When we represent a buyer, we put all our efforts and energies into helping a buyer identify and secure the home they identify as “the one.” Sure, there is much driving. And there is lots of locking and unlocking doors. But there is so much more that agents bring to the table when we work with buyers.
PRIOR TO FINDING A HOUSE
- Listen to your goals and advise you on specific ways to meet them in today’s market
- Provide names of lenders who are reputable, competitive, and creative
- When requested, provide a list of questions to ask when shopping for lenders
- Work with you and your lender to find the right loan program
- Review good faith estimates and help compare costs and monthly payments
- Make appointments to see homes in an efficient manner at times convenient to you
- Call “For Sale By Owners” that we find to see if their property would meet your needs
- Attempt to negotiate commissions with “For Sale By Owners” so that you may buy the house with representation for the lowest cost
- Reach out to owners of houses that are not on the market, but may be of interest to you
- Explain the home buying process from start to finish
- Provide out of town buyers with a relocation package
- Call listing agent on properties of interest to ensure properties are available prior to showing
- Frankly discuss resale potential of houses of interest
- Arrange to have a licensed agent work with you when we are out of town or unavailable
- Check RMLS listings daily and communicate new listing information to you
- Provide a list of home inspectors who have received high marks from previous buyers
- Provide recommendations on first time buyer books, and other timely topics
- Allow other real estate agents to see your home preferences for reverse prospecting
- When requested, provide detailed information on market preferences for floor plans/area
- Provide information/resources on current issues (e.g., oil tanks, lead paint, and radon gas)
- Provide access to properties for sale at times convenient to you
- Look carefully at properties which we tour to point out details which may be overlooked
- Arrive on time to appointments and showings. We pride ourselves on timeliness.
- Pursue continuing education yearly to obtain the latest information and fine tune our skills
- Attend regular sales meetings to keep up on latest market and industry information
- Network with hundreds of agents to get leads on new listings which might fit your needs
- Carry Error and Omission insurance to help protect you from human error
- Carry business coverage on our automobiles
- Belong to Portland, Oregon and National Association of Realtors
- Belong to Realtors Multiple Listing Service
- Attend seminars on current topics
- Use our experience every day
- If needed, provide list of questions to ask other Realtors if you are still selecting a Realtor
- Provide a map of city neighborhoods
- Provide information on dispute resolution process used in real estate transactions
- Provide our objective and honest opinion to all questions
- Carefully guard confidential information about you and your position
- Preview properties to see if they would be desirable
- Keep informed about the areas in which you are looking
- Provide addresses and directions if we are driving separately to properties
- Provide “neighborhood orientation” tours for relocating buyers
- Educate buyer as to today’s market conditions
- Provide clean and safe transportation
- Provide flashlight and measuring tape if needed when viewing houses
- Use the latest technology to communicate and find information
- Provide basic information on building materials and their relative
- Provide information on inspection options
- Keep an even temper, even in times of adversity
- Care about our client’s comfort and best interest
- Have fun!
AFTER IDENTIFYING A HOUSE OF INTEREST
- Pull tax records on property of interest
- Provide, when requested, property archive report on property of interest
- Provide resources for information on school performance
- Confirm with city that the property is on sewer
- Pull permits on file for properties of interest
- Use sales agreement forms drafted and continually updated by Association of Realtors
- Provide disclosure forms to seller to assure representations to you are made in writing
- Timely present offer to seller
- Provide information to you on seller, whatever may be known
- Provide you with specific market data for property of interest (i.e.: comparable sales, average days on market, what the seller paid for property and when, current mortgage information)
- Follow up on questions with listing agents regarding houses of interest and report back promptly
- Provide information on price appreciation in the defined areas
- Provide assistance in reviewing nonstandard forms which may need to be signed
- Help to determine the value of a property prior to your making an offer
- Help to inform you of standard procedures or practices in current market
- Discuss standard contingencies
- Show you amenities found in neighborhoods of interest (restaurants, community centers, etc.)
AFTER OFFER IS ACCEPTED
- Make appointment for home inspections
- Work with lender to order the appraisal
- Provide, when requested, utility cost information on properties of interest
- Provide list of utility companies for home purchased
- Attend home inspection and any other inspections necessary
- Provide names and numbers of reputable contractors for bids or information
- Call lender on a regular basis to make sure the loan process is going smoothly
- Attend appraisal (unless drive by only)
- Provide information to appraiser as needed
- Provide property access to contractors to get bids on repairs if necessary
- Negotiate your position strongly and effectively
- Review inspection report and help you prioritize items
- Thoroughly read all disclosures provided by seller and help identify potential red flags
- Deliver paperwork and information quickly to all parties
- Set up escrow account with escrow company with all necessary paperwork
- Order a preliminary title search
- Review preliminary title report with you and help identify any red flags
- Attend signing of papers to explain paperwork
- Review closing statement to make sure it is accurate and correct
- Perform walk through inspections with you to ascertain that conditions of sale are met
- Inform lender of escrow company to speed up flow of information
- Provide measurements of rooms for planning furniture, etc.
- Coordinate appointments to sign documents
- Coordinate exchange of keys
- Coordinate access to property by contractors prior to closing
- Provide buyer with a copy of all documents signed by buyer
- Provide sales agreement to lender to complete loan process
- Review sales agreement with buyer so that all terms are familiar
- Put the home inspection report in context for seller and listing agent, and help them understand our requests for repairs
- Coordinate re-inspection of repairs by lender if necessary
- Provide complimentary market analysis on home for tax appeals, PMI removal appeals, and financial planning
- Answer questions that might arise after the sale is closed
- Maintain a file in our office with all pertinent information should you need info or copies in the future
– By Danni Duggan, OR Real Estate Broker, Premiere Property Group, LLC
If you are looking for a home in the Portland Metro Area, it would be our honor and our privilege to interview with you to see if we would be a great fit to work together to get you where you want to be. Feel free to contact DanniPDX for a meeting.
If you are seeking a trusted REALTOR® outside of the state of Oregon, contact DanniPDX. We are happy to provide you with our most trusted referrals throughout the U.S. You deserve the absolute best representation, and it would be our pleasure to help you secure it.