you use make the best possible offer! Some questions to consider: 1) What are comparable properties in the neighborhood selling for, and how can you best negotiate your offer? 2) What if there are repairs or changes you would like made to the home before you move in? 3) Whose responsibility is that: the buyers or sellers? 4) Can you just set money aside? 5) How can you maximize your purchase, keep the most money possible in your pocket, and get the best possible home on the day of closing?
The bottom line is this: making the best deal possible. At Washburn Real Estate, we look forward to working for YOU and helping you make the most of your hard earned money.
2. Get all the incentives
There are always good incentives, whether government stimulus packages or builder incentives or seller incentives. Incentives and grants are constantly changing, and through our network of professional affiliates, we will help you capitalize on the best deals available.
Markets change regularly. Make sure that you know all of the best incentives out there.
3. Sellers use agents
Sellers hire agents to help them get the most money for their home. If you call and talk to the seller’s agent, WHO DO YOU THINK THEY ARE TRYING TO HELP?
Our licensed WashburnRE agents will look out for YOUR interests, all through the process. Searching, making an offer, negotiating the deal, due diligence inspections, and closing the deal. Plus, the seller pays the commission. Why wouldn’t you use an agent?
Would you ever represent yourself in court on a life sentence? Buying a home is a lifetime investment (and if you buy foolishly, it could be a life sentence. Buy wisely.). Using an agent is like having a top tier attorney in your corner.
4. Protect yourself
A Real Estate Purchase Contract is required by law, and you should make sure that you are protected by the best contract possible. If you use a contract written by the seller, you could find some surprises down the road. As licensed real estate agents in the state of Utah, by law we are required to use forms approved by the State of Utah, Division of Real Estate. These approved forms have helped hundreds of thousands of buyers and sellers make good deals.
Many times when people “do it themselves,” they find they lose thousands and thousands of dollars (or more), or they find themselves facing law suits, or they find that deals fall through months or years later, because they did not use an agent.
5. Get the best deal for your home
We will help you make the most competitive offer possible. While the sales price is a big element, there are dozens of other important areas of negotiation that will help you keep money in your pocket. We know the market. Lean on our expertise.
6. We know how to close the deal
So you found a home you like. What now??? How much should you offer? Should you “low-ball?” What about earnest money? Is it refundable? What about inspections, title work, mortgage help? What kind of closing techniques can you use? How do you protect yourself? Are there incentives that could benefit you?
The home buying process is like a puzzle, with countless different pieces. Our Washburn Real Estate Agents look forward to putting your puzzle together for you.
7. Find your home faster
With automatic reports emailed to you daily, you can keep right on top of the market and be the first to know of good deals out there.
8. What about FSBO (For Sale By Owner) listings?
For Sale By Owner: beware. While you might find a good deal with a home sold by its owner, you could also find a can of worms. Many times people who try to “By Owner” shortcut very important steps, and the buyer can be left with regrets for years and years.
Sometimes people say “We thought it was such a good deal, so we just tried to do it on our own.” Then a year later, they come to us and say, “We didn’t realize that the contract was so one-sided. We got ripped off.” Sometimes people think that they will save money by not using an agent. Later, they see that they 1) paid too much for their house; 2) should have had an expert inspection opinion; 3) they lost their earnest money in a bad negotiation; 4) signed an illegal contract and now need to see what they can do about it; 5) could have purchased another better home for less; 6) could have saved a lot of money in closing costs by structuring the contract differently; 7) would like to back out of a deal, but don’t know what to do; etc, etc, etc.
WashburnRE can help you negotiate with FSBO listings.
9. What is the market? Is this house a good deal?
We will perform an aggressive market analysis to see what homes are selling for and then help you make a competetive offer. Many clients are surprised that they can walk away from the closing table with so much money in their pockets.
10. We know how to negotiate offers
We know how to make competetive offers. Closing Costs? Inspections? Appraisals? Repairs? Our job is to make your home selling experience as easy as possible.
11. WashburnRE agents save deals
Buying any home takes a lot of skill. After you have an agreed contract, there are a lot of elements that could ruin your deal, including inspections, appraisals, and just cold feet. We will help you protect your position, and we will help you make the best, most informed decisions possible. We know what to look for and know how to save a deal and make it work for all parties involved.
12. Not using an agent could put you at risk
Buying a home entails a lot of paperwork, warranties, disclosures, and steps that need to be done in a timely manner. Neglect of any of these could result in losing a your earnest money or lawsuits, or any of a number of other potential heachaches.
13. Professional services network
At Washburn Real Estate, we have a network of inspectors, appraisers, escrow officers, title companies, contractors, lenders, agents, lawyers, banks, and other services whom we trust.
14. It’s our job
We are involved in real estate transactions every day. It’s what we do. We know how to talk to sellers, talk to other agents, negotiate the deal, and make the transaction smooth for all parties. Let us help you make this the best transaction possible as you find, offer, negotiate, and close your next home.
