The real estate industry is flooded with agents, some of whom are fabulous and others who lack the skills or experience needed to service their clients well. The agent you work with when buying a home is important no matter the market conditions.
I am a Certified Buyer Representative Realtor, licensed in both Virginia and Maryland. I specialize in working with first time homebuyers and primary residence buyers. Clients that work with me aren’t just looking for a house, they are looking for a home. My job as a buyer’s agent is to help clients find the ideal property, negotiate a contract, guide clients through the escrow and inspection process, and most importantly to make sure their best interests are protected.
I take pride in delivering unparalleled customer service and am always contactable. Clients can easily reach me by phone, text, email, or even social media. The real estate market can be fast-paced and available, so that I can act quickly for my clients is essential to ensure that they get the property of their dreams.
Understanding Property Expectations
When potential clients reach out, I mindfully take the time to listen to their requirements, discuss their current living conditions, timeline, budget, and the vision they have for their future. In addition, I asked key questions to better understand their expectations of a property and the purchasing experience. It is my intention to know their design taste and lifestyle preferences so I can better source house options for them to view. I believe that knowing my client’s expectations is one of the most critical part of my job, as it allows me to guide them in the right direction.
Getting Offer Ready: Mortgage Pre-qualification
When I start working with a client, the first step is that they get pre-qualified for a mortgage. Before we start touring homes, I want to make sure that the buyers are well educated about their maximum buying capacity, interest rate, estimated monthly payments, and know about any down payment assistance programs available. If they don’t already have a mortgage broker, I refer them to the best local lenders and brokers.
I also encourage a pre-qualification letter because it clarifies any doubts as to how much a buyer can spend and ensures that they are ready to make an offer should they find a property they love. In a hot market, most sellers will not accept an offer made that doesn’t have an accompanying pre-qualification letter. The last thing I want to see is a buyer missing out on a perfect property because of something avoidable.
Sometimes, clients aren't quite in a position where they cant quite qualify for financing. When this happens, I support my clients alongside their mortgage broker and coach them through the process of getting their finances and credit into a position where they can qualify. Often, it just takes a few months before they are ready to apply again and are successful.
Searching for a Property
After obtaining finance approval, I start touring homes with my clients. When we begin inspecting properties, we have entered the fun part of the home buying process. First, I will collate a list of properties that fit within my client’s requirements and budget. It’s important to stick to their budget, especially in today’s market, because it can be difficult for clients to view homes above their budget and then face disappointment when their low offer is not accepted.
I network with other agents to find off-market listings, and so that I am one of the first to know of upcoming listings that may suit my buyers. When buying a home, time is of the essence. Therefore, it's important that I get my buyers through homes as soon as possible, so they don't miss out on the perfect property.
Negotiation
Once we have found a property that my client would like to make an offer on, I coach them through putting together a strong offer that is in their best interest. Several variables go into an offer, including price, contingencies, and contributions to closing costs. I work hard to get the sellers concession to pay for the buyers closing costs. My duty is to prioritize my clients interests and ensure they are protected when they get into contract.
Escrow and Inspections
In most purchases, there is a finance and inspection contingency. Therefore, I work with highly qualified home inspectors who go through a property in detail to uncover any potential problems.
Through each step of the escrow process, I keep my clients well informed. In addition, I stay in regular communication with their finance officer to ensure that there is no delay in securing their finance so we can remove a possible finance contingency. Through diligence and proactive, strong communication, I aim to ensure that the escrow process goes as smoothly as possible so that the closing does not get delayed.
Closing
The day before we close, I make sure to do a home inspection, even if there is no inspection contingency, so that the buyer knows of any possible issues that need to be addressed.
Before closing day, I review all the paperwork with my buyers so they have time to absorb and understand the contracts they are signing. Therefore, when they show up on closing day, they know exactly what they are signing and all the important transactions numbers. There will be no surprises; they can confidently enter into their finance agreement and purchase their new house.
Lastly, on the day of closing, I take my clients through a final walkthrough so they can make sure that the property’s condition has not changed.
Continuing Education
Because the legal environment and market conditions are constantly shifting, part of my commitment to best serving my clients is constantly continuing my education. To maintain my competitive advantage, I stay up to date on market conditions, upcoming developments, and infrastructure changes that could impact an area. I regularly sign up for educational seminars, webinars, and formal education classes.
I provide only the highest-level customer service to my clients and go above and beyond for them while keeping their best interests as my top priority. If you have any questions about my services, please dont hesitate to reach out.